NHRA UPDATES COMMUNITY ON SAFETY INITIATIVES: PARACHUTES AND BRAKES
Fri, 2008-11-07 09:00
NHRA, working with the safety task force formed a little more than
three months ago, has continued to investigate, analyze, and determine
ways to implement initiatives to enhance racing safety. Among the areas
under review were parachutes and braking systems. Below is a brief
update on the progress being made on these two initiatives.
NHRA, working with the safety task force formed a little more than three months ago, has continued to investigate, analyze, and determine ways to implement initiatives to enhance racing safety. Among the areas under review were parachutes and braking systems. Below is a brief update on the progress being made on these two initiatives.
Parachutes
An area of focus has been parachute materials and mounting. Testing has been ongoing on the use of Kevlar parachute material, developed by Bill Simpson at Impact Racing, which is more fire resistant and more resistant to tearing and dragging. Teams/drivers testing the new material include Jeff Arend, Melanie Troxel, Gary Densham, Bob Tasca III, Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Ashley Force, and Robert Hight. Also, NHRA is working with its safety task force and several Funny Car teams to determine different parachute mounting locations on Funny Car chassis as well as the possible use of launchers to better propel and more quickly blossom the parachutes. At the same time, research continues on minimizing parachute entanglement. Material and mounting rules are expected to be announced by NHRA prior to the beginning of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season.
Braking system
Currently, leading manufacturers in the performance parts industry are working with teams to test a variety of new brake systems for Top Fuel dragsters and fuel Funny Cars. Jim Head is testing a power-assisted master cylinder on his Funny Car, and Larry Dixon is about to test a dual braking system utilizing two master cylinders on his Top Fuel dragster. In addition, a new, larger front brake is being developed. The new brake systems and larger front brake mechanism are currently being manufactured, and once enough product is available in the marketplace for all applicable race teams, the system will be mandated by NHRA.
Parachutes
An area of focus has been parachute materials and mounting. Testing has been ongoing on the use of Kevlar parachute material, developed by Bill Simpson at Impact Racing, which is more fire resistant and more resistant to tearing and dragging. Teams/drivers testing the new material include Jeff Arend, Melanie Troxel, Gary Densham, Bob Tasca III, Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Ashley Force, and Robert Hight. Also, NHRA is working with its safety task force and several Funny Car teams to determine different parachute mounting locations on Funny Car chassis as well as the possible use of launchers to better propel and more quickly blossom the parachutes. At the same time, research continues on minimizing parachute entanglement. Material and mounting rules are expected to be announced by NHRA prior to the beginning of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season.
Braking system
Currently, leading manufacturers in the performance parts industry are working with teams to test a variety of new brake systems for Top Fuel dragsters and fuel Funny Cars. Jim Head is testing a power-assisted master cylinder on his Funny Car, and Larry Dixon is about to test a dual braking system utilizing two master cylinders on his Top Fuel dragster. In addition, a new, larger front brake is being developed. The new brake systems and larger front brake mechanism are currently being manufactured, and once enough product is available in the marketplace for all applicable race teams, the system will be mandated by NHRA.Categories:
