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Most places have standing start 1/4 mile drag races, or even shorter for purpose-built dragsters to limit the top speed. In Texas it seems they have standing start mile (~1.6km) drag races with street legal cars like this one — https://www.motor1.com/news/315168/ford-gt-hits-300-mph/ (482 kph):
It goes without saying this is far from being a stock Ford GT, but the modifications it has gone through have not removed the vehicle’s street-legal status. It’s said to have a little over 2,000 horsepower at the wheels, but in reality, the car actually has more power, closer to 2,500 hp according to M2K Motorsports. The difference comes from the limitations of the dyno used to measure the sheer power of the upgraded 5.4-liter V8 engine since it simply can’t handle the entire output.
This car started as a 2006 model, the second series of production Ford GTs, this batch looked much like the originals, but were about 10% larger. From the video (available on YouTube), it looks pretty stock externally except for the parachute (brake) strapped to the tail.
The aerodynamic drag on the vehicle at 300 mph is 25 times as much as when it is traveling at 60 mph and 9 times as much as when it is traveling at 100 mph.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Pslytely Psycho on Wednesday March 27 2019, @10:43AM (5 children)
"Most places have standing start 1/4 mile drag races, or even shorter for purpose-built dragsters to limit the top speed."
What? Purpose-built dragsters are Funny Cars, Top Fuel, Bracket racers, the subject of this article, etc.
Shorter runs are for cars that are NOT purpose built and may lack certain safety features such as driveshaft loops, 5 point safety harnesses, full or partial roll cages, etcetera but run too fast for a full 1/4. It is to limit top speed, but not for purpose-built cars, but for cars that do not meet the safety requirements for the speeds they are capable of obtaining. Purpose-built cars can go as fast as they are capable of. (An old friend from high school used to run a Jet-dragster, doesn't get much more purpose-built than that!)
Basically a factory built stock car can only run 11.49 (*7.35 1/8th mile) seconds or slower equipped with street tires. Any faster and these rules From the NHRA begin to take effect (the Ford GT in the article meets or exceeds ALL of these rules, save for the NOS, which it doesn't have):
Licensed Drivers 16 and 17 years of age must have a valid waiver signed by both parents to participate as a driver or passenger. Virtually anyone can compete in drag racing. Drivers 18 years of age and over are required to have Valid State Driver License,and must be capable of the safe operation of their vehicle.
Vehicles running 6.39 E.T. (Elapsed Time) and quicker require a NHRA Competition License and the chassis must have a current NHRA Chassis Certification.Auto Trans Reverse Lock out Any non-OEM (ie aftermarket)automatic floor-mounted transmission shifter must be equipped with a spring-loaded,positive reverse lockout device to prevent the shifter from accidentally being put in reverse gear.A functional neutral safety switch is also required.
Roll Bars Unless otherwise required by your class, 6 point roll bars are required on convertibles running quicker than 8.25.
Roll Bar required on all cars (including T-tops) running quicker than 7.35.
Roll Cages required on convertibles running 6.99 or faster than 135mph. Roll Cages required on all cars running 6.99*or faster than 135mph. *One exception: full-bodied cars running between 6.40 and 6.99, with unaltered firewalls, floor and body (from firewall rearward -wheel tubes permitted) can compete with just a roll bar.
Vehicles running 6.39 E.T. (Elapsed Time) and quicker require a NHRA Competition License and the chassis must have a current NHRA Chassis Certification.
Helmets: Drivers of all 8.59 or quicker cars,including motorcycles, must wear a helmet meeting Snell or SFI Specifications. Full-face helmet mandatory on all cars 9.99(1/4 mile)/6.39 (1/8 mile)or quicker. See individual Class Requirements for additional requirements, such as Stock Eliminator. Shield mandatory 7.49 (1/4 mile) and quicker.
Drivers of NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and E.T. cars (13.99 or quicker)(*8.59) must use a helmet meeting Snell SA2005, K2005, M2005, SA2010, SAH2010, K2010, M2010, or SFI 31.1/2005, or 41.1/2005 Specs. Drivers in supercharged, frontengine, open-bodied cars and Funny Cars must wear a helmet meeting Snell SA2005, SA2010, SAH2010, or SFI 31.1/2005.
