Gasser
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==Genesis of the term "gasser"== | ==Genesis of the term "gasser"== | ||
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In the beginning, Gas class was instituted to allow the guys with modified motors or engine swaps a class to run in. I used to run a '48 Ford with a modified '51 Mercury flathead in F/Gas. These were still fully functional, street legal cars with full interiors. I also used to yank the back seat out and run in C/Altered. One of the problems with hotter cars in that era was that there were no good tires. Even the recaps made into slicks of the time were capped with hard rubber on truck tire carcasses that wouldn't wrinkle up or hook up. They were better than treaded street tires, but not by much. | In the beginning, Gas class was instituted to allow the guys with modified motors or engine swaps a class to run in. I used to run a '48 Ford with a modified '51 Mercury flathead in F/Gas. These were still fully functional, street legal cars with full interiors. I also used to yank the back seat out and run in C/Altered. One of the problems with hotter cars in that era was that there were no good tires. Even the recaps made into slicks of the time were capped with hard rubber on truck tire carcasses that wouldn't wrinkle up or hook up. They were better than treaded street tires, but not by much. | ||
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"Street Roadsters" had the same basic rules as Gassers, but the fender rule was more flexible at times. It changed, periodically, but motorcycle fenders were allowed in lieu of stock fenders up front, at some point. It was a "ten-percent engine-setback" rule class, like the Gas Coupe/Sedans. | "Street Roadsters" had the same basic rules as Gassers, but the fender rule was more flexible at times. It changed, periodically, but motorcycle fenders were allowed in lieu of stock fenders up front, at some point. It was a "ten-percent engine-setback" rule class, like the Gas Coupe/Sedans. | ||
| − | In the late 50s guys returning from military duty in Korea began experimenting with GMC Roots type blowers adapted from Detroit Deisels they had wrenched in the military to the new V8s coming out of Detroit and began out running normally aspirated gas coupes and sedans. To make things more fair | + | In the late 50s guys returning from military duty in Korea began experimenting with GMC Roots type blowers adapted from Detroit Deisels they had wrenched in the military to the new V8s coming out of Detroit and began out running normally aspirated gas coupes and sedans. To make things more fair NHRA created a separate class for the supercharged cars and designated them with an S; A/GS, B/GS, C/GS etc. These cars had similar weight breaks to unblown classes to identify qualifying cars. Interestingly, this is the only class of cars that have been singled out with a supercharged identifier. |
| − | By the mid 60s the Gasser classes had morphed into pretty much a pre- | + | By the mid 60s the Gasser classes had morphed into pretty much a pre-war Willys class since the cars fit the class specifications almost perfectly. They were feather light. had reasonably string ladder frames, accepted the biggest hemi with surprisingly little work and had 102" to 104" wheelbases which just fit the 100" NHRA limit. Anglias, Prefects, etc. English cars were cleaning the Willys' clocks in match races but couldn't compete in NHRA events due to their sub-100" wheelbases. IHRA and AHRA began allowing them in so NHRA had to capitulate and open the gasser classes to the small English cars which instantly made the Willys uncompetitive. |
| − | However this dominance was short lived when racers started using the new Pony cars (Mustangs, Camaros, etc.) which had far superior technology, aerodynamics | + | However this dominance was short lived when racers started using the new Pony cars (Mustangs, Camaros, etc.) which had far superior technology, aerodynamics etc. Funny thing is this conversion to modoern cars killed the fan enthusiasm for the Gassers since instead of being Willys and Anglia side rail to side rail, wheel standing monsters, they were boring every-day door slammers. To spark fan interest in the modern Gassers again, NHRA and racers began experimenting with the cars by hollowing out inner body panels, moving rear axles WAY forward and engines WAY backward morphing them into the Factory Experimental or FX classes. Of course it was a short journey from there to the present day Funny Cars. Thus the amazing Gassers didn't die they simply kept up with the times. |
==Gasser websites== | ==Gasser websites== | ||
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