Ouch! Here’s What It Looks Like When Two Slingshots Try To Occupy The Same Space


Ouch! Here’s What It Looks Like When Two Slingshots Try To Occupy The Same Space

Jim Murphy and Bill Dunlap are two of the most decorated front engine dragster racers of all time. They are also two of the most long lasting as well. Both men have been in the sport for decades upon decades and for most of that time they’ve both had a nitro burning engine at the end of their toes ready to blow up at any second. This video was made by the Jackson Brothers at the 2016 Good Vibrations March Meet and it is a classic example of what makes the front engine dragster the alluring and altogether mean bastard that it is.

As you will see, Dunlap and Murphy are streaking down the track. Dunlap’s car starts to consume itself on the big end of the run and then basically as he gets to the stripe the thing pops and douses him, his windscreen, and everything around him with hot oil. From that point forward, Dunlap is essentially using the force to steer the car as he tries to figure out both where his machine is located in the lane as well as where Murphy is. Unfortunately he finds him but in the most fortunate way possible. In a moment that you probably could not get to happen again in 1,000 rolls of the dice, he drives up the rear tire of Murphy and while that is bad for Dunlap because his car smashed down and tacos the front end, Murphy seems to get away unscathed. The tire doesn’t even seem to have been cut!

The secondary part of this is that Murphy’s parachute gets hold of Dunlap’s car and kind of drags it along for a short time while they were both slowing. As best we know, both guys were OK following this. Another foot to the right and Dunlap would have caught Murphy into the back of the cage, likely upset his car drastically and sent it tumbling in the shutdown area.

Ugly? Yes. As bad as it could have been? Heck no.

Watch to see Jim Murphy and Bill Dunlap demonstrate why two slingshots both need a lane!


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