And this time, start with two incidents that occurred at the last stage NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, held in Norwalk in late June.
Three-time champion in the class of Pro Stock Motorcycles Eddie Kravik continues to steadily gain points, but his path to the third victory of the season in the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals hardly be called smooth. During the races Shootout in the last two rounds of the pilot survived a couple of completely unnecessary, in his words, emotions. In the semifinals Kravik traveled Gerry Savoie exclusively due to lightning-fast reaction at the start, but the joy of victory lasted very long, because after the finish line driver realized that the brakes do not work. Champion convulsively squeezed the lever, trying to bleed the system and watching how quickly finishes the asphalt strip, but no improvements have not followed.
As a result, Eddie safely restrained in the seat and buried his two-wheeled device in a sand trap on virtually most tank a few meters before the barrier nets.
The main problem lay in the fact that the final was less than an hour, and the majority of motorcycle units were in need of a thorough cleaning. Experts inclined to believe that it will take at least a replacement of the engine, which is guaranteed swallowed sand through the intake system, devoid of filters for better throughput. As often happens in such situations, the embattled technique led efforts almost all of the paddock, and with the help of other teams Harley-Davidson Kravika still came out at the start of the decisive duel. In the final, with a minimum margin Kravik defeated five-time champion Andrew Hines, and after the finish of the situation repeated itself again. But this time, Eddie decided not to turn off the motor, gears ottormozilsya first, well, already set in motion in front of the sand sole, allowing only a few meters plowed «beach.»
From the words of the pilot, he was ready this time for such an eventuality, and worked much better situation. It looked as if the mechanics of raking fairings car kilos of sand and gravel, just forget about the brakes, but the words of the pilot all the necessary work on troubleshooting are carried out, and at the start of the bike came with a perfectly functioning brakes. And, despite the fact that the brake system failure in the context of 200 mph at the finish — it is beyond good and evil, himself a pilot during the presentation of the trophy only he joked: «It was really hot, and I damn like the beach, good NHRA provides an opportunity be it immediately after arrival, without getting out of the saddle. „
Much less cheerfully ended the incident with Steve Harker during Saturday's qualifying session at the same event. Champion in 2014 is considered one of the best pilots in the current class, Top Alcohol Funny Car. However, even the most experienced are not immune from such accidents, and that day at Norwalk Dragway was one of the worst in the career of the rider. Almost immediately after the start, the drive wheels Chevrolet Camaro Harker frustrated in spin, and between the 330-foot mark and 1/8 mile of his car at an angle of 45 degrees was thrown on the track of his opponent directly in the concrete bump. And if John Headley not missed the start, it absolutely would be two participants in this terrible accident, because the champion broke in half strip his rival a few feet from the front of his dregster.
From a collision at speeds close to 200 mph two cars separated by thousandths of a second. Despite the fact that this season meetings with the striker at similar rates have occurred repeatedly, and the pilots after they were chosen independently from the cockpit, the power of this strike was enough for Harker weekend ended in a hospital bed. Doctors diagnosed a few broken ribs, a bruised lung and concussion of average severity. At the moment, the state of the operated rider is out of danger, but a couple of months of racing champion, will likely have to forget.
Finish the selection would be desirable still on a positive, though very bright note. Jack Beckman is one of the most remarkable figures in the classroom Funny Car. This guy, if not wins the event, it takes the first place in qualifying, smashing records along the way at least the strip. Well, if the statement is not specified, the wait is very entertaining nitrometanoy fireworks in his performance. And in Epping it happened this way: as a large-scale show New England Dragway, perhaps never seen. 10,000-strong engines dregster Top Fuel and Funny Car cars turn into flames and red-hot lumps of aluminum chips regularly, but here Beckman surpassed many.
Usually, after a jammed vent might backfire, ripping off the blower with the unit, but in this case, the body driving the compressor torn in half as if it is made of cardboard, after which boost system helplessly hung on Kevlar safety belts. And this is another very clear illustration of the fact that, when we say that these fireballs fuel pumps pump in an explosive cylinders, we did not exaggerate for the sake of colorful epithets. The pilot was not injured, and his feet left the scene, but the next day had to resort to a backup car, because the result in feelings of the engine and the chassis is just not possible for one night. Beckman said after the incident, the cockpit was an unforgettable spectacle, although he himself, to confess, frightened in earnest.
In spite of everything, a modern professional drag racing continues to be one of the safest motorsport disciplines. The most secure and highly entertaining.
Photo: open source
From the words of the pilot, he was ready this time for such an eventuality, and worked much better situation. It looked as if the mechanics of raking fairings car kilos of sand and gravel, just forget about the brakes, but the words of the pilot all the necessary work on troubleshooting are carried out, and at the start of the bike came with a perfectly functioning brakes. And, despite the fact that the brake system failure in the context of 200 mph at the finish — it is beyond good and evil, himself a pilot during the presentation of the trophy only he joked: «It was really hot, and I damn like the beach, good NHRA provides an opportunity be it immediately after arrival, without getting out of the saddle. „
Much less cheerfully ended the incident with Steve Harker during Saturday's qualifying session at the same event. Champion in 2014 is considered one of the best pilots in the current class, Top Alcohol Funny Car. However, even the most experienced are not immune from such accidents, and that day at Norwalk Dragway was one of the worst in the career of the rider. Almost immediately after the start, the drive wheels Chevrolet Camaro Harker frustrated in spin, and between the 330-foot mark and 1/8 mile of his car at an angle of 45 degrees was thrown on the track of his opponent directly in the concrete bump. And if John Headley not missed the start, it absolutely would be two participants in this terrible accident, because the champion broke in half strip his rival a few feet from the front of his dregster.
From a collision at speeds close to 200 mph two cars separated by thousandths of a second. Despite the fact that this season meetings with the striker at similar rates have occurred repeatedly, and the pilots after they were chosen independently from the cockpit, the power of this strike was enough for Harker weekend ended in a hospital bed. Doctors diagnosed a few broken ribs, a bruised lung and concussion of average severity. At the moment, the state of the operated rider is out of danger, but a couple of months of racing champion, will likely have to forget.
Finish the selection would be desirable still on a positive, though very bright note. Jack Beckman is one of the most remarkable figures in the classroom Funny Car. This guy, if not wins the event, it takes the first place in qualifying, smashing records along the way at least the strip. Well, if the statement is not specified, the wait is very entertaining nitrometanoy fireworks in his performance. And in Epping it happened this way: as a large-scale show New England Dragway, perhaps never seen. 10,000-strong engines dregster Top Fuel and Funny Car cars turn into flames and red-hot lumps of aluminum chips regularly, but here Beckman surpassed many.
Usually, after a jammed vent might backfire, ripping off the blower with the unit, but in this case, the body driving the compressor torn in half as if it is made of cardboard, after which boost system helplessly hung on Kevlar safety belts. And this is another very clear illustration of the fact that, when we say that these fireballs fuel pumps pump in an explosive cylinders, we did not exaggerate for the sake of colorful epithets. The pilot was not injured, and his feet left the scene, but the next day had to resort to a backup car, because the result in feelings of the engine and the chassis is just not possible for one night. Beckman said after the incident, the cockpit was an unforgettable spectacle, although he himself, to confess, frightened in earnest.
In spite of everything, a modern professional drag racing continues to be one of the safest motorsport disciplines. The most secure and highly entertaining.
Photo: open source
