Netflix: Fastest Car

[stranger things]

Has anyone been watching the Fastest Car series on Netflix? I'm five episodes in and thoroughly enjoying it.

For those unfamiliar, each episode pits three sleeper cars against one supercar in a quarter-mile drag race. The show is a little myopic in that sense since a quarter-mile run does little to prove a car's overall performance.

Still, it's cool to see some of the sleeper cars that people put together on a budget. It's also interesting to hear the trash talking and some of the comments towards the supercar drivers that seem to indicate jealousy/resentment.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHy7FegT39A"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHy7FegT39A[/ame]

[StraightOuttaCanadaEh]

Never understood putting so much effort into a car just to race it in a straight line. Having said that, I watched an episode and while I did enjoy it, I doubt I'll watch another one.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanadaEh

Never understood putting so much effort into a car just to race it in a straight line.

That's because you're not an American.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanadaEh

Never understood putting so much effort into a car just to race it in a straight line. Having said that, I watched an episode and while I did enjoy it, I doubt I'll watch another one.

True drag racing (not taking off from a stop light) is a blast and a complete adrenaline rush. You have to have the right vehicle at a real strip to experience it though. I competed in street class drag racing for 3 seasons back in the 70s. When you take a car that does a 14 second 1/4 mile stock and pour enough work into it to go below 10 seconds you have every bit as much fun and pride that shaving a few seconds off a track run would create. Comparing street drag to the real thing is like saying you drive the same on the track as you do tooling around downtown TO at rush hour.
Yes it only lasts a few seconds but those few seconds can be glorious.

[humfrz]

Yep, I recall the 1/4 mile drag racing, back in the day.

It was twice more fun then ..... because it took your average stock car about 20 seconds to run a 1/4 mile ....... as opposed to less that 10 seconds today .......


humfrz

[8RZ]

I used to do bracket racing back in the 90s, it was the only way a 16-sec 1/4 m car can win a 1st place trophy lol.

[StraightOuttaCanadaEh]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

That's because you're not an American.

taking that as a compliment lol

(I jest btw)

[SCQTT]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, I recall the 1/4 mile drag racing, back in the day.

It was twice more fun then ..... because it took your average stock car about 20 seconds to run a 1/4 mile ....... as opposed to less that 10 seconds today .......


humfrz

Average stock car less than 10 second 1/4 mile?

I'm guessing you're joking / trolling.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by SCQTT

Average stock car less than 10 second 1/4 mile?

I'm guessing you're joking / trolling.

To clarify, what I meant was the average time for the back in the day stock car was about 20 seconds.

Of course, the number of less 10 second stock cars today, would be very few.




humfrz

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

True drag racing (not taking off from a stop light) is a blast and a complete adrenaline rush. You have to have the right vehicle at a real strip to experience it though. ....Comparing street drag to the real thing is like saying you drive the same on the track as you do tooling around downtown TO at rush hour.

Maybe it's because I'm 1) a U.S. citizen, 2) a Southern U.S. Citizen and 3) probably a Redneck but I agree with this.

I consider it like watching Track and Field. Drag Racing is the 100 meter dash, NASCAR is the Mile Run and Road Course is the Marathon equivalent. I'm going to watch a 100 meter race, or a Mile Run, but have no interest in attending a Marathon as a spectator.

Similarly, given the choice I'd rather attend a drag race or an oval race rather than a road course race. Mainly because I can see the whole bloody thing! I never really have understood the attraction of being able to see one or two curves of a race (TV coverage not withstanding) and they all emphasize a different skill set.

If I'm the driver, then strap me into any of them! I'd probably do better in oval or on a road course, I don't think my reaction time is fast enough for a drag race.

[DAEMANO]

Drag racing is also more of an engineering competition for motor-freak-o-philes. It's more of a hardcore car nut sport that also happens to be decent for spectators. Split second reaction time and keeping the car from careening off the course while in 4gs worth of acceleration is the drivers part. It's an acquired taste.

