Re: Contactors vs Controllers on the drag strip

[Paul G <neong@gte.net>]

Joe Smalley wrote:
>No, your head is still attached. Your brain is in a questionable operational
>mode but your head is still attached.

Good to know my head is still on my shoulders. Never did care if it was in
"correct" operation, as long as it keeps my heart beating, lungs breathing,
and a *smile on my face* <G>.

>I thought I was nuts taking the 48 volt Fiesta to Woodburn but I came away
>with a record both of the last two years and had a blast doing it. I am
>still learning about high power electronics and I have not broken anything
>expensive drag racing. That is why I am staying with a controller... [snip]

Your 48v Fiesta is ONE IMPRESSIVE MACHINE!  I met and talked to you at the
Woodburn drags this year. Actually, I met alot of the names onlist at the
drags. The event was excellent and the after dinner was great. I caught
this on my way back from Modesto CA  where I visited family. I didn't have
my car there, but after all, they wouldn't have let me make even 1 run down
the strip (no seat belts).

I would like a mentor for setting my car up to be legal (anyone on the list
want to help?). I have never raced at a proper drag strip before (mostly
street racing in high school <g> - nonelectric). Its one thing to be
minimally equipted to make a test pass, another to be class legal. I can
get the full copy of the new NHRA rules from "Wildeman", and the NEDRA
rules appear to be online (provided what's online is all of them), but
meshing the rules, and making sure I'm reading them right, is where I'd
like help. There is the issue of my shortened wheelbase that I need cleared
up first. According to the NEDRA rules I feel the beach buggy is legal with
its 80 inch wheelbase (the motor is in stock location of the ICE). If its
not I may as well stop now. If it is legal, as I believe, then I could be a
truely streel legal SC/G at about 1400 lbs complete weight! That would be a
tough target to match for any more "normal" street legal car.

>There is no SC/G record. If you can run 96 volts and nobody shows up to
>contest you, there will be a record with your name on it regardless of how
>fast you go.

I noticed the lack of a 96v (SC/G) record myself. I also noticed its an
1/8th mile record. I figured that the shorter run would help me to not
shift (clutchless is fine for the street shifts, but it doesn't speed shift
well). Also, running 96 volts would remove about 12 feet 2/0 for 2
batteries up front, and I may be a wheelstanding EV with reduced front end
weight! It used be be a wheelstanding street legal ICE buggy, has any
sub-200v EV done wheelstands?

I figured the record could be set with the Curtis 1221 first, in 2 or 3
runs (no wheel stands with that <g>). I'm guessing the car has about a 20
second 1/4 mile at 1420lbs and 120v of Optimas right now (1/8 would be
quicker naturally, but cutting to 96v would hurt some too). After
establishing a record I would be looking to break it with the contactor
"controller". At least I know I have the traction to attempt a non-wheel
spin wheelstand. After first setting the record (by Curtis 1221) I could
put the contactor "controller" to use and try to smoke my own times (or
break things real quick - thats fun too <g>).

>Will we be seeing you at the races next year?

>I'd love to try to beat you to the 60 foot line with a 48 volt front driver.
>You have the advantage in weight, voltage and rear wheel drive. Are you up
>to the challenge?

I will be at the fall Woodburn drags next year. I was there this year and
really the EV racing and people there. Now its too much fun to not be
there! I don't know if you, Joe, will have a race though. It looks positive
right now!  If I'm there with my buggy I will make it a point to race
against you directly. I have a winter EV project, but then there is spring
and summer to get ready for a race debut at Woodburn. Since EV my first EV
(the buggy) took about 6 months to build from an ICE I'm thinking this is
very easily possible to upgrade in a couple of months. My EV VW Pickup
should be done by spring. You would be against a minimally tested drag car
though (adds to the fun, doesn't it?).

>If you run 120 volts, Rich Rudman's SC/F record is quite vulnerable at 19.56
>in the quarter.

I've thought about the 120v record. It looks like nothing more than being
race legal and a DCP-1200 would be needed to allow me to take that record
soundly. But in doing so I would be hobbled in actual ability by my
shifting.

>Will you have a record to put in YOUR signature block by this time next
>year?

Oh, your egging me on :-)  Don't do that unless you want a race <g>.

Does anyone have a Prestolite 48v motor to sell?  The 96v Presto will not
be a very good choice for drag racing at low volts. Its amps are limited at
higher rpm. Great for street, but not good when you want hard acceleration
at higher speeds. Also, how about motor curves for the 48v Prestolite,
anybody have them available? I have a number of them for the 96v Presto,
but having some for the 48v version would help with gear setting when I
switch motors to race.

In a preemptive mood, I'm calling the EV Beach Buggy turned race car
"Ampaholic". After all, at 96v sucking amps will be the whole game plan
(Joe must do *really* good at that at only 48v). Never mind that its not
totally "PC" <g>. If anybody has this name before me, please let me know
and I will think up something else. If not, its taken :-)

Neon