A Test of Grit and Gear

Car enthusiasts know that memorable rides very often come out of those unexpected challenges. The team at DragWire Solutions learned this when their dyno session at FuelTech with the “Optimus Prime” Mustang went a little sideways. Things looked a whole lot worse than what they were and we get an explanation of what led to the big bang on the dyno.

Hub dynos have changed the game when it comes to high-horsepower race cars. Instead of spending days at the track chasing a vehicle’s tune up, racers can throw their car on a hub dyno to get the tune nearly race ready before they hit the track. This allows racers to focus on chassis setup and other performance areas when they start making passes.

With the preparation finished, it was now a matter of putting the car to the test. It’s time for the crew to drive horsepower to its limits. Some bets were placed on just how much power the car would make before the session began. Several baseline pulls were made to make sure the engine was healthy and ready to go. Once everything was sorted out, it was time to really let the car eat on the dyno.

During one of the full pulls on the dyon disaster struck. There was a wiring problem, and the fuel pressure dropped, resulting in an explosion that put an early end to the testing. Fortunately, neither the blower nor the engine suffered damage. However, two of the injectors, part of the wiring harness, and some mounts required repairs.  

The crew was unmoved by the mishap and with optimism and camaraderie, the team is set to have Optimus Prime roaring back to life in just two weeks. Setbacks are part of the journey but know that they’re just fuel for the team’s drive to keep on pushing their limits. The team opens their world up to fans, sharing ups and downs and unforgettable moments with every high-speed test and wrench turn they make. This makes everything they do worthwhile.