Nitrous Oxide: Commercially available nitrous oxide permitted, including supercharged and turbocharged engines. Nitrous bottle(s) in driver compartment must be equipped with a relief valve and vented outside of driver’s compartment. Bottle(s) must be stamped with a DOT-1800 pound rating and permanently mounted (no hose clamps or tie wraps). Hoses from bottle(s) tosolenoid must be high-pressure steel-braided or NHRA accepted hoses. Commercially available, thermostatically controlled,blanket-type warmer accepted. Any other external heating of bottle prohibited, i.e. torches absolutely forbidden.
Liquid Overflow: All cars must have a recovery system or catch can (minimum of 16 oz.) for the car's radiator.
Drive-shaft loop for cars with driveshafts that contain universal joints:For all full-bodied and open-bodied cars running between 7.50(*4.50) and 13.99 (*8.59) in place of a crossmember located behind but within 6 inches of the center of the front universal joint: A front driveshaft loop is required on all cars, except vehicles running 11.49 (*7.35) seconds or slower equipped with street tires.
Battery Relocation: If the battery is not in the stock location, and relocated to the trunk,for example, you must have an external cut-off switch on the back of the car which cuts off the electrical system and must also stop the car from running.
Seat Belts: All cars must be equipped with an accepted quick release type driver seat belt. All cars in competition requiring a roll bar or roll cage, or as outlined by Class Requirements, require a Driver Restraint System
Driver Restraint Systems: A quick-release, 3-inch shoulder harness meeting SFI Spec 16.1, including crotch strap, is mandatory in all cars in competition required by the rules to have a roll bar or a roll cage. Driver restraint system must be clearly labeled as meeting SFI Spec 16.1 and be dated by manufacturer. System must be updated at two-year intervals from date of manufacture. All seat belt and shoulder harness installations must be mutually compatible, originally designed to be used with each other, and produced by the same manufacturer. Cars using OEM or OEM type seat may route crotch strap in front of seat instead of through seat. Only those units that release all five attachment points in one motion are permitted. When arm restraints are worn with a restraint system that utilizes a "latch lever", a protective cover must be installed to prevent arm restraint from accidentally releasing the latch lever. Protective cover not needed if system uses "duckbill" latch hardware. All harness sections must be mounted to the frame, crossmember, or reinforced mounting, and installed to limit driver's body travel both upward and forward. Seat belts may not be wrapped around lower frame rails. Under no circumstances are bolts inserted through belt webbing permitted for mounting. Check manufacturer’s instructions.
Wheels & Lug Nuts: All wheels must have ALL lug nuts in place and securely fastened. All street tires must have minimum 1/16inch tread depth.Vehicles with slicks must have open ended lug nuts. The thread engagement on all wheel studs to the lug nut, or lug bolts to wheel hubs, must be equivalent to or greater than the diameter of the stud/bolt. Length of the stud/bolt does not determine permissibility. (Example: A 7/16-inch stud must be thoroughly engaged through the threads in the hex portion of the lug a minimum of 7/16-inch.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 27 2019, @01:15PM (4 children)
> ... What? Purpose-built dragsters are Funny Cars, Top Fuel
Sorry for confusion, what I was referring to are 1000 foot drag strips used to limit the top speed of fuel (nitromethane) cars. This is a fairly recent development, shortening the traditional 1320 foot strip.
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Wednesday March 27 2019, @02:39PM (3 children)
Ah, now that makes sense.
The way it's written however......well, to an old circle track/drag racer, just sounds ludicrous. I've had two cars banned until modifications were made for breaking NHRA rules by going just a fraction of a second too fast.
Thank you for clarifying.
That is one awesome fucking GT40 though.
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(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday March 27 2019, @03:19PM (2 children)
One question remains - how fast can The Stig take it round the Top Gear track?
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(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday March 27 2019, @07:15PM (1 child)
Street-legal doesn't quite equate to every-day use, though, unless you are the unicorn combination of small enough to fit in a GT while fat enough to bring your own padding and suspension on something that is bound to constantly inform you about the exact shape of every piece of gravel and bump on the road.
Credit where it's due: this thing can actually turn. How fast it can corner with all the mods, and therefore lap a non-NASCAR track, is a very different topic.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 28 2019, @04:12AM
Suspension mods on the 300 mph car designed by this specialist,
http://www.ahlmaneng.com/results#/wins-awards [ahlmaneng.com]
There is a very good chance that the car rides OK and corners well, as long as the rear tires aren't lit up! (with traction control engaged).