Top Draster wheelbase

Brian Hansbury · 12-31-2008, 06:31 PM

i have been told i am crazyto run my four link car in top dragster if the new motor makes enough steam that is .....it is a 215 wb car looking for input

masracing · 01-01-2009, 09:18 PM

Good to hear you are putting a T/D combination together. I have been meaning to contact Wayne to find out how the series planning is coming.

My father's front engine car is 215 inches he has been 7.6s at 179 without any problems. I know he is planning to go faster this year. I realize its a front engine car and not a four link so the center of gravity is a little different but I would say you should be ok based on our experiences. I think he would agree. The car might be a little less forgiving then a 240 or 250 inch car thats the only difference I would forsee

Good Luck!

B.J. Masiello

Brian Hansbury · 01-02-2009, 08:38 PM

Thanks BJ i have had the car i used to bracket race it and it does well ....makes me look good ...lol...i talked to my chassis guy today and he said same thing should work well .....now i just gotta hope that 598 can get me going fast enough to play in the series if not i will just bracket race.....lol.....wayne sold the spitzer car i was driving .....

Ryan Dillman · 01-11-2009, 09:32 PM

Just my 2 cents but i have been 7.40s in top dragster in a 245inch dragster and being on the brakes hard at the finishline is a little disturbing so a shorter car like you will definitely be very unforgiving.

R&S Motorsports · 01-13-2009, 03:14 AM

There are Land Shark 185" 4-link dragsters that I have seen run 7.20's with no problems.

Charlie Yannetti · 01-13-2009, 01:52 PM

Hey Brian........ a lot of years back....... before 4 link dragsters were thought of........ I ran a 215" hard tail dragster that ran 7.60's @ 170 and change......... it was a bracket car and I was into the brakes a lot on the top end......... never had a problem.......and that was at Island Dragway....... if your 4 link is set up correctly, you should have less of a problem, I would think....... the braking transition should be smoother, unless you're jumping on the binders way too hard....... and if you dial right you shouldn't be on the brakes much at all........

If you watch T/D in D1, which I'm sure you have, most of the dragsters seem to be suspended in one way or another...... so I don't see what your problem would be or who may have started you thinking that you may have one........ LOL ........ just remember to drive smart.........

Is 215" too short for 180 to 190 mph???........ it's a fair question........ but I would still say you would be OK if your back half is working correctly and you know how to respect your limitations as a driver......

Brad1212 · 01-15-2009, 06:59 AM

I ran a 225" Ed Quay in T/D at Rockingham in the fall and went 6.52 @ 208. Down track was great but it did have a tendency to want to bounce a little when the chutes where pulled.

Brad Slaughter

Rich Biebel · 01-31-2009, 04:40 PM

Brian......a 598" for my old ride? OK why not! I went 7.78 at just under 170 with it on a cold day in March at E-Town. You could do a couple things to make it a bit more stable. Add a wing and maybe X-link the bottom 4 link bars. The car felt a little light as the speeds got faster. I used to feel like it needed steering input at the top end and felt a little "loose" sometimes. My present 235" RaceTech doesn't really feel a whole lot different to me and I'm running almost identical et's and speeds. I have 2 sets of brakes on the RaceTech and have been a little sideways with it at the finishline at Island...and not on purpose! What happened to your T/D ride with Wayne? Good luck and stay safe.....Rich

Tom Goldman · 02-02-2009, 10:15 AM

Rich ,I think these guys would crap their pants if they saw Rick Medence going 7.20's at Island with his 185" HARDTAIL car!!. .....Not that I don't think he's a little nuts, but he's been going that quick over there for years on one of the shortest ,bumpiest tracks in D1. ....Personally, I think a 235"+ car is the one for the job,but I'd favour a slip joint over those 2000# swing arm tanks!

Rich Biebel · 02-02-2009, 04:41 PM

Tom....Medence's car is one of my favorites. I never saw him run .20's but definately 40's and .50's. If you ever are around him when he starts it...you'll smell some nitro......I asked a crew guy once and he said they do use a little sometimes. I would not want to run a hard tail at Island......and you know I've been up and down that track hundreds of times. I have seen guys bouncing trying to stop as I made the turnaround......scrape,screech,scrape,screech..... .and you run out of pavement real fast......and Tom....congratulations on that nice award you received at the banquet....it is well deserved. Rich

12-31-2008, 06:31 PM	#1
Brian Hansbury Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: east nassau ny Posts: 100 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Top Draster wheelbase i have been told i am crazyto run my four link car in top dragster if the new motor makes enough steam that is .....it is a 215 wb car looking for input

