Shawn Langdon runs a 3.621 @345.62 in testing

[bdcardinal]

Absolutely incredible that the Funny Cars are going this fast in 1000'.

https://competitionplus.com/kalitta-motorsports-set-the-bar-for-the-p-r-o-test-in-gainesville/

 

[Hirev]

Thats just crazy horsepower to do that.

 

[SShooterZ]

Holy hell. I remember when Don “The Snake” Prudhomme was barely breaking 6 seconds. 3.62 is insane.

 

[bdcardinal]

I think what is so hard to grasp is this isn't even in the traditional 1320'.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I had no idea dragsters were running 3's...

 

[skyactiv]

You wont notice it on TV where they put a microphone on the starting line. But if you've ever been to a drag strip and sit near the finish line, you will see a top fuel or funny cars move down the track a bit before you hear the roar of the engine(s).

 

[gman2304]

I had no idea dragsters were running 3's...

1,000 feet….. not 1,320…about the same time I stopped watching drag racing…that and 4 wide racing…

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

Thing is probably going close to 300 at the 1/8 mile. Hard to comprehend really.

 

[02SE]

It was a fun and productive weekend at Gainesville. I posted a few videos about it:

Relaxing back at the Hotel after a day at the track here in Gainesville for the NHRA PRO testing session. The testing is closed to the public this year, apparently to reduce the workload on the staff...

I think it's yet another questionable decision, as the more interest that's generated, the better it is for the future of the sport.

A couple highlights.

 

[02SE]

Thing is probably going close to 300 at the 1/8 mile. Hard to comprehend really.

Top Fuel Dragsters have been over 300 mph at the 1/8th, numerous times in competition.

It should be noted this weekend in Gainesville was testing. Not in competition. So none of the times or speeds count as records.

That said, conditions were extremely good, hence the times and speeds.

 

[02SE]

Absolutely incredible that the Funny Cars are going this fast in 1000'.

https://competitionplus.com/kalitta-motorsports-set-the-bar-for-the-p-r-o-test-in-gainesville/

IIRC, the fastest pass during this test in a Funny Car was J.R. Todd, at 338 mph. Although I wasn't watching the F/C passes, so I could have missed a few.

 

[bdcardinal]

IIRC, the fastest pass during this test in a Funny Car was J.R. Todd, at 338 mph. Although I wasn't watching the F/C passes, so I could have missed a few.

You're right, it was Top Fuel. Its been a day here at work so my mind is all over the place.

 

[Bailey28]

The Gatornationals at the Gainesville Raceway is right up the road from me. I have been to the track many times for test N tune.... but never went to a Gatornational.

 

[02SE]

The Gatornationals at the Gainesville Raceway is right up the road from me. I have been to the track many times for test N tune.... but never went to a Gatornational.

So what was the feeling of you locals to this test session being private? IMO, it's just another dumb decision by the powers that be at the NHRA.

 

[4wd]

I had no idea dragsters were running 3's...

Many still think they race the 1/4 too

 

[Bailey28]

So what was the feeling of you locals to this test session being private? IMO, it's just another dumb decision by the powers that be at the NHRA.

I have lived in Gainesville for over 30 years. In the 1990's and 2000's the Gatornats were a big deal around here. Teams would trailer some of their cars to local hangouts like Gator Dockside or the Ale House on Archer road for fans to gather around and check out. The hotels would fill up, the streets would fill up with fast cars cruising around later in the evening... People would spend money in the restaurants; you could tell the town filled up with people visiting and was alive with the racing buzz.

Now you hardly notice anything. No cars, maybe a few extra people, no team semi truck seen except for them coming and going, no buzz, no fast cars...

O2SE, I am not sure what you are asking, should or were the locals offended by a private session? I was at test 'n tune not related to Gatornats. The kind they hold on random Wednesday nights when people bring their street cars out to play.

 

[02SE]

I have lived in Gainesville for over 30 years. In the 1990's and 2000's the Gatornats were a big deal around here. Teams would trailer some of their cars to local hangouts like Gator Dockside or the Ale House on Archer road for fans to gather around and check out. The hotels would fill up, the streets would fill up with fast cars cruising around later in the evening... People would spend money in the restaurants; you could tell the town filled up with people visiting and was alive with the racing buzz.

Now you hardly notice anything. No cars, maybe a few extra people, no team semi truck seen except for them coming and going, no buzz, no fast cars...

O2SE, I am not sure what you are asking, should or were the locals offended by a private session? I was at test 'n tune not related to Gatornats. The kind they hold on random Wednesday nights when people bring their street cars out to play.

This NHRA PRO test session this past week was closed to the general public. It is my opinion and that of many other friends/colleagues I talked to, that anything the NHRA can do to generate more interest in the sport, is a good thing.

Sure, it was easier getting from the Pit to the line, and back to the Pit after a pass, without the fans. But I just think it's a missed opportunity to increase the fan base.

So since you are a local, I was asking your opinion of this testing session being closed to the public.

 

[userfriendly]

Thing is probably going close to 300 at the 1/8 mile. Hard to comprehend really.

The distance for fuel cars will probably be reduced from 1,000 feet to 880’ in the near future.
Slap fighting has a larger tv audience than drag racing.

 

[02SE]

You're right, it was Top Fuel. Its been a day here at work so my mind is all over the place.

No worries. The linked article was somewhat incongruous with the picture of J.R. Todd's F/C, and then a posted time and speed from Langdon's TF/D.

The fact of the matter is the older guys who grew up with wanting to hot rod cars and go fast, are dying off. Four of the team owners I've worked for over the years, have passed away. Younger people just are not as interested in cars. The latest Smartphone, and requesting an Uber are where it's at with lots of young folks.

I've taken numerous people out to races who had never seen a Fuel car in person. Without exception, they were all stunned, and became fast fans of the mechanical violence that can only be appreciated in-person. A few of the people (not naming names) making the calls in the NHRA, don't seem to understand that.

 

[bdcardinal]

No worries. The linked article was somewhat incongruous with the picture of J.R. Todd's F/C, and then a posted time and speed from Langdon's TF/D.

The fact of the matter is the older guys who grew up with wanting to hot rod cars and go fast, are dying off. Four of the team owners I've worked for over the years, have passed away. Younger people just are not as interested in cars. The latest Smartphone, and requesting an Uber are where it's at with lots of young folks.

I've taken numerous people out to races who had never seen a Fuel car in person. Without exception, they were all stunned, and became fast fans of the mechanical violence that can only be appreciated in-person. A few of the people (not naming names) making the calls in the NHRA, don't seem to understand that.

There was a gentleman who used to come to our Friday BBQs, Pete van Iderstine. He owned a dragster at one point but the driver was killed in an accident. After that he stuck to just owning dirt cars, the last one being a late model number 32B. Pete passed a week and a half ago. It was really cool talking to him about racing. I was one of the few people he let sit with him to watch his car race on Flo or DirtVision.

I took my mom to Ponoma a few years ago and even with her knowing what to expect, she was shocked by Top Fuel.