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John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

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  • John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals


  • #2
    Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

    What happenend in PHX was horrible . . . and foreseeable. Hopefully Medlen can get the tethers ready quickly.

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    • #3
      Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

      Yeah, hopefully so.

      I think it's easy for most folks to get out of touch with the fact that it's motorsports, which by definition means you have a lot of metal and rubber and plastic and other materials that are harder than skin under enormous pressure and stress at every moment. Sort of like it's easy to forget that baseballs and bats coming into the stands at games can really hurt too.

      When you think about it, it's almost amazing that things like this do not happen more often. I looked at NHRA's web site several times last weekend for results from the drags, but I had to find out about the accident from my wife, who read about it on a mainstream news source. NHRA's media/PR apparatus was lacking anyway, in my estimation, and they seemed to be out to lunch on this one too.

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      • #4
        Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

        NHRA's website is ALWAYS sweetness and light.
        You'll never see any bad news on there, although the NHRA did issue a statement of remorse.
        Act your age, not your shoe size. - Prince

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

          How are the tethers made in other forms of motorsports?

          Life is short. Be a do'er and not a shoulda done'er.
          1969 Galaxie 500 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...ild-it-s-alive
          1998 Mustang GT https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...60-and-a-turbo
          1983 Mustang GT 545/552/302/Turbo302/552 http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...485-bbr-s-83gt
          1973 F-250 BBF Turbo Truck http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...uck-conversion
          1986 Ford Ranger EFI 545/C6 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...tooth-and-nail

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

            I'm surprised tires on fuel cars are still held on with 5 studs. Didn't Tim Wilkersons son lose both tires last year? Did they ever find out what happened there? Seems to me some sort of spline drive, with a large nut, like a knock off, would be stronger. And full floating axles seem the way to go if keeping wheels on the car will result in broken axles. But then I'm no engineer.

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            • #7
              Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

              Originally posted by studemax
              NHRA's website is ALWAYS sweetness and light.
              Sounds like Toyota . . . . ;D

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                Gee, no one saw this coming. :
                BS'er formally known as Rebeldryver

                Resident Instigator

                sigpic

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                • #9
                  Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                  http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=20119.90 We should merge this discussion with the one in the general forum.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                    Originally posted by oldrustycars
                    I'm surprised tires on fuel cars are still held on with 5 studs. Didn't Tim Wilkersons son lose both tires last year? Did they ever find out what happened there? Seems to me some sort of spline drive, with a large nut, like a knock off, would be stronger. And full floating axles seem the way to go if keeping wheels on the car will result in broken axles. But then I'm no engineer.
                    splines would work.. and if made stronger than the axle.. the axle would fail first...
                    this make more sense than tethers on wheels.. as that will cause an uncontrollable wheel tire package.. with drivers head within inches of it..

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                      Got a bad feeling about this one.
                      Considering the forces (I made a funny) at work here, I don't think Medlen will be completely successful.
                      If he is (and I hope he is), then the way things go they won't tether the front wheels - and that's what will hurt the next fan.
                      Act your age, not your shoe size. - Prince

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                        Originally posted by BigBlockRanger
                        How are the tethers made in other forms of motorsports?

                        I'd like to know this as well, or see a pic........anyone?
                        Originally posted by TC
                        also boost will make the cam act smaller

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                        • #13
                          Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                          none in nascar at any level

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                            From what I am reading they are more of a wheel/spindle tether and not just a wheel tether. I suppose because the suspension components will break away before a wheel will separate from a spindle.

                            I am thinking a whole redesign of the rear end and axle components may be the best way to fully deal with this type of issue. Clean sheet the whole thing instead of trying to come up with something to work with existing components.

                            Throw out the five lug wheel, go with a splined wheel with single large nut and a separate thru axle retainer shaft (unobtanium) and end plates to capture the wheel in the event of a failure.
                            Life is short. Be a do'er and not a shoulda done'er.
                            1969 Galaxie 500 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...ild-it-s-alive
                            1998 Mustang GT https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...60-and-a-turbo
                            1983 Mustang GT 545/552/302/Turbo302/552 http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...485-bbr-s-83gt
                            1973 F-250 BBF Turbo Truck http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum...uck-conversion
                            1986 Ford Ranger EFI 545/C6 https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...tooth-and-nail

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: John Medlen Working On Wheel Tethers for Top Fuel Cars, May Be Mandated For GatorNationals

                              just inclose the wheel.. make it part of the cage.

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