Who really ran the first "3" to 1,000 ft in a funny car? And when? (1 Viewer)

[Randy]

The big long list of 3 second runs in the "Courtney" thread got me thinking. I submit to you it may have been Jack Beckman...at the Finals, in the final, in 2006.

I haven't looked at other runs from the quarter mile era, but we all know the clocks were placed at 1,000 feet picking up the data.

On that run Jack ran a 4.662 to set the 1/4 mile national record against Force's 4.697 in the final.

Here are the incrementals:

Jack Beckman's incremental times: 60ft-0.899 sec., 330ft-2.279, 660ft-3.212/272.72mph, 1,000ft-3.989

And there you have it. Thoughts?

Randy G.

 

[Nunz]

First thing that comes to mind is, who knows how much heavier the cars are than 8 years ago?

 

[Dave]

They didn't post the incrementals on his run, but I'd toss John Force's 4.665 from October 3rd, 2004 at Joliet into the mix.

They did post them on his 4.697 in the final qualifying session and they were.. John Force's incremental times: 60ft-0.881 sec., 330ft-2.269, 660ft-3.231/264.86mph, 1,000ft-4.023

I'm just guessing, but .032 quicker at the 1,320 should be pretty close to that at the 1,000 foot. Also his speed on the .69 was 332.75. and on the .66 was a 333.58. So he was covering ground quick!

Force also ran 4.664 at the 2006 Winternationals, but didn't back it up for a record, and no 1,000 foot time was posted.

Also at the 2006 Finals, during final qualifying, Force, Hight, and Beckman put on a heck of a show..
Side by side:
John Force Runs 4.677/328.22
60ft-0.891 sec., 330ft-2.257, 660ft-3.210/265.90mph, 1,000ft-4.000
Jack Beckman Runs 4.671/333.66
60ft-0.904 sec., 330ft-2.287, 660ft-3.224/271.73mph, 1,000ft-4.002

Then.
Robert Hight Runs 4.672/328.94
No incrementals

Thanks for reminding me how much I miss the quarter mile nitro racing.

I can tell you, the first ever 3 second 1,000 foot time was clocked by, ironically enough, Scott Kalitta during his 4.72 at Houston in 1994.

 

[twostep]

First thing that comes to mind is, who knows how much heavier the cars are than 8 years ago?

230 pounds (2325 then, 2555 now, including driver). You're welcome.

 

[Randy]

In 9 years the heads have gotten better, better superchargers, clutch and fuel management is better, and I got older.

Another thing to remember. The fuse had to be longer, meaning the set up had to make it another 320 feet in one piece, where today the fuse is 1,000 feet long and that's it. Running on wreck to 1,000 ft vs running on wreck in an effort to make it to 1,320 ft would make a difference in how aggressive you could be early in the run.

 

[Nunz]

Absolutely right, like the Pro Mod cars that are purpose built to run 1/8 mile, they are just rockets to the 660.

 

[Usual password less 1]

230 pounds (2325 then, 2555 now, including driver). You're welcome.

Uhh. It's 2575 now and has been for a few years. It was 2400 lbs in 2006.

 

[twostep]

Uhh. It's 2575 now and has been for a few years. It was 2400 lbs in 2006.

How would you know?

I pulled out an old rulebook of mine and read 2325 pounds but it's dated 04 and not 06. Guess they had a increase somewhere in there. This is where I got the 2555 number, from a 2015 article at Competition Plus. http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/5616-funny-car-weight-debate

Then today I noticed the article's date as ' March 2015'...so who knows. The correct date could be anything. Anyway, thanks for the correction.

 

[Mike]

NHRA was racing 1/4 mile then, not 1000 foot

 

[Randy]

NHRA was racing 1/4 mile then, not 1000 foot

More breaking news from Mike English, LOL

 

[DAN]

I was there for that '06 Final. Beckman v Force - Side by side 4.60s at 330mph was an insane introduction to NHRA for me (in person). If I recall correctly, the bump in FC that weekend was around 4.86 - a hell of a show.

 

[Nunz]

Wow, 2575lb. is heavy. It's amazing they weigh that much considering all the ti, mag, and carbon-fiber components. It also shows how things have advanced to allow them to run the numbers with the added weight.

 

[Ugly one]

If I remember correctly Robert Hight was the only car to ever run a 3 second 1000 ft et. when they still raced on a real race track (1/4 mile) It was brought up when Hagen ran the first 3 to 1000 ft

 

[Dave]

If I remember correctly Robert Hight was the only car to ever run a 3 second 1000 ft et. when they still raced on a real race track (1/4 mile) It was brought up when Hagen ran the first 3 to 1000 ft

Robert Hight has the quickest official time to the 1,000 foot timing block, 3.955 on February 23rd, 2007. Matt Hagan ran 3.954 in unofficial testing last December. Cruz ran 3.959 to have the quickest in the 1,000 foot finish line era. However Robert wasn't the only one to do it during the 1,320 foot era.

 

[Randy]

If I remember correctly Robert Hight was the only car to ever run a 3 second 1000 ft et. when they still raced on a real race track (1/4 mile) It was brought up when Hagen ran the first 3 to 1000 ft

Hey Kevin. Did you read my post#1 or was Miller in your shop asking for free shirts again?

The incrementals are posted on Drag Race Central from Beckman's 2006 run. Unless Louis Bloom joins Nitromater to give us the low down, that's the earliest (first) 3 second 1,000 ft time slip we've confirmed. See it here:

http://dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=127674&Filter=Year2006#indextop

3 minutes after that run Tony Schumacher ran a 4.42 to take the win and the championship away from Doug Kalitta.

 

[Toejam]

Uhh. It's 2575 now and has been for a few years. It was 2400 lbs in 2006.

Jeff or Randy, is that added weight just ballast or is it built into the chassis? 175 lbs is huge....

 

[Randy]

Jeff or Randy, is that added weight just ballast or is it built into the chassis? 175 lbs is huge....

Teams move the weight around, but the main reason for increasing the weight (to answer your question) is due to the added weight of mandated additional safety equipment over the years, like the Leahy shut down stuff, mandated heavier chassis, heavier tires, belly pans, two body latches. dry sump systems, etc. NHRA tries to determine what the weight increases were when stuff is mandated and made minimum weight changes accordingly so teams aren't forced to make the entire car out of exotic materials or be forced to hire a petite driver like Hillary Will.

 

[Toejam]

Teams move the weight around, but the main reason for increasing the weight (to answer your question) is due to the added weight of mandated additional safety equipment over the years, like the Leahy shut down stuff, mandated heavier chassis, heavier tires, belly pans, two body latches. dry sump systems, etc. NHRA tries to determine what the weight increases were when stuff is mandated and made minimum weight changes accordingly so teams aren't forced to make the entire car out of exotic materials or be forced to hire a petite driver like Hillary Will.

I think no matter what these cars weigh, a 100 lb. driver will always have an advantage over a 160-170 lb. Driver! Look at what Angelle Savioe did to PSB? It's a Horse Jockey class anymore!

 

[flapjack]

I think no matter what these cars weigh, a 100 lb. driver will always have an advantage over a 160-170 lb. Driver! Look at what Angelle Savioe did to PSB? It's a Horse Jockey class anymore!

Yeah I imagine having a lighter driver gives the crew chief free to distribute weight better.

 

[.]

I think no matter what these cars weigh, a 100 lb. driver will always have an advantage over a 160-170 lb. Driver! Look at what Angelle Savioe did to PSB? It's a Horse Jockey class anymore!

A lot more critical on a bike than a car.