1961 NHRA US Nationals (Page 1/1)
Patrick JAN 26, 01:59 AM
Blast from the past! A trip down memory lane for some of us dinosaurs.

1961 NHRA US Nationals (Video unfortunately can't be embedded here.)

I was intrigued by the blower setup on the car at 12:04. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before? It looks like a supercharger is mounted in front of two side-by-side Chevy small-block V8s!



[EDIT] Ah ha... I used my google skillz to track that car down. Great article Here about the guys that built that dragster (and many others). Here's a photo of the car (and the fellas) taken many years later!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-26-2023).]

williegoat JAN 26, 05:22 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

I was intrigued by the blower setup on the car at 12:04. Has anyone ever seen anything like that before? It looks like a blower is mounted in front of twin V8 engines!

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE


Front mounted blowers were common in the 1950s. A major supplier of kits was Potvin. There were three major advantages and two important disadvantages. The Potvin blowers provided better visibility and less aerodynamic drag, particularly for land speed record cars, and there was less power loss than a belt driven blower. However, the long runners created problems with fuel atomization, and changing drive ratios (and therefore manifold pressure) was not as easy as on a belt drive.

Twin engine dragsters were not uncommon in the late '50s and '60s, but when purpose built engines such as Donovan and Keith Black became common, there was no longer a need.

I think that particular picture is Dode Martin, worth looking up if you want to learn about early drag racing history.
williegoat JAN 26, 05:33 AM
Remembering dragster pioneer Dode Martin
Patrick JAN 26, 05:51 AM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

I think that particular picture is Dode Martin, worth looking up if you want to learn about early drag racing history.



Willie, you must've posted while I was editing and updating my opening post. Jim Nelson and Dode Martin were really talented guys!
Patrick JAN 26, 06:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

Twin engine dragsters were not uncommon in the late '50s and '60s...



The very first model car I ever assembled as a kid (probably around 1965) was Tommy Ivo's four-engine dragster. His car actually makes an appearance going down the track at 16:47 in the video linked to in my opening post.