203 MPH - Scary and Funny at the same time

[donpearsall]

This looks like something I must have welded...
http://www.youtube.com/user/parkerruss#p/u/1/pBYNbovODbE

Don

[LSR Mike]

The reaction to the problem was classic, not the mention the post tramatic inspection.

[joea]

should i feel bad for lmao...?..

[manta22]

I'd like to take a close look at the broken end but it looked like the steering shaft broke where there was a cross-bolt or pin. Could have been tragic---

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Where was it?  Was the car running at EM?  I could see a tower of some sort on the driver's left as the clip proceeded.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't at the salt.  If a dragstrip -- why'd he get a push-off?

As for the main point of the clip -- yup, Joe's right -- L M A O!!

[wlarryglick]

I don't believe he was getting a "push off" as these funny cars do a burnout then back up past the starting line and proceed from there. The driver then pulls forward and stops at the startng line to "stage." I believe that forward movement was what was on the clip. I'm assuming this an alcohol/methanol-fueled racecar as they tend to hold the hand brake to keep the racecar from moving and run the RPM's up to around 4,000 to 6,000 (depending on the tune-up) and then let out the clutch. (Fuel/nitromethane-fueled funny cars leave at an idle - if one can call 2,500 to 3,000 RPM's an idle.)  Shortly after leaving the starting line the driver shifts from first/low to second/high. I believe the change in momentum or shock of the shift then caused the steering wheel to come off. Seems to me the driver was a bit tardy getting on the hand brake and then - after trying to get a hold of the errant steering wheel - finally reaches up and releases the parachte(s) and/or shuts off the fuel pump(s). )

P.S. I recently that learned that the nitromethane-fueled engines used in the fuel funny cars and top fuel dragsters can make more than 10,000 horsepower. And they are only five-hundred cubic inches!

[johnneilson]

P.S. I recently that learned that the nitromethane-fueled engines used in the fuel funny cars and top fuel dragsters can make more than 10,000 horsepower. And they are only five-hundred cubic inches!

Yeah, but they last only about 800 revolutions...........

The driver was calm cool and collected, I'll bet he buys new shorts though....

[donpearsall]

Top fuel dragster engines have a fuel burn rate higher than a 747 at full throttle. They take about 15 gallons to make a 4-5 second run. Speeds are getting so fast that some races are run at 1000' instead of 1320' because existing tracks don't have enough shut down area.
Don

[wobblywalrus]

Tomorrow I will check some worn linkages.  This is the motivation I need.