Ok, so I had this debate with a friend the other day and I argued that road racing is more abuse on the motor becuase of the constant high revs and the fact that you are out on 30-60 minute sessions at a time beating the **** out of your car.

My friend argued that drag racing puts more load on the engine at once, is bad for the tranny and differential and other things and is actually harder on the car than road racing.

Anyone want to share some input?

 

I would think it would primarily depend on the setup. Road racing a car w/ a frontmount is going to be harder on it than drag racing a car w/ a front mount. If you compare it in a ratio, say abuse per second it would be drag racing by far. You're launching hard and puting stress on your drivetrain, plus keeping the engine under heavy load for anywhere from 13 seconds to whatever.

Road racing, however, is more of a constant beating, just not all that hard at once. I'd guess more damage is inflicted by drag racing, solely because of all the strain on the components during launch. That's what breaks things 90% of the time. In road racing you're not so much launching the car out of the hole and gradually geting on it and leting off etc.

 

Any quick road racer will tell you need to be smooth. 98 percent of American road racing starts from a rolling start. Drag racing is hard on driveline. My vote would be drag racing brakes parts and is harder on a vehicle.

-billy

 

Also consider that drag racing puts a lot of stress on few parts, whereas road racing spreads the stress out over more components.

Blake

 

Drag racing "rapes" your rear end, bit like what i'd do to those girls in Kyles sig

 

I do it for the fans

 

What about just the engine itself? Road racing or drag racing?

 

engine internal reliability is more of a test in road racing, long duration under high load and high temps

 

Neither. The rotary likes to spin. When afforded the opportunity, I drive my car on the street just as I would on the strip or the track.

Assuming the car is set up properly:

Drag racing is hard on your tranny, ppf, axles and diff.

Road racing is hard on your tires and brakes.

That's all, folks .

 

drag, by far. look at how often teams have to rebuild their engines. the total mileage between rebuilds for the high hp guys is only a few miles. this doesn't take into account top fuel and funny car, because their's really no comparison to any road racing car. those guys rebuild after every quarter mile.

 

compare apples to apples. At the same boost I would guess road racing is harder on the motor but easier on the drivetrain. Also depends on skill. A good driver will be able to push a car a lot harder on a road course than a novice. Anybody can take the car down a 1/4 strip though.

 

I'd say road racing is harder on the motor, due to the greater chance of heat soak. Road racing you're out there for a couple minutes at a time at least giving it hell. Drag racing is < 13 seconds w/ time to cool down.

 

how the **** can we compare apples to apples when the question itself asks to compare 2 totally different forms of motorsports. it's like comparing the 100 yard dash to a marathon. the strain of a drag launch and the load that such a sticky surface places on the engine throughout the whole run is much more strenuous to an engine imo. f1, nascar, cart, irl, etc. all can run hundreds of miles pushing insane hp without a problem, you just don't see that much durability in any form of professional drag racing.

 

Right, but theres a reason drag teams rebuild often, it's because they can. They only run for 3 or 4 seconds, thats all they need to do.

Road racing cars need to last longer, because the races are longer. But look at Nascar (and I hate to bring up redneck passtimes) they get new engines before every race too.

 

F1, Cart, INDY etc all detune their engines to make them last a race distance. Its all a matter of pushing the point in the engine build and tune, a fraction too far and you have that HP egde but it wont last the distance.
because a drag motor only needs to run at full noise for a matter of seconds they can push the point further

 

Yes that is why i laugh my **** of every day thinking about how far behind drag racers realy are compared to serious circuit guys.

Think...

F1, 20 years ago they made over 850bhp @10000rpm in race trim (engine that lasts 300+km) from 1.5lt of capacity and a factory production BMW 4 cyl engine block on petroleum based fuel NO NOS. And over 1000bhp for durations of a qualifying session (up to 30km distace)

Drag racers with NOS, methanol, and 3km life engines (in some cases) ! cant approach anywhere near these power levels (bhp per liter) when you look at the technology available today compared to 1983 it makes you wonder how long it will take drag guys to catch up

Then when you think those same cars (BMW stock engine block) 2 years later made over 1300bhp in qualifiying it makes you realy see that drag guys just are so far behind the 8 ball its plain crazy, yet their **** still struggles to last ... very funny

 

Tell us how ya really feel.....

 

exactly why i think drag is much harder on engines.

 

Actually, they just enacted a new rule, like a three-race rule, where the same engine has to be run for three races. Don't ask how I know that, I don't even watch Nascar, the only time I ever turn off Speed is when Nascar is on.

 

ahhh yes but how many real millions are spent on engine development in the drag world compared to F1 and Indy? F1 is the test lab for anything to do with engine enhancements and changes. How many of those Drag motors have twin cams per bank,, multiple valves and can handle 18000rpm without spitting fragments further than a middle eastern suicide bomber????

Lets face it, in what country is drag racing HUGE in? the US, what technology are in the US made 'production' fleet of vehicles, Then compare that to the technology that are in the japanese and european cars which have directly benifited from F1.

it all goes part in parcel, and just goes further to confirm what everyone outside the US has felt and known for a long time. the US is behind the 8 ball in automotive technology, so if Ge-orge duble-ya spent some $$$ on automotive technology instead of military technology his entire country might benefit from it.

Just my 2cents worth (tax inclusive)

 

You are more likely to blow your motor during road racing (I would think), with the drag race, once your in motion, its no big deal assuming you dont miss a shift and mess up your tranny.

I broke my differenial before drag racing and I can tell you its hell on your car if you launch hard.

 

Best one yet!!!!!!

BTW F1 (and most of its feeder series [F3000, Atlantic, etc]) is racing...everything else is wannabe. The possible exception to that rule I gotta say is CART which seems to be making a reasonable attempt to get to the REAL RACING category. (Given JPMs season and Chris DiMatta's race today, the drivers are very capable of crossover).

 

I love the technology behind f1 - But - We all know World Rallying is the true pinnacle of motorsports - followed by LeMans and then F1 - On a endurance / technology stand point.

I still say Drag racing eats parts compared to road racing.

-billy

 

f1 definitely has a ton of tech and money behind it. but don't discount the technology behind drag racing. compare an nhra pro stock car to a nascar car. same old school technology, but the nascar can go 500 miles on that engine. the drag car goes all but 2 miles before needing a rebuild. imo, drag is definitely harder on engines.

 

Some of you guys are on heroin ?

I am talking about tech based around 1983 !!!!!!!!!!

Simple tech where cars BMW case were limited to 10500rpm ! STD barrell liners (non nikasil), aluminuium based pistons, only exotic parts were titanium rods, and some magnesium casings on the factory iron block to save weight, if you want the exact specifications I will email you the BMW tech sheet

No fancy materials used for construction (all available today) and very primative fuel metering, mechanicla injection with a 3D metering cam !

get your facts straight before you reply

20 years on with better tech drag guys still cant match anywhere near the power or approach the reliability.