The ease at which smartphone users can produce their own movies, complete with a soundtrack, is inspiration enough to capture the Top Fuel ballet known as the 75-minute rebuild.

This time-lapse video was produced using an app called YouTube Capture, and it shows the U.S. Army crew for Tony Schumacher performing the routine teardown and rebuild of a Top Fuel engine between races. It’s a well choreographed exercise necessary to check over an engine that practically destroys itself in less than four seconds by igniting about eight gallons of nitromethane. The engine is completely disassembled, parts checked and replaced when necessary. Also, the clutch discs are removed and resurfaced.

The action is certainly fast-paced as the rebuild is condensed into less than four minutes. But watch closely and you’ll see a few cylinder liners being measured then replaced. Every crewman has a specific chore, although if necessary, each could help another in tight spot. Some of the parts, like the cylinder heads, may be ready to go before the dragster returns to the pits. That would save time trying to check and replace valves or springs during the pit stop.

The pit action of an experienced and championship team is a great subject for an aspiring filmmaker with a new toy. Not a bad choice for a backing soundtrack. However, the roar of that big Hemi should have been allowed to bleed  in during the warm-up. Just a thought!