A typical internal combustion engine converts only about 25 percent of the fuel’s energy into useful work (accelerating the car). One gallon of gasoline contains roughly 120,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of heating value, enough energy to raise the temperature of 1,000 pounds of water by 120 degrees. And yet a dedicated drag race car probably wouldn’t last a minute under those conditions. At the Bonneville Salt Flats, land speed record racers run flat-out for miles at maximum power.
Why are drag racing engines prone to meltdown? We’ve all watched NASCAR engines run 600 miles at wide-open throttle on a sweltering summer day without problems.
#COOL DRAG CARS DRIVER#
It’s a blessing that an overheated engine is seldom run to catastrophic failure – usually it loses so much power that the driver realizes that something is wrong and shuts it down. Hot spots in the combustion chambers lead to preignition, which in turn leads to detonation, which initiates a chain of destruction. Excessive heat does bad things to good engines – head gaskets fail, decks turn blue, valves recede and tulip, pistons seize, and aluminum alloys lose strength. The results are unmistakable when an engine overtaxes its cooling system. In comparison, drag race cooling systems are almost an afterthought – and that’s a grave mistake. Racers typically devote a great deal of time and money to oiling systems, devising windage trays, baffles, deflector screens, and dry-sump systems to ensure continuous lubrication. “Most drag race cooling systems are utterly inadequate to dissipate such staggering heat.”Īn engine has two fundamental needs: lubrication and cooling. Japanese cars like the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Supra are also popular choices.By David Reher, Reher-Morrison Racing Engines The BMW M3, for example, is a common sight at drag strips around the world. There are plenty of European and Japanese cars that are popular in drag racing. Of course, not all drag cars are American. Many modern drag cars are purpose-built from the ground up, but there are still plenty of older muscle cars being raced. The Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Dodge Challenger are all common platforms for these types of vehicles. Some of the most popular drag cars are those based on American muscle cars. Don’t expect to win every race, but enjoy the challenge and the thrill of competition. Drag racing is not easy, and it takes practice to become good at it.
#COOL DRAG CARS UPGRADE#
You will need to maintain it and upgrade it regularly to keep it running at its best. Second, be prepared to invest a lot of time and money into your car. Make sure you have the proper safety equipment for both you and your car. First, safety is always the most important consideration. If you want to try drag racing, there are a few things you should keep in mind. This can be a very rewarding hobby, but also one that takes up a lot of time and money. You will need to enjoy maintenance and tinkering with your car to get it to go faster. It’s all about making your car go as fast as possible in a straight line. Drag racing can be more about the build than the drive. Drag cars are all about speed and excitement.
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