Fastest Accelerating Car

Incredible Feat

• Record acceleration: 0 to 402 mph in 3.22 seconds over 1/4 mile

Theoretical Limits

• How fast can vehicles theoretically accelerate?

Historical Context

• Over a century of development in car speed
• N to 60 acceleration tests are crucial
• Fastest road-legal vehicles:
  • RAC Nea: 1.74 seconds
  • MC Merury: 1.40 seconds

Formula 1, Dragsters, and Special Cars

• F1 Cars: n to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds
  • F1 cars are about cornering and high speeds, not standing starts
  • Spa circuit data supports this
• Student-built car: n to 60 mph in 0.9 seconds
  • Four electric motors in each wheel hub
  • Fans for increased grip
• Dragsters: act as kings of acceleration
  • Example: Sandy Miller's Vanishing Point
    • 1/4 mile in 3.22 seconds, 402 mph (unofficial)
    • 386 mph in 3.58 seconds (official)

Factors Affecting Acceleration

Three Major Factors

1. Mass

• Lighter vehicles accelerate faster

2. Power

• More engine power equals faster acceleration

3. Traction

• Tires must grip the surface well

Traction

• Drag strips use concrete for better consistency and adhesion
• Methods to improve track traction:
  • Cleaning
  • Rubber embedding
  • Traction compound (glue)
• Tire traction methods:
  • Indentation: molding into road textures
  • Molecular adhesion: forming temporary bonds
• Enhancing grip through fans
  • Example: MCM Merury Spling uses fans for 2,000 kg of downforce

Mass Reduction

• Examples:
  • F1 cars: 800 kg (old: ~500 kg)
  • Dragsters: reduce weight from current 1,157 kg to 600 kg
  • Techniques include using more exotic materials

Power Increase

• Current limits: F1/Sportscars ~1,000 horsepower, Dragsters ~11,000 horsepower
• Theoretical ideas:
  • Change fuel to hydrazine
  • Increase boost pressure
  • Use more exotic materials
  • Add hybrid technology

Estimation of Potential

• Using formulas to estimate results
• Proposed improvements:
  • Traction gain: save 0.2s
  • Mass reduction: save 0.810s
  • Power increment (22,000 hp): save 0.7s

Potential 1/4 mile time: 2.7 seconds

Questions for Thought

• Is this theoretically possible?
• How would engines perform without regulations?