Dragstrip
Encyclopedia
A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile
and motorcycle
acceleration events such as drag racing
. Although a quarter mile (402 m) is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile (201 m) tracks. The race is begun from a standing start
which allows three factors to affect the outcome of the race: reaction time, torque, and traction.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
acceleration events such as drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
. Although a quarter mile (402 m) is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile (201 m) tracks. The race is begun from a standing start
Standing start
A standing start is a type of start in auto racing events, in which cars are stationary when the race begins. In a standing start, cars are completely still when a green signal is given to start the race, often preceded by a set of lights...
which allows three factors to affect the outcome of the race: reaction time, torque, and traction.
Features
A dragstrip is a straight, purpose-built racetrack, typically an eighth or a quarter of a mile long (660/1320 feet, 201/402 metres), with an additional shutdown area to allow vehicles room to stop after crossing the finish line. Common features also include a 'water box' where vehicles and motorcycles start their burn-outs to clean and heat up their tires to improve traction. There is a set of lights known as a 'Christmas Tree' that counts down to the start. There are also return lanes for the vehicles to return from the end of the track to the pit area.Vehicle equipment requirements
Like all other motorsports, drag racing has many safety requirements for the vehicles that compete. These can be found in the applicable governing body's rule book. Most rules do not apply until the vehicle exceeds a specified time, such as 10.99 seconds. This allows anyone with a regular production vehicle to take part for very little cost, and encourages participation of many people who cannot afford a proper racing vehicle.Typical quarter mile times
Acceleration times differ even between identical vehicles due to widely varying factors - vehicle tune, elevation, driver/rider differences, payload, track surface conditions, weather conditions.| Vehicle | Quarter mile time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket dragster | 3.2 sec @ ~390 mi/h | |
| Top Fuel Dragster | 4.4 sec @ ~335 mi/h | |
| Top Fuel Funny Car Funny Car Funny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'... |
4.6 sec @ ~330 mi/h | |
| Top Alcohol Top Alcohol Top Alcohol dragsters are akin to the premier Top Fuel drag racing class, but produce much less horsepower. They are required to burn a lower-performance mixture of alcohol fuel instead of more volatile nitromethane. Engine sizes cannot exceed . Nitromethane-burning entries may also race in this... |
5.2 sec @ ~250 mi/h | |
| Top Doorslammer Top Doorslammer Top Doorslammer is a class of Australian drag racing. It caters for full-bodied racing sedans which are replicas of production vehicles. The class uses large-capacity, supercharged V8 engines which are fuelled by methanol.... |
5.8 sec @ ~250 mi/h | |
| Pro Modified Pro Modified Pro Modified, also known as Pro Mod, is a class or division in the sport of drag racing used in the NHRA and the American Drag Racing League .-Overview:... |
6.0 sec @ ~230 mi/h | |
| Pro Stock Pro Stock Pro Stock Drag Racing is a class of drag racing featuring 'Factory Hot-Rods'. The class can be known as "all motor," as the cars cannot use artificial induction such as turbocharging, supercharging, or nitrous oxide, and there are very strict rules governing the modifications allowed to the... |
6.6 sec @ ~205 mi/h | |
| Top Fuel Bike | 6.1 sec @ ~238 mi/h | |
| Pro Stock Motorcycle | 7.0 sec @ ~195 mi/h | |
| Electric Motorcycle | 7.8 sec @ ~168 mi/h |