Content deleted Content added
Hotrod8924 (talk | contribs) |
Hotrod8924 (talk | contribs) |
||
| (8 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 7:
| last = Dahlquist | first = Eric | title = Dragster in Disguise | journal = Hot Rod Magazine | pages = 52–56 | date = April 1966}}</ref>
Funny car bodies typically reflect the models of newly available cars in the time period that the funny car was built. For example, in the 1970s, then current models such as the [[Chevrolet Vega]] or [[Plymouth Barracuda]] were often represented as funny cars, and the bodies represented the Big Three of [[General Motors]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], and [[Chrysler]].<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Cook | first = Terry | title = Special Funny Car Section | journal = Hot Rod Magazine | pages = 58–67 | date = February 1973}}</ref> Currently, four manufacturers are represented in [[National Hot Rod Association]] (NHRA) Funny Car: [[Chevrolet]] with the [[Chevrolet Camaro (fifth generation)|Camaro]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/15/nhra-john-force-racing-to-switch-to-chevrolet-in-2015/ |title=(Updated) NHRA: After nearly 20 years away, John Force Racing returns to Chevrolet/GM in 2015 |publisher=MotorSportsTalk |date=January 15, 2015 |access-date=January 17, 2015 |first=Jerry |last=Bonkowski}}</ref> [[Dodge]] with the [[Dodge Charger (LX)#Second generation (2011—present)|Charger]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/07/nhra-dodge-flaunts-new-2015-charger-rt-funny-car-will-john-force-move-to-mopar-power/ |title=NHRA: Dodge flaunts new 2015 Charger R/T Funny Car; will John Force move to Mopar power? |publisher=MotorSportsTalk |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 17, 2015 |first=Jerry |last=Bonkowski}}</ref> [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] with the [[Ford Mustang (fifth generation)|Mustang]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://racing.ford.com/series/drag-racing/news/articles/2014/11/tasca-will-remain-in-mustang-funny-car-for-limited-2015-nhra-sch.html |title=Tasca Will Remain in Mustang Funny Car for Limited 2015 NHRA Schedule |publisher=Ford Racing |date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> and [[Toyota Motor Company|Toyota]] with the [[Toyota Supra|Supra]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teamkalitta.com/kalitta-motorsports-news/186-team-kalitta-at-a-glance-las-vegas-2-debut-of-worsham-s-2015-dhl-toyota-camry-funny-car-highlights-team-kalitta-s-return-to-racing-in-the-desert.html |title=Team Kalitta At A Glance – Las Vegas 2; Debut of
Modern funny cars can rival or surpass [[Top Fuel]] dragsters.<ref>https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a40848945/nhra-funny-cars-faster-than-top-fuel-dragstersit-has-happened/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.motortopia.com/dethroned/ | title=DETHRONED!: How Top Fuelers Lost the Title Kings of Speed to Funny Cars | date=6 March 2023 }}</ref>
Today, fielding a Funny Car team can cost between [[United States dollar|US$]]2.6 and US$3 million.<ref>Burk, Jeff. “50 Years of Funny Cars: Part 3” in ''Drag Racer'', November 2016, p.62.</ref> A single carbon fiber body can cost US$70,000.<ref name="auto5">Burk, p.62.</ref>
==Guidelines==
The NHRA has strict guidelines for Funny Cars. Most of the rules relate to the engine. In short, the engines can only be [[V8 engine|V8s]] displacing no more than {{convert|500|cid|
There can only be two [[poppet valve|valves]] per [[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]]. The heads are machined from aluminum [[Billet (manufacturing)|billet]] and have no water jackets, as the high [[Enthalpy of vaporization|latent heat]] of the methanol in the fuel coupled with the brevity of the run precludes the need. [[Supercharger]]s are restricted to a basic [[Roots type supercharger|Roots]] type—{{convert|19|in|mm|adj=on}} rotor case width with a breadth of {{convert|11.25|in|mm|abbr=on}}. Only single [[camshaft]]s are allowed. There are two common bore-stroke combinations: {{convert|4.1875|×|4.50|in|mm|abbr=on}} (called a ''3/4 stroker'') and {{convert|4.25|×|4.375|in|mm}} (called a ''5/8 stroker''). The 3/4 stroker is the most common combination used today and equals 496 [[cubic inch displacement#Engine displacement|CID]] (8.1 L).{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Line 20:
Funny Car fuel systems are key to their immense power. During a single run (starting, [[Burnout (vehicle)|burnout]], backing up, staging, 1/4 mile) cars can burn as much as {{convert|15|USgal|impgal L}} of fuel. The fuel mixture is usually 85–90% [[nitromethane]] (nitro, "fuel") and 10–15% [[methanol]] (alcohol, "alky"). The ratio of fuel to air can be as high as 1:1. [[Compression ratio]]s vary from 6:1 to 7:1. The engines in Funny Cars commonly exhibit varying [[piston]] heights and ratios that are determined by the piston's proximity to the air intake. Funny Cars have a fixed [[gear ratio]] of 3.20:1 and have a [[reversing gear]]; power is transmitted from engine to final drive through a multiple staged clutch which provides progressive incremental lockup as the run proceeds. The rate/degree of lockup is mechanically/pneumatically controlled and preset before each run according to various conditions, in particular track surface. [[Wheelbase]]s are between {{convert|100|and|125|in|mm|abbr=on}}. The car must maintain a {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}} ground clearance.
Horsepower claims vary widely—from 10,000 to 11,000 [[horsepower|HP]] (7.5–8 [[megawatt|MW]]). Supercharged, nitromethane-fueled motors of this type also have a very high [[torque]], which is estimated at {{convert|7000|ft.lbf|N.m|abbr=on}}. They routinely achieve a 6[[g-force|G]] acceleration from a standing start.
==Safety==
Line 204:
| [[Ed McCulloch]] || 18
|-
| Bob Tasca III||
|-
| [[Al Hofmann]]|| 15
Line 237:
|-
| Eric Medlen || 6
|-▼
| Dale Pulde || 6
|-▼
|-
| Jerry Toliver || 5
Line 257 ⟶ 261:
|-
| Mike Ashley || 3
▲|-
▲| Austin Prock || 3
|-
| Shawn Langdon || 2
|-
|-
| K.C. Spurlock || 2
Line 271 ⟶ 275:
|-
| Melanie Troxel || 1
▲|-
▲| Blake Alexander || 1
|-
| Bob Gilbertson || 1
Line 287 ⟶ 289:
|-
| Chad Green || 1
|-
| Rick Johnson || 1
|-
| John Collins || 1
|-
| Sherm Gunn || 1
|-
| Craig Epperly || 1
|-
| Denny Savage || 1
|-
| Johnny White || 1
|-
| Jim Liberman || 1
|-
| Dave Condit || 1
|-
| Shirl Greer || 1
|-
| Frank Hall || 1
|-
| Pat Foster || 1
|-
| Dave Beebe || 1
|-
| Larry Fullerton || 1
|-
| Larry Arnold || 1
|-
| Sam Miller || 1
|-
| Butch Maas || 1
|-
| Phil Castronovo || 1
|-
| Larry Reyes || 1
|-
| Clare Sanders || 1
|-
| Doug Thorley || 1
|-
| Tom Grove || 1
|-
| Ed Schartman || 1
|}
| |||