A dragster is a specialized competition automobile used in drag racing.
An early example, a 1958 Fuelrail, on display at the California Automobile Museum
Dragsters, also commonly called "diggers", can be broadly placed in three categories, based on the fuel they use: gasoline, methanol, and nitromethane. They are most commonly single-engined, though twin-engined and quad-engined designs did race in the 1950s and 1960s.
The design of dragsters evolved from the front-engined rail (named for the exposed frame rails) of the earliest days of drag racing, into the "slingshot" (with the driver between or behind the rear tires, or "slicks") of the early to middle 1960s, to the "modern" type common in the 1970s.
Depending on the class they run in, dragsters can be injected or supercharged (or turbocharged), with a variety of possible engines. The engines are most often derived from automobiles'; some early examples used surplus aircraft engines. Today, they may also be electric.
The front engine dragster came about due to engines initially being located in the car's frame in front of the driver. The driver sits angled backward, over the top of the differential in a cockpit situated between the two rear tires, a design originating with Mickey Thompson's Panorama City Special in 1954, as a way of improving traction.[1] This position led to many drivers being maimed when catastrophic clutch failures occurred.[2] Due to limited traction, some dragsters with four rear drive wheels were attempted[3] as well as designs with twin engines.
The final Top Fuel driver to win a National Hot Rod Association national event in a front engine dragster was Art Marshall on August 6, 1972 at the Le Grandnational outside of Montreal, Canada.[4]
Rear engineedit
The drawbacks of front-engine designs (including fatalities) led to several attempts at rear-engined cars. Among them were pioneering rear-engined dragsters (and funny cars, including Doug Thorley's and Dave Bowman's[5]) were Steve Swaja's AA/GasWedge I from 1963, Roger Lindwall's 1966 Top Fuel Re-Entry and Kent Fuller's fueller Sidewinder III, both in 1969.[6][7]
An example of a rear engined dragster, driven by Cory McClenathan
In mid-1969, Drag Wedge, built by Logghe Brothers for Andy Granatelli, debuted, and later that year, prodded to action by the death of John Mulligan, Woody Gilmore (following the mid-engined Funny Car he built for Doug Thorley) and Pat Foster developed a rear-engined fuel dragster, which was unveiled in December.[8] Driven by Foster, the Gilmore car ran just once, getting up on its single rear wheelie bar and breaking in two at around 220 mph (350 km/h), at Lions Drag Strip.[8] Gilmore and Foster built a similar car, Pawnbroker, for Dwane Ong, incorporating the lessons of the previous car; it debuted in 1970, and proved considerably better.[8] In August, Ong won the 1970 AHRA Nationals in the car.[8]Pawnbroker won the American Hot Rod Association Summernats in Long Island, New York, the first national event win for a rear-engined car, with a pass of 6.83 at 219 mph (352 km/h).[9]"Big Daddy" Don Garlits examined the car and was so impressed with the forward view, he could not understand why everyone did not drive one--and why it did not work.[8] Around the same time, Bernie Schacker's rear-engined car, the first with a rear wing, was the first to run in the sixes, with a 6.98 at 192.70 mph (310.12 km/h), at New York National Speedway's Spring Nationals (an event sanctioned by none of the national bodies).[8]
In April 1970, Mark Williams' car, built for Mike Dollins and Dan Widner (at a cost of only US$2,111.16), first appeared; its 235 in (6,000 mm) wheelbase was significantly longer than the 180 in (4,600 mm) usual for fuellers at the time.[8] The car ran well, but required new driving techniques; Dollins and Widner lacked the money to continue racing it, and it was sold to a Colorado team, which switched to a 354 cu in (5,800 cc) hemi (rather than the usual 392 cu in (6,420 cc).[8]
Others rear-engined cars included ones built by Art Malone (before working with Garlits on his), the National Speed Products Research car built by Frank Huszar (Race Car Specialties) on a stunning 254 in (6,500 mm) wheelbase; driven by Chuck Tanko, it was overweight, at 1,375 lb (624 kg), and could only achieve 7.20s at 210 mph (340 km/h), never running in competition.[8]
On March 8, 1970, at Lions Drag Strip,[8] Garlits was driving Swamp Rat XIII, also called the Wynnscharger, a slingshot rail, when the vehicle suffered a catastrophic failure, and the car broke in half in front of the cockpit.[10]
Garlits returned to Pomona with a brand new mid-engined car, Swamp Rat XIV, in 1971.[11] At first, the rodding magazines considered the disadvantages of the new design "obvious". Swamp Rat XIV turned in a pass of 6.80 right off the trailer,[8] and was so successful during 1971, Garlits won two of his next three Top Fuel Eliminator titles (the Winternats and Bakersfield), and was runner-up at Lions, all in the new car.[12]