For fun here's some rando internet info on common G-forces

Some Typical Examples Of G Forces

In order to understand G forces better, it is a good idea to see them manifesting in practical life situations as G Forces examples. Given below are some typical examples of G Force:
• Standing on the Earth at sea level, where g force = 1 g
• A ride in the Vomit Comet , with g force = 0 g
• Standing at its equator on the Moon, with g force = 0.1654 g
• The gyro rotors in Gravity Probe B and the free-floating proof masses in the TRIAD I navigation satellite, with g force equal to 0 g
• Saturn V moon rocket just after launch , g force = 1.14 g
• Bugatti Veyron from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 s, has g force = 1.18 g
• High-g roller coasters have g forces ranging from 3.5–6.3 g
• Top Fuel drag racing world record of 4.4 s over 1/4 mile, g force = 4.2 g
• Space Shuttle, maximum during launch and reentry, g force =3 g
• Luge, maximum expected at the Whistler Sliding Center, g force equal to 5.2 g
• Formula One car, maximum under heavy braking, g forces = 5 g
• Apollo 16 on reentry, g forces = 7.19 g
• Standard, full aerobatics certified glider , g forces = +7/-5 g
• Death or serious injury likely, g force can be greater than 50 g
• Max. turn in an aerobatic plane or fighter jet, g forces ranging from 9–12 g
• Maximum g force for human on a rocket sled = 46.2 g
• Sprint missile, g forces = 100 g
• Brief human exposure survived in crash has g forces > 100 g
• Shock capability of mechanical wrist watches g forces > 5,000 g
• Rating of electronics built into military artillery shells, g forces equal to15,500 g


We hope the above article giving various examples of G Forces is informational.



http://www.gforces.net/a-discussion-...-examples.html

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Maybe it's because I'm 1) a U.S. citizen, 2) a Southern U.S. Citizen and 3) probably a Redneck but I agree with this.

I consider it like watching Track and Field. Drag Racing is the 100 meter dash, NASCAR is the Mile Run and Road Course is the Marathon equivalent. I'm going to watch a 100 meter race, or a Mile Run, but have no interest in attending a Marathon as a spectator.

Similarly, given the choice I'd rather attend a drag race or an oval race rather than a road course race. Mainly because I can see the whole bloody thing! I never really have understood the attraction of being able to see one or two curves of a race (TV coverage not withstanding) and they all emphasize a different skill set.

If I'm the driver, then strap me into any of them! I'd probably do better in oval or on a road course, I don't think my reaction time is fast enough for a drag race.

I took my grandsons to the drag races a couple of years ago. I discovered that much like any sport if you don't know the people and the teams it is as boring as hell to watch. Two cars go really fast for a few seconds and one wins by a fraction of a second. Then you sit for 10 minutes waiting while the next pair get set up just to see somebody else win by a fraction of a second. I would presume that the same applies to watching any type of race though since watching random cars drive in circles or pass by one point every few minutes would get old really quickly. If you have no vested interest in one certain person/team then there is nothing to maintain any form of entertainment. They just become a bunch of cars driving around quickly.
Now, driving really fast for 10 to 15 seconds and beating that other guy by a fraction of a second is a whole different story. Same applies to going in a circle or making a bunch of turns.

[SCQTT]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I took my grandsons to the drag races a couple of years ago. I discovered that much like any sport if you don't know the people and the teams it is as boring as hell to watch. Two cars go really fast for a few seconds and one wins by a fraction of a second. Then you sit for 10 minutes waiting while the next pair get set up just to see somebody else win by a fraction of a second. I would presume that the same applies to watching any type of race though since watching random cars drive in circles or pass by one point every few minutes would get old really quickly. If you have no vested interest in one certain person/team then there is nothing to maintain any form of entertainment. They just become a bunch of cars driving around quickly.
Now, driving really fast for 10 to 15 seconds and beating that other guy by a fraction of a second is a whole different story. Same applies to going in a circle or making a bunch of turns.

I see your point, but aren't other sports the same? Why on earth anyone would watch baseball or basketball without some sort of vested interest is beyond me.

I'm not a huge drag racing fan, but my work is closely tied to it. I think most humans would be amazed (holy shit factor) at the sound and speed, not to mention the engineering factor.

When I go to most pro sports (almost never) I'm quickly thinking of the construction and engineering of the stadium, looking at women, and bitching about how much beer costs. Usually not in that order.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by SCQTT

I see your point, but aren't other sports the same? Why on earth anyone would watch baseball or basketball without some sort of vested interest is beyond me.

I'm not a huge drag racing fan, but my work is closely tied to it. I think most humans would be amazed (holy shit factor) at the sound and speed, not to mention the engineering factor.

When I go to most pro sports (almost never) I'm quickly thinking of the construction and engineering of the stadium, looking at women, and bitching about how much beer costs. Usually not in that order.

Exactly.