I often wonder about the ETs of the original 1320 ft. 1/4 mile drags vs. today's 1,000 ft. drags. Is there a conversion so we can tell how fast those old guys really were by today's standards? I doubt we could just use a ratio because engine tuning, gearing and other power train changes would be needed to optimize that missing 320 ft.. If not, it would be a fun project to take a common SBC in a common car and optimize each way to come up with a realistic formula.
Try multiplying 1000' times how much i care about the modern NHRA drag racing= jack shit! I understand why they didn't just shorten the pro cars to 1\8th mile like all the big names in the 405 run?
pretty low on the 1/4 mile MPH, compared to what they really run. (I'm talking about modern top fuel cars)
The formula I use is 1/8 mile time multiplied by 1.56. If you could get 1/8 mile time when you are running on a 1/4 mile track, that would make it too simple. My OT 4.3 Sonoma ran an 8.2 on an 1/8 mile track and 12.8 on a 1/4 mile. I realize conditions change on each run but maybe this will be a good SWAG for you.
The nitro cars are faster at 1000 feet than they were at 1320. It’s all math, rpm and actual revolutions of the engine at full power in 3-4 seconds with tire circumference to cover 1320 or 1000 and pushing the engine hard enough to win and stay together for 1320 feet. Theoretically they can push the same engine harder because it’s only got to stay together for 1000 feet. That theory has now become fact. Shortening the track didn’t slow them down but they do have 320 feet more to stop. Toyota, the official car of the NHRA.
The math for "most" cars isn't going to work with any nitro powered cars. WAY...to many variables. Plus you'd have to remove the rpm limiters. Hell, even the tires might not stand up to 1/4 mile any longer since they've been redesigned for 1000' if you removed the rpm limiters, along with the rest of the engine..! Mike
I’d be interested in seeing some other nitro racing, what you got? The old cars don’t race too much but you can go see them cackle. The nostalgia AA gassers are pretty damn cool to watch but most tracks want them old heaps shut down at 1/8 mile now.
United Nitro Funny Cars, and Western Fuel Altereds, are putting on small shows out here...it smells good when they run
The Current NHRA Nos. T/F Dragster Champion running (high gear only) , sees 11,200 RPMs through the lights @ 1320'
Getting back to the question, Most of the teams data recorder have an acceleration graph that you can continue (in theory) because these cars do not flatten out , they continue accerating till they blow up, even past the finish line
On a good run a modern top fuel is almost 300 mph in the 1/8 so their not picking up as much in the last 330 ft.
The last time I went to Hamb Drags I heard that the times were based on the 1000 ft. timing section of their system due to shut down area conditions. Was that untrue? Smokin' Mo-Kan Dragway - Asbury, Missouri - mokandragway.com
It is turning at the rate of 11,200 revolutions per minute but it will turn over just over 1,000 times (1024.8 to be exact) from when it starts the clocks to when it crosses the finish line only 5.49 seconds later. The motor does get to turn over a lot more during the burnout, while backing up and then staging for the run. With the idle generally at about 2,300-2500 rpm on a fuel car the number of crankshaft rotations add up quickly. Roo
Only Approximate or "close". This only represents relatively "normal" situations. Obviously if your car has something unusual such as gearing that makes you top out at 1/8 th mile speeds, then the second half of the 1/4 mile will take a bit longer, etc etc it may translate a bit differently, but unless you have an unusual prob, this will translate pretty closely. WHY BE ORDINARY ?
At the March Meet this year they had a driveshaft issue at 800ft killed the engine (among other things) Data showed 12,500 rpm. Remember these cars use 4.10 gears and a shorter tire