| Funny Car |
Article Index for Funny |
Website Links For Funny |
Information AboutFunny Car |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FUNNY CAR | |
| drag racing | |
|
Funny Car is an NHRA Drag Racing car class, relating to the United States . The other US "professional" classes are Top Fuel , Pro Stock , and Pro Stock Motorcycle . Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and Carbon Fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance similar to Detroit manufacturers' showroom models. In recent years, four-door sedans have replaced the traditional two-door coupes in Funny Car. The Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Impala sedans are now used in the NHRA. The NHRA has strict guidelines for funny cars. Most of the rules relate to the engine. In short, the engines can only be V-8 s at 90 degrees. (The most popular design is loosely based on the 426 Hemi .) There can only be two Valves per Cylinder and Supercharger s are restricted to a basic Roots type—19 Inch (483 mm) rotor case length with a width of 11.25 inches (286 mm). The Engine Displacement can be a maximum of 500 in³ (~8.2 L). Only single Camshaft s are allowed. There are two common bore-stroke combinations: 4.1875 × 4.50 inches (106.4 × 114.3 mm) (called a ''3/4 stroker'') and 4.25 × 4.375 in (108.0 × 111.1 mm) (called a ''5/8 stroker''). The 3/4 stroker is the most common combination used today and equals 496 in³ (8.1 L). Engine blocks are usually made out of Aluminum Billet . Crankshaft s are made from Steel Forging s. Intake valves are Titanium and of 2.40 inch (61 mm) diameter, while exhaust valves are 1.90 inch (48 mm) diameter made out of Inconel . Every funny car has Ballistic Blanket s covering specific parts of the engine prone to explosion. Funny car fuel systems are key to their immense power. Most systems will deliver from 500 to 600 . Wheelbase is between 100 and 125 inches (2.54 and 3.18 m). The car must maintain a 3 in (76 mm) ground clearance. Horsepower claims vary widely—from 7,000–9,000—but are probably in the 8,000 BHP range. Supercharged, nitromethane-fueled motors of this type actually derive their quick elapsed times and stratospheric speeds from their Torque which is estimated at about 7,000 ft·lbf. They routinely have a 6 G acceleration from a standing start. Many safety rules are in place to protect the driver, spectators, and others. The more visible accoutrements are the twin Parachute s to help stabilize and decelerate the car once it crosses the finish line. For a thorough discussion of a highly similar drag racing vehicles, see Top Fuel Dragster . The first funny cars were built in the mid-'60s and so-called because the front wheels had been moved forward on the chassis to improve weight transfer under acceleration, increasing traction on the rear tires which were over sized compared to stock. Looking at the cars, they didn't quite look stock, hence the name "funny." Many of the older cars are still raced today in the NHRA Heritage Hot Rod Racing Series, including the National Hot Rod Reunion and the California Hot Rod Reunion. EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|