With Prudhomme, Austin Coil, Mongoo$e and more
“IN MY HEYDAY, TO DELIVER THE PERFECT DRAG RACING RUN WE RACED A VERY FINE LINE,” ASSERTS DON GARLITS. “If you had the exact right size tire for the weight of the vehicle, and the clutch set exactly right for the horsepower of the vehicle, and a track surface compatible with the combination, you could make a perfect run. But if the tire was too big it would shake. If the tire was too small it would spin. If the clutch was set too tight, it could shake. If the clutch was set too loose, it would over-rev the engine. If engine power was excessive it would spin the tires. If engine power was insufficient it would shake the tires. If the vehicle was too light it would spin the tires. If it was too heavy it would shake the tires.”
What would happen if there was a little more wheel speed than ground speed?
“A tiny bit of tire spin used to be okay. In my day, we had access to 3,500 to 4,000 horsepower, but today, if you go out and spin the tires, you lose the race. Back then it was okay to see a little puff of blue at about 300 or 400 feet because you knew the clutch had locked up and that little bit of blue told you the tires had caught up with you, and you were now one to one. On this formula, the 392 engine worked the best. When we saw it pop a little blue out there at 400 or 500 feet that son-of-a-gun was on song!”
Where was the effect of tire shake most prominent?
“The shake took place just off the starting line. The car might have been trying to get up on the tire, but didn’t have enough power to do it because the tire was too big for the prevailing horsepower, and the clutch was a little too aggressive. Had the clutch been a little bit looser, or if a little more horsepower were available, or had we used a little smaller tire, it wouldn’t have shook. Today, with computer aided data, it seems closer to becoming an exact science.”
この記事は Drag Racer の March 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Drag Racer の March 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Todd Atkinson, Sportsman Extreme
Riding the tsunami of fast bracket racers
Art Chrisman
Henry Arthur Chrisman died on july 12, 2016 at the age of 86. He was a driver, fabricator, race engine builder and pioneer in post-world war ii speed tests and drag racing.
Still Climbing Mountains
SHERMAN ADCOCK KEEPS ADDING TO HIS HALL OF FAME CAREER
Hauler High-Country
Bud Preuss Doing It His Way
David Rampy
While the sport of drag racing provides ample opportunities for competitors in the pro ranks to earn their livelihood doing what they love, there are precious few chances for sportsman racers to do the same.
The Best Day Ever
MIKE BOWMAN’S ODYSSEY TO A $100K PRO MOD PAYDAY.
This Beauty Is A Beast
THE WARDELLS’ RIGHTEOUS RIDE
Carrying The Brand Forward
CHEVROLET’S COPO CAMARO AND HOLLEY CONTINUE TO OPEN NEW DOORS
Bill Holland
IN DRAG RACER’S “BEHIND THE SCENES” COLUMN, VETERAN MOTORSPORTS JOURNALIST BILL HOLLAND ENDEAVORS TO SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT ON THOSE DESERVING RECOGNITION.
Pro Mod Updates
Underdog Mike Bowman snatched up the $100,000 prize at the World Series of Pro Mod event held at Bandimere Speedway.