01-01-2009, 09:18 PM	#2
masracing Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 60 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Good to hear you are putting a T/D combination together. I have been meaning to contact Wayne to find out how the series planning is coming. My father's front engine car is 215 inches he has been 7.6s at 179 without any problems. I know he is planning to go faster this year. I realize its a front engine car and not a four link so the center of gravity is a little different but I would say you should be ok based on our experiences. I think he would agree. The car might be a little less forgiving then a 240 or 250 inch car thats the only difference I would forsee Good Luck! B.J. Masiello

01-02-2009, 08:38 PM	#3
Brian Hansbury Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: east nassau ny Posts: 100 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Thanks BJ i have had the car i used to bracket race it and it does well ....makes me look good ...lol...i talked to my chassis guy today and he said same thing should work well .....now i just gotta hope that 598 can get me going fast enough to play in the series if not i will just bracket race.....lol.....wayne sold the spitzer car i was driving .....

01-11-2009, 09:32 PM	#4
Ryan Dillman Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Indianapolis,IN Posts: 63 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Just my 2 cents but i have been 7.40s in top dragster in a 245inch dragster and being on the brakes hard at the finishline is a little disturbing so a shorter car like you will definitely be very unforgiving. __________________ Ryan Dillman 316K S/G

01-13-2009, 03:14 AM	#5
R&S Motorsports Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wind Lake, WI Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase There are Land Shark 185" 4-link dragsters that I have seen run 7.20's with no problems.

01-13-2009, 01:52 PM	#6
Charlie Yannetti Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 557 Likes: 178 Liked 179 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Hey Brian........ a lot of years back....... before 4 link dragsters were thought of........ I ran a 215" hard tail dragster that ran 7.60's @ 170 and change......... it was a bracket car and I was into the brakes a lot on the top end......... never had a problem.......and that was at Island Dragway....... if your 4 link is set up correctly, you should have less of a problem, I would think....... the braking transition should be smoother, unless you're jumping on the binders way too hard....... and if you dial right you shouldn't be on the brakes much at all........ If you watch T/D in D1, which I'm sure you have, most of the dragsters seem to be suspended in one way or another...... so I don't see what your problem would be or who may have started you thinking that you may have one........ LOL ........ just remember to drive smart......... Is 215" too short for 180 to 190 mph???........ it's a fair question........ but I would still say you would be OK if your back half is working correctly and you know how to respect your limitations as a driver......

01-15-2009, 06:59 AM	#7
Brad1212 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Warren Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase I ran a 225" Ed Quay in T/D at Rockingham in the fall and went 6.52 @ 208. Down track was great but it did have a tendency to want to bounce a little when the chutes where pulled. Brad Slaughter

01-31-2009, 04:40 PM	#8
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Brian......a 598" for my old ride? OK why not! I went 7.78 at just under 170 with it on a cold day in March at E-Town. You could do a couple things to make it a bit more stable. Add a wing and maybe X-link the bottom 4 link bars. The car felt a little light as the speeds got faster. I used to feel like it needed steering input at the top end and felt a little "loose" sometimes. My present 235" RaceTech doesn't really feel a whole lot different to me and I'm running almost identical et's and speeds. I have 2 sets of brakes on the RaceTech and have been a little sideways with it at the finishline at Island...and not on purpose! What happened to your T/D ride with Wayne? Good luck and stay safe.....Rich __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479

02-02-2009, 10:15 AM	#9
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,435 Likes: 774 Liked 699 Times in 203 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Rich ,I think these guys would crap their pants if they saw Rick Medence going 7.20's at Island with his 185" HARDTAIL car!!. .....Not that I don't think he's a little nuts, but he's been going that quick over there for years on one of the shortest ,bumpiest tracks in D1. ....Personally, I think a 235"+ car is the one for the job,but I'd favour a slip joint over those 2000# swing arm tanks! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

02-02-2009, 04:41 PM	#10
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: Top Draster wheelbase Tom....Medence's car is one of my favorites. I never saw him run .20's but definately 40's and .50's. If you ever are around him when he starts it...you'll smell some nitro......I asked a crew guy once and he said they do use a little sometimes. I would not want to run a hard tail at Island......and you know I've been up and down that track hundreds of times. I have seen guys bouncing trying to stop as I made the turnaround......scrape,screech,scrape,screech..... .and you run out of pavement real fast......and Tom....congratulations on that nice award you received at the banquet....it is well deserved. Rich __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479