Top Alcohol Funny Cars are arguably some of the most visceral machines in drag racing, combining screaming Hemi power with lightning-fast shifts. But what actually goes on inside the cockpit during a five-second blast down the track? Maddie Gordon recently gave Dragzine an exclusive step-by-step breakdown of the process, straight from her office.
The run begins long before the launch. Maddie explained that the burnout procedure always happens in high gear. She noted her old-school approach, saying, “I don’t have a throttle clip or nothing like that. I just kind of rev it up till it sounds good.” After backing up from the burnout, guided by her mom, she prepared for staging.
Shutting her visor engaged her fresh air system, a critical safety feature she mentioned, saying, “In case of a fire or anything, which we actually did have last year, I get fresh air.” Staging was a delicate part as well. She explained, “When I roll into pre-stage, I basically let all the way off on the brake and then just ease myself in with the clutch pedal.”
Once fully staged, the launch sequence was triggered by a two-step system. “When all four bulbs lights are lit, I mash the gas all the way and then when the tree flashes, then I drop the clutch and take off,” Maddie detailed. With the car rocketing down the track, her focus shifted to the shift light. “This thing, we shift at about 10,200 rpm in both gears,” she said.
Despite how stable the cars sometimes look, she confirmed they require constant input: “When you look at a funny car and it looks like it’s going straight, I promise you they’re not holding on like this.” The experience inside she described simply as “gnarly, honestly.”
After crossing the finish line, the routine involved hitting the parachutes, grabbing the brake, and bringing the beast to a halt. Maddie also touched on the intense learning curve, explaining that early on, your brain’s behind the race car, but eventually, things slow down. Let’s face it. Top Alcohol Funny Cars are not for everyone. You have to consider complex requirements and have incredible focus and skill, because it will all just happen within five seconds.
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