What was the fastest car ever?
- Thread starter SonicIce
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Bignate603
Lifer
- Sep 5, 2000
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No, they'd have the fastest acceleration but their top speed has been beat.
Goldenrod was the fastest naturally aspirated piston driven vehicle and Spirit of '76 was the fastest piston driven vehicle but it used a supercharger.
- Apr 12, 2004
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Goldenrod... wow, 4 engines.
You'd think if they wanted to, they could take a top fueler, set up the wings for minimal downforce, use skinny tires for low resistance, and use some big gears. If they can do 320MPH in the quarter in 4 seconds, imagine what they could do on the salt flats. Though it would be in a differant class than previous records because it uses nitromethane. Wonder if the sound barrier is out of the question or not?
Bignate603
Lifer
- Sep 5, 2000
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It wouldn't make it across the salt flats. Those engines live short happy lives. You're looking at a rebuild after less than a minute of real use. For top speed across the flats they'd need to run much longer than that.
It wouldn't have to. We're talking about 8000+HP (about 4x goldenrod) and 0-335 in a 1/4mile. Modify the gearing slightly and it could probably break 400mph pretty easily on a runway if the tires held up. At over 400mph, it would cover the necessary mile in under a minute. Understand, the 2 records you are talking about were set in the 60's and 70's, technology has advanced a long way since then. The only reason those records still stand is because no one cares about breaking them.
- Oct 10, 1999
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Top Fuel engines have solid blocks with no water jackets. No cooling system means these engines last about 3 minutes before melting under the stress of a 1/4 mile run.
They don't really need water jackets...the methane cools them down just fine. Plus, they wouldn't take 3 minutes to run a mile even if overheating WAS a problem.
The Top Alcohol rails and funny cars actually have problems even warming up. They pass so much alcohol through them that the cooling effect is awesome.
But I agree, a Top Fuel engine wouldn't make a long run....although they could detune one a bit and do it, I guess. I wonder why nobody's broke that old Goldenrod record?
dawp
Lifer
- Jul 2, 2005
- 11,347
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In order to have a record speed run, it has to be repeated in a short amount of time and I don't think a top fueler could handle that without a brake down between runs and I believe that is not allowed for a record run. and it's not just the mile, they are allowed to get up to speed before the timing gate to start the run, so you have to figure the total distance from dead stop to dead stop and the time it takes for that.
Yep, a Fuel engine is overhauled between runs.
As I mentioned before, they could detune it....they generally do that by reducing the percentage of nitro, or in the quarter mile, slowing the clutch engagement.
I would think that today, a Top Alcohol engine would be fine....they don't always rebuild those between rounds, since the oil isn't contaminated with nitromethane. (nor are they making 8000hp and killing parts)
But they are plenty powerful. Hell, with today's turbo technology, they could just repower a car like the Goldenrod with some modern big-blocks and smoke that record....I think they'd get into a big aerodynamics issue with the power available today.
At any rate, engine power isn't on the list of what's holding someone back from breaking the record.
Those are only concerns if you're trying to set an official land speed record. When talking about the world's fastest cars, people would typically bring up the Mclaren F1, CCR, Veyron, and the Aero TT. Those cars all have well established resumes and were widely agreed upon to be the fastest production cars at one point, however I believe all but the Aero were just dropped on a track and had their top speed measured. There was no average speed over a mile, then turn around and do it again in two hours junk. Could a modified top fuel dragster set the official piston driven land speed record? Maybe, but I don't think there can be any doubt that given a few modifications it could exceed 410MPH in a simple top speed run.
Because nobody cares about that record. When the Goldenrod set that record, it wasn't trying to set the NA land speed record, it was trying to set the land speed record period, which it did. Once jet engine powered cars entered the scene, it was obvious that piston driven would never be able to keep up.
Agreed....you could easily set up a Fuel engine for a slightly longer run time and crush the record in a one-way trip. I think that's stupid that they have to turn around and do it twice in some specified time period.
I'd say that a day is sufficient. Run it one way, rebuild it, run it the other way. Or change the engine...what difference does it make?
If you were trying to have the fastest streetable car, I could see that being a legitimate rule, but just the fastest thing ever to be powered by a piston engine, I wouldn't care if it'd do it more than once.
I'd say that a day is sufficient. Run it one way, rebuild it, run it the other way. Or change the engine...what difference does it make?
If you were trying to have the fastest streetable car, I could see that being a legitimate rule, but just the fastest thing ever to be powered by a piston engine, I wouldn't care if it'd do it more than once.
Bignate603
Lifer
- Sep 5, 2000
- 13,897
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HP doesn't matter as much as you think. It's important, but as you get into higher speeds the drag rises exponentially.
Given a large enough hp advantage and the aerodynamics of the vehicle will only determine how much you win by, not whether or not you will win.
Throckmorton
Lifer
- Aug 23, 2007
- 16,829
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The top fuel modified for high speed makes no sense. Those aren't aerodynamic cars. It makes more sense to use a body with minimal drag and maximal horsepower.
Top Fuel cars are plenty aerodynamic, but they could be better, as they are also designed to keep some downforce on the tires.
My posts were more about using a Fuel engine than the entire car.
which it actually does look like one now that I think about it...
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
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At one time it was Al Teague at 410MPH. Not sure if he still holds it or not.
Edit:
Al Teague still is the head of the A blown fuel streamliner class, but someone else has a higher recorder in the AA/BFS class:
Burkland's Streamliner Tom Burkland 10/04 417.020
http://www.scta-bni.org/SCTA-N...ille/BNIrecs_cat_a.htm
Edit:
Al Teague still is the head of the A blown fuel streamliner class, but someone else has a higher recorder in the AA/BFS class:
Burkland's Streamliner Tom Burkland 10/04 417.020
http://www.scta-bni.org/SCTA-N...ille/BNIrecs_cat_a.htm
How about the fastest stock production car ever?
Rumor has it the Nissan GT-R (Skyline) '09 is just about set to take that title. An early test in Japan where they're already on sale suggested it outperformed a Porsche 911 turbo (for only about 50-60k less).
Rumor has it the Nissan GT-R (Skyline) '09 is just about set to take that title. An early test in Japan where they're already on sale suggested it outperformed a Porsche 911 turbo (for only about 50-60k less).
Pretty sure a Veyron would embarrass the GT-R in a straight line and that is pretty much the fastest production car ever.
Though the SSC Ultimate Aero is supposed to be faster, I don't have confirmation of this.
Of course, forgot about the Bugatti. I suppose you have to consider that a"stock production car", even though less than 100 per year are produced at a price of well over one million dollars.
The ZR-1 Corvette might be faster too, more HP and significantly lighter and that will be produced in greater numbers.
overst33r
Diamond Member
- Oct 3, 2004
- 5,761
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