Gasser
Bill Dedman (Talk | contribs) (→Evolution of the term over the years) |
Bill Dedman (Talk | contribs) (→Evolution of the term over the years) |
||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
==Evolution of the term over the years== | ==Evolution of the term over the years== | ||
| − | The | + | The term "Gasser" is a vulgarization of NHRA's classification that was originally "Gas Coupe/Sedan." |
| − | The main | + | The main purpose of this classification was to have a place to race cars with seriously modified engines. Virtually anything was legal, right up to supercharging, but the cardinal rule was that the number one sparkplug had to be within ten percent of the wheelbase, as regarded the front spindle. That is, if the car has a 100-inch wheelbase, the #1 sparkplug could legally be no farther back than ten inches behind the centerline of the front spindle. |
| − | Gassers had to have all their fenders, but bumpers culd be removed. | + | Gassers had to have all their basically unaltered fenders, but bumpers culd be removed. Gas Coupe/Sefans were classifuied by weighing the car and dividing the weight by the engine displacement. In the beginning, and "A"-class car was 0-9 pounds per cubic inch; a "B" was 9-11, a "C" was 11 and up... The following year, an "E" class was added for cars with over 13 pounds per cubic inch. Flathead and ibline six-cylinder cars (there were no V-6's back then) were kept separate, so they didn't have to compete directly with the OHV V8's. |
| − | The next step up was "Altered" or "Roadster" class, which allowed a 25-percent setback. "Altereds" and "Roadsters" cars could move the body back on the frame, and run without fenders. | + | The next step up was "Altered" or "Roadster" class, which allowed a 25-percent setback. "Altereds" and "Roadsters" cars could move the body back on the frame, and run without fenders. No interior was required. Yhere were just race-only cars. |
| − | "Street Roadsters" had the same basic rules as | + | "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. |
==Gasser websites== | ==Gasser websites== | ||
Your Privacy Choices