Rear engine dragsters have since become the standard dragster design.[13]
Historic carsedit
Smokin' White Owl built by George "Ollie" Morris in 19541954 — first slingshot, built by Mickey Thompson.[14]
1954 — Smokin' White Owl, built by George "Ollie" Morris, first purpose-built rear-engined dragster and first car to use a Chevrolet V8 engine.[15][16]
1962 — the Greer-Black–Prudhomme digger, with the best win record in NHRA history.[17]
1971 — Swamp Rat XIV (or Swamp Rat 1-R), first successful rear-engined dragster, built by Don Garlits;[18]Ed Donovan introduces the 417 Donovan hemi, an aluminum copy of the Chrysler[19]
Notesedit
^Hot Rod. Dec 1986. p. 29. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Levy, Art (2012-10-03). "Florida Icon: Don 'Big Daddy' Garlits". Florida Trend. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
^Hot Rod. Jul 1990. p. 143. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Burgess, Phil; Editor, NHRA National Dragster. "The slingshot's last hurrah". NHRA. Retrieved 2019-07-30. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
^"Gallery: The Best of 1970s Drag Racing", written by Dave Kommel on April 25, 2017, at Hot Rod online (retrieved 22 May 2017)
^Taylor, Thom. "Tony Nancy Gas Dragster", "Roger Lindwall Re-Entry", and "Kent Fuller Sidewinder III", in "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone", pp.34, 38, and 42.
^ abcdefghijkBurgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Front to back: The rear-engine transition", written 20 February 2015, at NHRA.com (retrieved 1 November 2018)
^Hot Rod staff writers. "The History Of Hot Rodding – 1970s", written 29 August 2013, at Hot Rod Network (retrieved 19 June 2017)
^Post, Robert C. (2001). High Performance The Culture and Technology of Drag Racing 1950-2000. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 38. ISBN0-8018-6664-2.
Taylor, Thom. "Beyond the Twilight Zone" in Hot Rod Magazine, April 2017, pp.30-43.
Hot Rod, 12/86, p.29 sidebar
January 01, 1970
dragster, dragster, specialized, competition, automobile, used, drag, racing, early, example, 1958, fuel, rail, display, california, automobile, museum, dragsters, also, commonly, called, diggers, broadly, placed, three, categories, based, fuel, they, gasoline. A dragster is a specialized competition automobile used in drag racing An early example a 1958 Fuel rail on display at the California Automobile Museum Dragsters also commonly called diggers can be broadly placed in three categories based on the fuel they use gasoline methanol and nitromethane They are most commonly single engined though twin engined and quad engined designs did race in the 1950s and 1960s The design of dragsters evolved from the front engined rail named for the exposed frame rails of the earliest days of drag racing into the slingshot with the driver between or behind the rear tires or slicks of the early to middle 1960s to the modern type common in the 1970s Depending on the class they run in dragsters can be injected or supercharged or turbocharged with a variety of possible engines The engines are most often derived from automobiles some early examples used surplus aircraft engines Today they may also be electric Dragsters are distinct from bodied cars such as funny cars and gassers as well as from Altereds Contents 1 History 1 1 Front engine 1 2 Rear engine 2 Historic cars 3 Notes 4 SourceHistory editFront engine edit nbsp An example of a front engined dragster driven by Tom McEwen in 1967 Main article Front engine dragsterThe front engine dragster came about due to engines initially being located in the car s frame in front of the driver The driver sits angled backward over the top of the differential in a cockpit situated between the two rear tires a design originating with Mickey Thompson s Panorama City Special in 1954 as a way of improving traction 1 This position led to many drivers being maimed when catastrophic clutch failures occurred 2 Due to limited traction some dragsters with four rear drive wheels were attempted 3 as well as designs with twin engines The final Top Fuel driver to win a National Hot Rod Association national event in a front engine dragster was Art Marshall on August 6 1972 at the Le Grandnational outside of Montreal Canada 4 Rear engine edit The drawbacks of front engine designs including fatalities led to several attempts at rear engined cars Among them were pioneering rear engined dragsters and funny cars including Doug Thorley s and Dave Bowman s 5 were Steve Swaja s AA Gas Wedge I from 1963 Roger Lindwall s 1966 Top Fuel Re Entry and Kent Fuller s fueller Sidewinder III both in 1969 6 7 nbsp An example of a rear engined dragster driven by Cory McClenathan In mid 1969 Drag Wedge built by Logghe Brothers for Andy Granatelli debuted and later that year prodded to action by the death of John Mulligan Woody Gilmore following the mid engined Funny Car he built for Doug Thorley and Pat Foster developed a rear