A/F Funny Car

I was thinking about the Pro-Sportsman Association and the aims of the group to try to increase the fan draw and attention to the alcohol classes. What about injected nitro funny cars? Yeah there would be all the bitching and complaining about percentages and parety but it would still be really interesting. Not to mention cheaper? I like the idea of valve springs and crankshafts lasting long enough for me to pay for them before they expire. Not to mention stepping on the accelerator of an injected funny car would just have to be a blast. Plus doesn't nitro like to be loaded? Nothing like dragging a funny car body around to help load the motor. Just a wild thought--Dave Germain

 

Dave, your idea is a good one. We have proposed that class to the NHRA twice in the last ten years or so. Each time the response was "no interest". It would be great from a fan's perspective, but, a nightmare for the tech people...I'm guessing.

 

Injected Funny Car

Dave back in the early '70's I crewed an INJECTED FUNNY CAR and did a lot of over the road with it.Like any other car once you learn what you are doing with if and get the "BUGS" out of it they are a lot of fun and cheaper to run.I don't think that NHRA will ever go back to them.No big corp.$$$$ in it.I think that you would have to start out as an "OUTLAW" GROUP.I could just see me trying to talk ERIC LOURIE into switching.I would be out of a job sooner then I think.

CHUCK

 

Dave,

That's the direction we are headed but the only game in town right now is the Heritage series. While I'm guessing the Heritage A/F class would allow a F/C body the 1875# weight will probably be tough to hit. We have one of our 8.3 liter Arias engines we are building around these rules, under 550", 11 GPM pump, stack injector, etc. If NHRA ever goes back to a A/F F/C class we would be right there. I'm a nitro junkie but can't afford to play in the supercharged nitro ranks and for me it has to be a F/C.

Steve

 

Hi Chuck,
Everything have a good side and in your case, an A/F Funny car set-up will give you: less "diving job" and a lot more "talking time"...
and by the way, say Hello to the Lourie family, from thoses strange white head guys... way up, near the North Pole...
Take care,
Charles Stewart

 

I know you do not want to get into rules of the class, but think about the marketing opportunities, Come out and see the nitro cars face off against the Methanol cars,

I personally enjoy seeing the A / dragsters run and the controversy and publicity it brings to the sport. And maybe some different sponsors.

 

With the decline of the TA classes overall, there does not seem to be a way to get more guys to the classes. Hopefully what Todd can do media wise will help the class and will make the owners look at their programs to enhance or maybe expand. If there is more money made at the regional events with the new exposure given maybe track will be not so negative about improving payouts, and more will return to these two great classes.

All that being said, an A/Fuel Funny Car would be bitchin and would do nothing but enhance a class that is a bit stagnant due to THE Master 'Ace' dominating it.
But my honest opinion is that some guy would have to build one and run it a few times and show all the interested partys the potential of that type of car.

Nitro Funny Car is more popular than Top Fuel because of the rivalries and they way the class is promoted and marketed by the big two (and two a lesser extend the next four or five) teams.
An injected version is the lower dollar version of Force's car but the look, the flames, the smell and the sound would be more grass roots.....What's not to like

Dean

 

I totally applaud the content and idea of this thread, and especially from you Dave.
You are my Hero,..lol

I beg to differ on the thought that there would not be enough cars that would make
the transition. As if many current alky funny car drivers havent already spoke up in the past and said Hell Yea to the " what if HRA would allow them "

NITRO ATTRACTS,...PERIOD........Bring back Pro Comp..!!!!!!

Great thread Dave...

 

When TARA was still alive, NHRA ask us to go out and poll the active TA/FC owners on there thoughts about allowing A-Fuel Funny Cars. We did as we were ask. I heard alot of bad words and about 75% to 80% of the teams were against it(can't remember the exact numbers). That was sometime in the 2000's and things may have changed some by now, but I doubt it has been a total about face.
As Will said, this is just information and has nothing to do with any position in the newly formed PSA.

Keep brainstormin,
Marty

 

If you only poll the "Active TA/FC owner", I think that someone is missing the point. How about polling the Inactive owners that have been forced to the sidelines!! They are usually the people trying to find a way back into the game. Just a thought.

 

Now heres a post with some BRAIN tought in it.

 

How about coming up with a way to bring those nostalgia cars into the fold.


12 dragsters at Pomona. Sorry showing

16 funny cars. Why have qualifying?

Can you say Larry Dixon's nostalgia dragster against Duane Shields. I think Bartone's have a nostalgia rail, what does that run? Up the nitro and it might be competetive with 1 fuel pump.


And I think in Australia they run funny cars against dragsters.

You want to create excitement and promotional opportunities, Think about these.

 

One last thought, The PSA should take many of the ideas from this thread and take the info to the track owners, current racers, previous racers and racers in closely related classes see what they think about the ideas.

Amazing how much info for the organization and promoting the PSA if you just ask.


How about a thread with Racers ideas on promotions for the PSA.

 

Dave!

I need to send you an email...

Where do I send it?

Flash

 

I would love to see it. Bartone's N/TF went 5.57 @ 274 in testing this year...they are already allowed 100% Nitro. John Hale went 5.58 at last years Hot Rod Reunion in a AA/FC. A Nostalgia Funny Car vs. Modern TA/FC match up would be awesome!

 

Adding N/TF and N/FC would definatley add cars to each class.As long as the engine rules don't change for the Nostalgia Heritage Cars.
To the best of my recollection in N/FC it is any percentage nitro,a 6/71 supercharger at 19 percent max overdrive;points mag only;20 gal max fuel pump;three disc max clutch and a 3.90 or lower gear.
Not too sure about front engine N/TF,last I knew the class was regulated to the 392 style Hemi with the same rules as above,but maybe now the late model 426 is allowed also?
And what about the few rear engine N/TF dragsters (250 inch wb) following the above rules?
Could these classes all live together as two heads up eliminators?
The PSA is the best thing to happen to the alcohol classes in years,for sure.