Author Archives: Will@FluxAuto

2012 NHRA Fall Nationals – Ennis, TX

Posted on by

There’s nothing like some top level drag racing to get excited about a pure display of horsepower. Here’s some highlights from this year’s NHRA Fall Nationals that took place in Ennis, TX. The video starts with some time lapse footage of one of the top fuel dragsters getting its engine rebuilt between runs and then goes to some head to head racing. There are several runs that hit the quarter mile in less than 4 seconds. That’s mind blowing speed.

**UPDATE** I was told that the NHRA runs 1000 feet instead of a quarter mile for safety reasons. Still mind blowing speed.


Source: Triple-X Motorsports & Outdoors on YouTube

The HANS System

Posted on by

Mercedes and Nico Rosberg have been putting out a pretty interesting series of videos detailing some of the systems used in Formula 1 racing. This episode deals with the Head and Neck Support (HANS) system. The back of the driver’s helmet is strapped to a chest brace that is held in with the safety harness. In the event of a crash, the force that would whiplash the head forward is transferred to the chest greatly reducing the amount of hyper-extension the neck sees. Simple and effective.


Source: Nextgen Auto Videos on YouTube

The Holden Efijy Concept

Posted on by

Top Gear Australia did this bit about the Holden Efijy concept car from 2005. Holden of Australia built it to mark the 50th anniversary of their FJ and it looks absolutely stunning. As the guys point out, it’s special because Holden got to showcase their design chops with no budget constraints. The result is art as defined by something universally beautiful to people regardless of their background or preconceived notions. The body is built on a Corvette chassis with the Corvette’s 6.0 liter V8 and an Australian supercharger.


Source: YouTube user TVR161

Pagani Huayra and Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Details – evo TV

Posted on by

Harry Metcalfe of evo is back with another car guy test. Metcalfe has a special relationship with Horacia Pagani that allows him to bring us some exclusive coverage of some of Pagani’s inner workings. This video from the annual Pagani gathering is no exception. The first half covers the finer details and driving nuances of the new Huayra. Harry says the Huayra is similar to a two-wheel drive Veyron and I guess he had to make sure because he spent the next day driving around in the new Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse roadster. Again, he walks us through the finer details of the car including some of the bits that he doesn’t like. There’s no crazy drifting or video editing so you will only find this interesting if you’re a real car geek.


Source: evo TV on YouTube

Acrylic Hybrid Rocket

Posted on by

Check out this a video from Ben Krasnow on YouTube. This is the first I’ve heard of him, but he seems to be a tinkerer and a maker based on the rest of his channel. Here he’s demonstrating a hybrid rocket engine that’s fueled by acrylic and gaseous oxygen that he built himself. It makes for a super cool demonstration because he’s able to throttle the combustion process with the oxygen valve and you can see the burn happen through the clear acrylic. The engine is incredibly simple and amazing at the same time. Building and playing with one of these really should be integrated into a school curriculum somewhere if we’re serious about jump starting our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. This is the stuff that captures peoples’ imaginations which then get crushed when they go to college and have to spend all night doing over-idealized calculations on hilariously impractical situations like cooling a live electrical wire in oil.


Source: Ben Krasnow on YouTube