4 Wide Drag Racing

[TomoHawk]

Has anyone watched the new 4-wide style of drag racing? I'll bet it looks kind of spectacular, with all 4 vehicles going at once, but I am skeptical on this concept.

I read that a number of NHRA drivers sent an official letter out to critique this style of racing. They thought it was dangerous to have 4 cars going at once, it detracts from the closeness of 2-wide racing, the traffic in the staging lanes is "like a circus" and the sponsors don't get noticed as well.

I tend to agree with all that. Just imagine if one car got sideways and jumped the center wall. It could possibly take out the other three cars in one heat!

I was looking for the rules governing the 4-wide concept, even though I don't think there is any in my area, but that is when I read about the letter from NHRA drivers and owners.

Since there is a lack of information, can anyone describe how it works or a website?

thxZ

[Stanley]

Sounds dangerous unless the cars are slow enough that there's little chance of them getting out of control. Maybe that's what they want.

Had a three-way stoplight race last summer, me in the Z against a Harley and a Ford Focus with loud pipes. Wasn't planned, we were in front row at the light, looked at each other, and all decided to go. Harley won, not by much, I tied with the Focus, but he had a carload. Way safer than what you're describing, since we didn't get over 60 MPH before slowing for the next light. Speed limit was 50.

[TomoHawk]

I'm pretty sure the 4-way drag racing has a 1000 foot length, and it's another reason driver's don't like it. Again, I'd like to read some official literature on this concept. You do, however, get twice as many vehicles down the track with the 4-wide system. I don't mind waiting for my call on the local 2-wide track; I go for the social aspect as well. Does that equate to twice as much income? Don't forget the cost of creating two more lanes, barriers, the electronics for timing, and probably some traffic control people.

Oddly enough, I saw a few YouTube videos featuring 4-wide funny cars and 4-wide Top Fuel dragsters. That is what made me think of how dangerous things could get.

It was also a boring race. The 4 funny cars took a whole 2 minutes to get staged, and the 1000-foot run took what seemed like 1 second. You could compare it to a cannon going off- BOOM.. 1... 2... done.

Edited March 26, 2014 by TomoHawk