In modern realities dregster are the perfect tool for maximum dynamic performance in the conditions formed over decades of regulations, which caused up to a few hundredths of a millimeter every detail of the car.
Progress does not stand still, and numerous successes and failures in the design of machines ultimatum eventually reduced the number of competitive configurations of components and assemblies dregster to a minimum, virtually offset by the differences between them. And today we are again back on half a century ago, when the technical requirements are less stringent, the engineers are in constant search of new solutions and the drivers were willing to sit behind the wheel of any projectile under the condition that he help win back precious seconds on kvotere.
In the early days of drag racing, mechanics and pilots gushed ideas about design Funny Car cars. Some experimented with aerodynamics, while others fought day and night to improve the return of the engine, while others think seriously about the benefits of all-wheel drive. But perhaps no one in his research did not go as far as Dick Jesse rolled onto the strip totally crazy Pontiac «Mr. Unswitchable» GTO «67.
Dregster had truly grotesque proportions even by the standards of the class: the size of the hood and rear overhang was no exaggeration huge and down the roof and a smaller angle of the windshield, according to Jesse, had to reduce the drag coefficient, but immediately had difficulties with visibility from the cockpit. The best solution to the problem, Dick found sunroof, from which protruded the pilot's head, framed by arches security. With full order visibility was as a reaction to the public, but the outstanding results Pontiac does not shine.
At first glance, the Ford Mustang Mach I do not seem to give us something remarkable, but the most interesting thing is hidden under the fiberglass body. Supercharged engine, worked on nitromethane, was located behind the pilot cross and drive wheels is implemented with a chain. All of this was attached to a modular chassis design which allows using a wrench and a pair of hands to collect on a tubular frame Funny Car familiar layout.
Himself chain mechanism has been borrowed from the front wheel drive Oldsmobile Toronado. Creator dregster Jack Chrisman he never sat in the cockpit of his creation, and soon sold it. In the end, this is the Mustang became the first fireball legendary John Force. Apparently, an aspiring pilot did not fully understand, by what is signed, making a purchase, since soon at one of the drive's Event cunning crumbled to pieces, and generously littered with links Gulf oil starting line. After this incident, this entry is certainly interesting to dregster strips NHRA has been ordered, and indeed the Force without any regrets rid of him.
Bronco Buster, created by Doug Nash (Doug Nash), considered one of the most unusual devices that just rolled out on strips of America in the sixties. The basis of the car was laid space frame made of aluminum tubes, and as the powerplant used Small-block Ford 4.7 liter. Later, in late 1966 a small motor 289th got compressors. Although aerodynamics cigarette kiosk and a small engine, the best result Bronco Buster became low eight seconds. Unfortunately, beloved public dregster his debut season was the last one, because aluminum frame and body with the outline of production of pickups were banned in the classroom Funny Car. Sam Nash then I concentrated on working on the five-speed manual transmission, which soon became very popular among riders in different Sportsman divisions.
In the sixties, marketers have used a completely different tools in order to attract buyers. Debuted in 1966, front-drive Oldsmobile Toronado was perceived by the public very skeptical, because Many experts doubted the reliability of a chain drive, whereby a considerable «nonsense» seven-liter engine passed the driving wheels. Answer General Motors instantly I dot the «i», and many doubters this issue never came back.
Created exclusively for the purposes of promotion Hurst Hairy Olds is a body dregster based on the model 442, which is based spatial tubular frame, which hoisted the two 425th big-unit, equipped with a mechanical supercharger, one for each axle. Shattering time 1200-horsepower engine is transmitted through the wheels of the same chain drive Borg-Warner, perfectly show itself in a fourfold increased loads. On the strips across America Joe Shubek driving a four-wheel drive Hurst Hairy Olds destroyed more than a dozen tires, flying steadily quarter-mile in the low eleven seconds.
Experiments with the arrangement of the engine did not give rest to engineers in the seventies, and it seems to me, not without the influence of overseas fashion at a mid-supercar. However, if in Europe the scheme itself fully justified in terms of the handling on mountain streamers and twisty tracks, the races at the quarter-mile, this configuration has not caught on. In 1972, Jack Dietmar built Chevrolet «Boss Brute» Vega, retaining as much as possible the outline of the vehicle stock. The wheelbase was significantly shorter compared to the opponents.
The output of all was less rosy dregster turned almost unmanageable, and to somehow navigate in space during night races Dietmar screwed to the «grille» phosphorescent rod serves as a sight. Boss Brute he soon broke, and chassis sold, and never returned to such dissent.
Junior Brogdon with his Phony Pony Mustang planned to compete with other riders in the class Funny Car, but rather expectedly went as plywood over Paris since in its construction, despite the presence of a body, Phony Pony perednemotornym dregster was not held under the rules of exorbitant wheelbase. As a result, Brogdon had no choice but to participate in open races and a variety of entertainment events. For a very brief history of this car its creator used a few different configurations of the power plant, which was based on 289-th Small-block Ford. Junior in an effort to maximize the impact tried all possible options: carburetor, injection, mechanical supercharger, but the apogee was the incarnation of the injector with two motors.
The public reacted to the inventive talent Brogdon, to put it mildly, without enthusiasm, and later changed the Mustang driver with immense hood to Classic Funny Car, and ended his career in the late seventies as a pilot in the class of Pro Stock. Despite the cool reception among the public Motorsports, Phony Pony was in his own unique and seemed descended from the pages of comic books, well, his best result was a 8.36 @ 165 mph.
To be continued…
