Gasser race cars

Answer 1

Gasser race care, or simply "gassers," were a class of 1/4-mile drag racers that ran on gasoline as opposed to alcohol or other more exotic fuel such as nitro-methane. The classes for these "gassers" were many and, in the '60's when they were extremely popular, the most well-remembered body style being the '33, '40 or '41 Willys coupe. Bench-engineering in those days leaned toward power more than aerodynamics and, since these cars typically ran between 10-second and 16-second quarter mile times, the nose of the vehicle was raised up to promote "weight transfer" to the rear tires on launch. Today, with much faster times, the nose is typically lowered to promote down-force at very high speeds. Classes were determined by weight to (engine) cubic inch ratio and everything from a supercharged Willys coupe to the family sedan could be raced in the "gas" classes. The gassers died out in the early '70's when bracket racing became popular. Bracket racing pits unlike vehicles against one another with a "handicapped" starting system to equalize the race and allow for more racing to occur. In the old days, the racer would stretch the rules of his class in building his car to the max and race "heads up" with another racer who thought he could find a better way within the "rules." Those were the days. I own an ex-racer gasser. It's a replica 1927 Ford roadster, full-fendered, not the "T-bucket" (fenderless) that many street-rodders build. My car raced in the '60's and was owned by Willie Johnson, a rare African-American drag racer. The car was powered by a 1957 Corvette motor, 283 cubic inch displacement. It was supercharged with fuel injection and, near the end of its career, raced in the AA/G ("A" for weight-to-displacement, "A" for supercharged and "G" for "Gas" class). With a mere 100-inch wheelbase, it was a wild ride.