Fuel cooling limited in TAFC and on the block for TAD in 2010

Remove Prevous Ammendment Declarifies Previous Clarifications

REMOVE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT:
“Artificial cooling and/or heating of fuel (i.e. cool cans, ice, Freon, etc.)
prohibited on the car. Insulated fuel lines and fuel tanks prohibited. Artificial
cooling and/or heating of fuel confined to the pit area only. The use of dry ice
and/or liquid nitrogen for artificial cooling of fuel prohibited.”

REPLACE WITH:
“Insulated fuel lines and fuel tanks prohibited. Minimum temperature of fuel
in the staging lanes to the completion of the run and subsequent NHRA fuel
check is 50°F.“ Effective August 13th, 2009
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
DESIGNATION
Page 206

So it looks like they are removing the previous ammendment that clarified what was and was not allowed and were the fuel could be cooled "pit area" and now we are back to subjective interpretation of the rules. I guess the only thing they really care about is the fuel is not cooler than 50 degrees in the lanes and during the run. This will just cause the teams to hang back more and wait till the last minute to put the fuel in the car at/near 50 degrees.

Cooling the fuel colder than 50 degrees is only necessary as a buffer so when you are sitting in the staging lanes, oil down etc., you have a buffer. If they take the buffer away it will be essential that when you go to the lanes you know that you are only going to have to wait a few cars to run.

I would guess that there will be a differentiation in temperature between NITRO and ALCOHOL for minimum temperture.

I can see having a minimum temperature at fuel check, but unless they are going to police this in the lanes I don't see why they are going to impose yet another rule that they choose not to enforce. Checking fuel temp in the lanes will require additional NHRA man power and from my experience from the last few races thats hard to come by.

Just curious I know that most of the TAD/NITRO teams are chillin fuel now, but I was not aware that this was going on with TAFC. I do know of one team who appears to do this. I guess will have to see which teams fall off after the ammendement becomes in effect. Indy should be very interesting for TAFC.

Doug

 

Cooling the fuel in TAD to the extreams that is being done at present is going to get someone hurt if it hasn't already. The 50 degrees in the staging lanes is fine if it is enforced.
Guess the next step you will be required to put a fuel temp ga. in the fuel tank where it is visible from outside the car.
I'd be curious to know how you would raise the temp. of the fuel in the staging lanes if it was below 50 degrees?? Guess you could not fill the tank and add some warm fuel. If they check it in the staging lanes and it is below
50 degrees according to the rules you would be dissqualified. The rule states staging lanes.
Not starting line!
This could get real confusing.
Guess you need to be damm sure it is above 50 degrees when you leave the pits.

 

cooling fuel

How is cooling the fuel going to get someone hurt? It needs to be checked after the run. Why don't we weigh and do fuel check before the run? It should all be done at the same place or at the same time.

 

I am also curious to know exactly how chilling the fuel is going to hurt someone? I havent heard of any injuries directly related to this practice, and would like more info, NitroHawk? Thanks.

 

Have you ever considered effect the the really cold fuel might have on the fuel system especially the shut off valves, check valves, etc. Please don't tell me nothing as I know better than that. What if you needed to shut the fuel off early and the valve was frozen or clearance was reduced to the point that the driver could not move the lever to shut the fuel off!

 

That's why you have Automan clearance the barrel valve and the fuel shut off.

 

We've raced in temperatures lower than that in the UK! Even had snow while stood in the pairing lanes. Wonder if there is dispensation if the ambient temperature is below 50 F (about 10 C for Europeans)

 

fuel

what happen to all the blow hards that said chillin the fuel didn't help
the performance in the a-fuel cars, it was just all hard work, so why is it an issue

the Goofy Goober

 

Give me 98% and I will not cool the fuel.I will be damn happy not to have to deal with the hassle of keeping the fuel consistent. We have ran ambient temp and cooled fuel at the same race on the same day it does make a difference.

 

How can you guys get down a 50 degree track????

 

98% is good...I would like to have it back, also......

 

Last Easter, it was 2 C, (36 F) on race day at Santa Pod in the UK.

Not only got down the track but broke out by 0.001 too :-(

Couldn't feel anything below my ankles before I got in the car, and couldn't feel anything below my elbows after it. Never been so happy to lose first round ;-)