engined fuel dragster which was unveiled in December 8 Driven by Foster the Gilmore car ran just once getting up on its single rear wheelie bar and breaking in two at around 220 mph 350 km h at Lions Drag Strip 8 Gilmore and Foster built a similar car Pawnbroker for Dwane Ong incorporating the lessons of the previous car it debuted in 1970 and proved considerably better 8 In August Ong won the 1970 AHRA Nationals in the car 8 Pawnbroker won the American Hot Rod Association Summernats in Long Island New York the first national event win for a rear engined car with a pass of 6 83 at 219 mph 352 km h 9 Big Daddy Don Garlits examined the car and was so impressed with the forward view he could not understand why everyone did not drive one and why it did not work 8 Around the same time Bernie Schacker s rear engined car the first with a rear wing was the first to run in the sixes with a 6 98 at 192 70 mph 310 12 km h at New York National Speedway s Spring Nationals an event sanctioned by none of the national bodies 8 In April 1970 Mark Williams car built for Mike Dollins and Dan Widner at a cost of only US 2 111 16 first appeared its 235 in 6 000 mm wheelbase was significantly longer than the 180 in 4 600 mm usual for fuellers at the time 8 The car ran well but required new driving techniques Dollins and Widner lacked the money to continue racing it and it was sold to a Colorado team which switched to a 354 cu in 5 800 cc hemi rather than the usual 392 cu in 6 420 cc 8 Others rear engined cars included ones built by Art Malone before working with Garlits on his the National Speed Products Research car built by Frank Huszar Race Car Specialties on a stunning 254 in 6 500 mm wheelbase driven by Chuck Tanko it was overweight at 1 375 lb 624 kg and could only achieve 7 20s at 210 mph 340 km h never running in competition 8 On March 8 1970 at Lions Drag Strip 8 Garlits was driving Swamp Rat XIII also called the Wynnscharger a slingshot rail when the vehicle suffered a catastrophic failure and the car broke in half in front of the cockpit 10 Garlits returned to Pomona with a brand new mid engined car Swamp Rat XIV in 1971 11 At first the rodding magazines considered the disadvantages of the new design obvious Swamp Rat XIV turned in a pass of 6 80 right off the trailer 8 and was so successful during 1971 Garlits won two of his next three Top Fuel Eliminator titles the Winternats and Bakersfield and was runner up at Lions all in the new car 12 Rear engine dragsters have since become the standard dragster design 13 Historic cars edit nbsp Smokin White Owl built by George Ollie Morris in 19541954 first slingshot built by Mickey Thompson 14 1954 Smokin White Owl built by George Ollie Morris first purpose built rear engined dragster and first car to use a Chevrolet V8 engine 15 16 1962 the Greer Black Prudhomme digger with the best win record in NHRA history 17 1971 Swamp Rat XIV or Swamp Rat 1 R first successful rear engined dragster built by Don Garlits 18 Ed Donovan introduces the 417 Donovan hemi an aluminum copy of the Chrysler 19 Notes edit Hot Rod Dec 1986 p 29 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Missing or empty title help Levy Art 2012 10 03 Florida Icon Don Big Daddy Garlits Florida Trend Retrieved 2014 03 21 Hot Rod Jul 1990 p 143 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Missing or empty title help Burgess Phil Editor NHRA National Dragster The slingshot s last hurrah NHRA Retrieved 2019 07 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last2 has generic name help Gallery The Best of 1970s Drag Racing written by Dave Kommel on April 25 2017 at Hot Rod online retrieved 22 May 2017 Taylor Thom Tony Nancy Gas Dragster Roger Lindwall Re Entry and Kent Fuller Sidewinder III in Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone pp 34 38 and 42 NHRA com retrieved 24 May 2017 a b c d e f g h i j k Burgess Phil National Dragster editor Front to back The rear engine transition written 20 February 2015 at NHRA com retrieved 1 November 2018 Hot Rod staff writers The History Of Hot Rodding 1970s written 29 August 2013 at Hot Rod Network retrieved 19 June 2017 NHRA com photo retrieved 24 May 2017 Hot Rod Dec 1986 p 28 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Missing or empty title help Hot Rod Dec 1986 p 28 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Missing or empty title help Street Thunder Flashback Big Daddy and his Swamp Rat XIV Hot Rod 12 86 p 29 sidebar Smokin White Owl Hot Rod November 1954 Post Robert C 2001 High Performance The Culture and Technology of Drag Racing 1950 2000 Baltimore Maryland Johns Hopkins University Press pp 38 ISBN 0 8018 6664 2 Hot Rod 12 86 p 29 sidebar Hot Rod 12 86 p 28 Street Rodder 7 94 p 144 Source editTaylor Thom Beyond the Twilight Zone in Hot Rod Magazine April 2017 pp 30 43 Hot Rod 12 86 p 29 sidebar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dragster car amp oldid 1220359626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
