1. What is the Quarter Mile ET Equation?

The quarter mile elapsed time (ET) equation estimates a vehicle's performance in a quarter mile drag race based on its weight and horsepower. This simple calculation provides a good approximation of a vehicle's potential drag racing performance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the quarter mile ET equation:

Where:

• \( Weight \) — Vehicle weight in pounds (lbs)
• \( HP \) — Engine horsepower (hp)
• 6.29 — Empirical constant

Explanation: The equation shows that ET is proportional to the cube root of the weight-to-power ratio. This means that to significantly improve ET, you need to either substantially reduce weight or increase power.

3. Importance of ET Calculation

Details: Quarter mile ET is a standard performance metric in drag racing. It helps racers estimate their potential performance and compare different vehicle setups.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter vehicle weight in pounds and engine horsepower. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a rough estimate. Actual ET depends on many factors including traction, aerodynamics, and drivetrain efficiency.

Q2: What's a good quarter mile ET?
A: For street cars, 12-14 seconds is good. Professional drag cars can run under 7 seconds.

Q3: Does this account for driver weight?
A: No, you should include driver and passenger weight in your total weight calculation.

Q4: What about turbocharged or supercharged engines?
A: Use the actual horsepower output regardless of how it's produced.

Q5: Can I calculate trap speed too?
A: This calculator only estimates ET. Trap speed would require a different calculation.