We're out
On our 3rd pass at test and tune last night I broke the Dana 60 mounting arms and front mounting dogbone completely separating it from the pumpkin. It ripped apart the safety driveshaft loops and left pieces laying at the line. I twisted the driveshaft into a corkscrew and almost took out some fuel lines as the pumpkin and halfshafts fell to the frame. If we wouldn't have had the safety loops it could have been much worse as sparks scattered from underneath the rearend of the car.
I believe that the test launch on the run before where we lifted the tires off the ground but smoked em when it came down must have started a smaller fracture and it let go on the next run. Many years of pounding on the rearend obviously stressed it enough to be unable to handle a hard launch at the strip.
We made 1500rwhp on 93 using water injection. We're spinning it over 8000rpm. I was cutting lights on the .400 pro tree under .010. The car weighed 3900lbs with me in it. The run that it broke was going to be our first clean pass with good info 60ft, 1/8 etc.
The test and tune in Memphis was our first chance to run the Viper before the PGD's.
I wasn't intimidated by anyone at the line and now feel like I'm addicted to drag racing. Previous to this race I didn't have my NHRA license and luckily was able to sign up for the Roy Hill drag racing school so I had all the requirements for the PGD's. What an experience to learn from the drag racing drill instructor Roy Hill ! I bought a porta-tree and practiced my ass off in the car.
It's very dissapointing and disheartning to have it play out this way. We all worked very hard and had what we felt was a winning recipe. I constantly tried to thank all the guys in the crew for keeping up with my intensity. This was a high pressure game and I loved it! To break at the line in front of a huge crowd before such an important event is very humbling. Support came from friends who kept reminding me that it could have been a lot worse and could have happened at the end of the track going 160+mph or even at the standing mile going 219.
That's racing.
I wanted to kick ass for the Viper community but most of all wanted to realize a good result for my father who has built such an awesome Viper.
We'll do better next time Sr !!!
At this point we'll pick up the pieces, learn from what happened, fix what we can and get back to the track before bonneville.
When we get back I'll have some pics that will help you consider installing shaft loops.
sorry for the bad news guys
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Jr