Force Runs Quarter Mile in 4.695 at 328.06 mph - Houston

National Hot Rod Association ^ | 03/31/2005 | Rob Geiger

[Loud Mime]

The most prolific racer in Houston Raceway Park history, seven-time Funny Car winner John Force, added to his Texas legacy Friday night with a double-track-pass of 4.695 at 328.06 mph to lead the Day 1 qualifying action at the 19th annual O'Reilly Spring NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil. The $1.5 million race is the fourth of 23 on the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Force thrilled the packed grandstands with his big run, which puts him in prime position to earn his ninth low qualifier award at this facility. He was joined by Top Fuel leader Doug Kalitta (4.533), Pro Stock polesitter Jason Line (6.686), and Pro Stock Motorcycle frontrunner Antron Brown (7.059) at the top of the provisional race day grids. Like Force, Line used a track record elapsed time to put his car out front.

snip

[Loud Mime]

The difference between most funny cars and top fuelers is minimal. How is it that something with so much air resistance gets up to 330mph?

Las Vegas is next week!!!!!

[Loud Mime]

Drag Racing Ping

[Loud Mime]

My plan is to cover the Vegas race in person. I'm going to hang around the Army pit and photograph the vets, then post pix on FR.

If you plan on being there on Friday or Saturday, let me know!

[NormsRevenge]

7 second quarter mile on a motorcycle,, Oh man.

[NormsRevenge]

Have fun! sounds like a blast.

[Supernatural]

How the heck does Force do it, week after week?

I thought Big Daddy was really something in his day, but Force has won more than anyone.

[Fielding]

The answer to your question is: in a big hurry! John Force had a pretty good idea of what it takes to goes fast.

[umgud]

Man that's wicked quick. THX for da ping.

[Loud Mime]

all their acceleration is in the first 1/8th mile. Angelle said they're pulling 3 g's on take off.

[Loud Mime]

Big Daddy was driving and throttling. Today's cars have 'puter stuff that determines clutch settings and fuel flow. Don Garlits was a real driver. Force is good, but I wonder what things would be like if the driver had to do all the work.

If you get the right crew chief to engineer your runs you'll win. When Melanie Troxel drove for Larry Michael she couldn't qualify. Now Schumacher hands her a good car with a great chief and she's winning races.

[NormsRevenge]

I used to ride small bikes in my high school days.

some of our "pack" had bigger bikes, the ones I remember most were a bored out 750 Honda and a 900 Kawasaki, those 2 babies almost made ya fall off the back end when they dropped the clutch and crammed the throttles wide open. I rode with the mad man on the kawasaki once , criminy,, what a rush.

I couldn't imagine riding one of these babies.. now as for a four wheel vehicles, I did a couple street runs in a suped car or two but heck, nothing much into the triple digit range,, 335 mph, wow. my eyes are watering thinking about it.

[mountn man]

Force Runs Quarter Mile in 4.695 at 328.06 mph

I always thought John looked a little over weight, I never thought of him as a runner. I think he ought to give up the drag racing gig and do the olympics.

He could probably make alot more money running than drag racing. At least for Domino's Pizza. Imagine how many pizzas he could deliver in an hour.

If he played football, he'd be in the end zone in about 1-1/2 seconds. Dan Marino could come out of retirement with his quick release.

[mkjessup]

Big Daddy was driving and throttling. Today's cars have 'puter stuff that determines clutch settings and fuel flow. Don Garlits was a real driver. Force is good, but I wonder what things would be like if the driver had to do all the work.

EXCELLENT points. Guys like Garlits, Nicholson, Jenkins, Sox & Martin, (and I must include Hubert Platt!) they were not only drivers, they were top mechanics and engineers in their own right, they understood the relationship between adjusting one part of the car and how it would affect the power at the rear wheels, handling, all of that. Not taking anything away from John, as he is indeed a Force (GROAN) to be reckoned with (that was too easy, lol) but even Force would admit that 20 and 30 years ago, it was a whole different game in NHRA than it is today, so far as the sophistication involved so far as computers and other high tech applications.

And Dyno Don, one of the Greats, passed away this past January 24th, he will be missed:

[Jimmy Valentine]

A little history for fellow gearheads. In the 1960's Don Garlits had the quarter mile record in a rail "Swamp Rat I" at 182 miles per hour and was the last to give up carburators for fuel injection.

Ancient history ping!

[Loud Mime]

LOL, you got me there.

Force's face is kinda fat, but he's one skinny dude. If you ever see him out of his racing suit, which looks overly-nomexed, you'll be surprised.

Look at the successful racers: Capps, Pedregon, Schumacher, Force, Scelzi, Johnson.....they're all small people. The biggest racer I can think of now is Doug Herbert.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

If you get the right crew chief to engineer your runs you'll win. When Melanie Troxel drove for Larry Michael she couldn't qualify. Now Schumacher hands her a good car with a great chief and she's winning races.

That's why motor "sports" are bull$#!+. Give me the Tour de France or Paris-Roubaix any day!

[Loud Mime]

Here's Sox and Martin running through the rosin....I forgot all about that stuff. I once saw Butch Leal put a hole shot on Ronnie Sox that was so bad that Sox left the racetrack on the first turnout....only 100 feet down track.

[Daus]

Let me know when he hits around 660mph. :)

My families only interesting bragging rights is the engine on this:

Blue Flame