If there is one event that I look forward to like some sort of maniacal scientist at the Diesel Power Challenge, it is the eighth mile trailer tow. Essentially an eighth mile drag strip bye run with the addition of 10,000+ lbs hanging off the back of the trucks it is absolutely brutal on everything from the engine to the axles. The transmissions get pounded, we have seen suspension pieces fail, and in many ways it is even more harmful than the pulling portion of the event because at least that is held on dirt, right? There’s a lot going on as well with drivers trying to get the trucks launched without blowing them up, blowing the tires off, or locking their converters up too early and bogging the engines down. Oh, there’s also the matter of nitrous which is prevalent at the Diesel Power Challenge. That’s how to use it, when to use it, and how much to use as well.
This year’s crop of trucks put on a great display at the trailer towing portion of the event and we knew that because of the high horsepower nature of these rigs, new records would be set. In fact, you are going to see the elapsed time and speed records set a time or two in this video. When you see the quickest speeds and elapsed times, realize that with trucks mostly tipping the scales at 7-8,000 lbs and an additional 10,000 on their back, they are still quicker to the eighth than the vast majority of daily driver commuter mobiles and even stock pickup trucks. If that doesn’t make you smile you are hanging out in the wrong darkened corner of the internet.
Like all of the events at the Diesel Power Challenge, this thing is a one shot deal. You have one attempt to make a rip down the course and if it is good, great. If it sucks, you are pretty much screwed so you have to show up to play. Lastly, the really devious part of this particular event is that it is held on the second day of the competition. We have seen MANY competitors go out during this particular challenge each year so the balance of going fast and keeping stuff alive is a huge part of hustling these behemoths down the track with that weight trailing behind them.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO OF THIS DPC EVENT –
Looks like Mr. Stoneburner is enjoying life in Colorado. Yikes. And I really have to question Chomos’ set-up. What is the purpose of that huge turbo? It’s bit him in the ass in the past 2 events when he has been unable to get it to spool up. Is it just for profiling or what?