One of the main indicators in any sports discipline, one way or another associated with the technique, whether or rowing race on lawnmowers, is the efficiency of, say, inventory. In races for Quarter?
In the races for Quarter, where victory and defeat hundredths separated and sometimes thousandths of a second, the technical component becomes one of the main parameters, because the time on the use of team strategy and pilot error correction are not there. And if, effectiveness dregster understood the ratio of the races in which he participated, and the number of wins, the more effective Army Monza in the history of drag racing world was not just anything. Thanks to Don Prudhomme became a double champion NHRA Winston Championship, scoring 13 victories in 16 stages.
When creating Army Monza has been used all the accumulated years of experience in the construction dregster Funny Car. The base has laid down the chassis, designed by John Buttery (John Buttera) and other well-known mechanic Pat Foster (Pat Foster). All welding work performed by specialists from speaking for itself the nickname «Art of Welder». At the exit to get the lightest ever created before the chassis having prohibitive stiffness. Pink Ed (Ed Pink) on the basis of an aluminum block Keith Black Racing Engines has built an incredibly powerful engine, which absorbed nitromethane at such a rate that the standard fuel tank was not enough to satisfy his brutal appetite. Giant mnogolitrovogo engine torque transmitted to the rear wheels through a two-stage planetary gearbox Lenco. The front suspension was absent as a class, in principle, and behind the scheme has been implemented four-link.
Outlines Chevrolet Monza was chosen to design the new body for reasons of aerodynamics, silhouette Army Monza was more stocky and streamlined than anything on the Strip America before. The rear spoiler was much more familiar, both sides have extensions that have achieved the perfect balance between downforce and resistance to air flow. Jim Hume (Jim Hume) from H & H Racecraft was responsible for the equipment of the cockpit, and the people who happened to see the Army Monza alive, say that it is an outstanding example of working with metal, performed with surgical precision and unprecedented accuracy.
For the first time Army Monza appeared on the 1975 NHRA Winternationals. And already in the first race against the Ford Mustang of Billy Meier (Billy Meyer), it created a furor. No one, including himself Meier, did not understand what had happened at the starting line, because after the green lights flashed on the «tree,» as if the car Prudhomme disappeared in a cloud of dust. Neither the audience nor the competitors then had no idea what had just beheld they first start the best car in the history of Funny Car. Over the next two seasons behind the wheel of Don Monza lost only three times. No one at any dregster even close could not boast such an achievement. Neither before nor after.
Army Monza, built to win, not just to win. She dominated all by a wide margin in a sport where very difficult to dominate. Fireballs Funny Car has always been considered one of the most difficult to fly and, accordingly, one of the most challenging to configure.
Prudhomme himself one of the major factors bringing one victory after another, called the clutch, which he set up himself before each race. His rigorous approach to slicks allowed to pass the time as much as they could digest, will not break in a slipping. This fine line Preud'homme felt like no other and squeezed out dregster maximum, while the majority of mechanics and pilots preferred to play it safe, sacrificing power in favor of the hook.
At the end of season 1976, NHRA founder Wally Parks (Wally Parks) has offered to sell the Don Army Monza in the private collection of William Harrah's (William Harrah), who was willing to pay whatever price the legendary car.
In just a few months before, Prudhomme fell in love with Ferrari cars during the voyage to Europe.
Harrah, being the importer of the Italian brand in North America, has suggested doubling (at the time) champion Ferrari 308GTB, and Don agreed.
Later he says: «It was the worst deal in my life. Monza has always been for me the best. It was fantastic in every detail. I was really in love with this car. »
Now you can see the legend of the seventies in the National Automobile Museum in Nevada, Army Monza — the only car Prudhomme, is not in his personal collection. Dregster Museum exhibited at the premiere of «Snake & Mongoose» in 2013, where an elderly driver could not contain a sentimental mood and kissed his former race car in the roof.
