2WD dragracers: Warning.

[McRat]

It happened again.

A 2wd truck back east lost it and crashed.

A glace at the pictures indicates he was running low-pressure bias-ply tires in the back, and wide steel-radials up front.

This allows the back of the truck or car to wander back and forth while driving. Moving the back of a car with the front planted firm causes rapid directional changes. Even small amounts of steering correction can cause you to lose control when it starts to wander.

Kat and I have witnessed these kinds of crashes many times over the years, and I have driven a few cars and trucks setup this way.

This has been the subject of debate for 40+ years, but the concensus of the tire companies, racers, and rim manufacturers is NOT to mix bias and radials, especially with the bias out back.

But let's say you MUST run bias slicks with radials up front, what can you do?

• Run the front tires at lower pressure so they don't react as quick.
  
• Run inner-tubes in the rear to firm up the sidewalls.
  
• Run high pressure in the rear, say 20PSI. Do not exceed mfr recommendation though.
  
• Run a narrow front tire with a high aspect ratio to slow down reaction. 245/75-16's are better than 305/55-20's.
  
• Test it first. Drive down an open street at 40mph and shake the wheel quick. How many ocillilations does it make? More than 1 is not good.

 

[Bluemax]

Was the driver OK?

 

[McRat]

Yup, just wrecked his truck and his day.

Now the hand wringers are calling for all of us to have 9-second roll-cages if we run 12 second ET's because we are racing pickups.

Hopefully they come to their senses.

 

[SIKDMAX]

Here it goes again... I take it this was on CompD? Ill have to go look for the pics....

 

[malibu795]

i saw the vid... one hellof a ride he took.... could have been much worse..

i understood you DO NOT to mix bias and radials tires????


some people learn the hard way

 

[2wd_Sled_Puller]

Pat i have had this problem before when letting air pressure out of my tires. So to help out i go threw the water box and burn out pass the tree to kinda get a little more air pressure in the tires so it dont sway as bad. but even with 15 pounds in the tire u do not want to correct it to much or your day can and will get bad quick

 

[Bluemax]

I didn't see the video but the pics look like it was quite a ride.

 

[LarryJewell]

Anybody got a link to the video

 

[Kat]

I didn't see the video but the pics look like it was quite a ride.

I didn't see the video either. But from the pic's looking at the stacks it didn't look like he rolled it either.

I'm happy he is safe. But, I will not put a rollbar or cage in a Wendy just because i run 12's.

 

[Kat]

Anybody got a link to the video

It was pulled from what I understand.

 

[malibu795]

it was on youtube yesterday.. in the 18 and up section..


work PC doesnt let veiw that site

 

[2wd_Sled_Puller]

Holy shit that gary ray southern diesel perfomance. That truck would hall major ass. it would spin well past the 1/8th mile mark can someone post the thread on here

 

[SIKDMAX]

I think its rediculous they pulled the video.... like hes trying to hide something.

They say an "official" one will be released by NHDRA.

Nice they donated the winnings to Gary though.

 

[2wd_Sled_Puller]

I have just got off the phone with gary ( wrong way ) the driver of the 1500 silverline dodge. He told me that he had 12.5 pounds of air in both back tires. He sayed that the low air pressure was not the cause of the crash. He sayed the truck was not swaying from side to side the only thing he can remember about the wreck was it filled as if the truck hook all at once and sent him to the right side. He sayed he is ok but very sore. His truck was stripped today and the motor and tranny was being put into his new ride. He sayed he will contuine to race.


Also the video will be up a little later the vidoe that was posted was not a good one of the wreck. He sayed that nhrda or who ever it was took a very good video of it and when he gets the vidoe he will put it up for us to watch.

He did give me a very good tip though When the truck is spinning try to make it hook before it hooks itself

 

[McRat]

Pat i have had this problem before when letting air pressure out of my tires. So to help out i go threw the water box and burn out pass the tree to kinda get a little more air pressure in the tires so it dont sway as bad. but even with 15 pounds in the tire u do not want to correct it to much or your day can and will get bad quick

I can run 10PSI in slicks and have the car handle like stock IF I have the right tires up front. Doesn't even flinch when powershifting at 7200rpm.

 

[ripmf666]

Looks like the 1500 frame didnt like the wreak, shame it happened hope all is well

 

[malibu795]

i bet that there is minor deflection of the roll bar if any.

that would pas a NHST crash test with a high rating

any one looked at a 4 star frontal wreck rating? the tires are normally few inches in the floor boards....

 

[Stingpuller]

Roll Bars!

I think all the comp d group thats wants roll bars on 12 sec. trucks can kiss my a$$!!! I got into truck racing because I was tired of racing fast cars and thinking what if. I fill safer in my 11 sec. truck than I did in a low 8 sec. car with a funny car cage in it. They just need to leave the rules alone! If they don't fill safe then don't race. I didn't tell everyone who races a 10.5 car to build different stuff because I didn't fill safe.

 

[ripmf666]

I think all the comp d group thats wants roll bars on 12 sec. trucks can kiss my a$$!!! I got into truck racing because I was tired of racing fast cars and thinking what if. I fill safer in my 11 sec. truck than I did in a low 8 sec. car with a funny car cage in it. They just need to leave the rules alone! If they don't fill safe then don't race. I didn't tell everyone who races a 10.5 car to build different stuff because I didn't fill safe.

I 2nd that thats why my car is in parts right now lol

 

[Cornell]

glad hes ok.

pictures look brutal