GASSER MUST HAVES and cant haves?

I kinda like that, looks like a sig line to me.

Now we just gotta figure out what years and sanctioning bodied are "bonified"

 

So between races my car is no longer a Gasser, but an Ex Gasser, and then when I get to the track again it mysteriously becomes a Gasser once again.
Is this true for Funny Cars, Top Fuelers, Indy Cars, Stock Cars, Sprint Cars etc as well?

 

Several of the big teams like Stone Woods and Cook, etc., had cars that were built strictly for match racing, and some simply modified their Gas class cars to match race status, and then back to meet the rules again afterwards.
There was no "match race class", but their most certainly were teams who built cars that wouldn't meet any of NHRA rules, and strictly match raced them. Almost every one looked like a Gas class car, and most even had their A/GS or AA/GS markings, but were way outside the rules. The SWC Willys match racer looked at a glance to be a clone of their Gas car, but didn't run on gas, and had the entire lower body and fenders cut off to make a slimmer profile.

 

At the risk of drifting further off topic, how many Willys' did Stone Woods Cook have?

 

That would be correct in my opinion. As a matter of fact it may mysteriously become something other than a gasser the next time it's at the track.

Just because a car met the guidelines of any particular class twenty five years ago does not mean it would today. And just because a car meets todays guidelines does not mean it would have twenty five years ago.

And I'm sure we all would agree that any car which has never been raced should not be considered a race car.

I would note one exception to this general rule. IMHO, once someone has sucked one dick they will always be recognized as a cock sucker!

 

Back in my Fernando days 2 gasser guys put a bit of the good stuff in the tank and really light em' up

So I figured I would try that magic stuff too, bought a set of Enderle injectors for fuel - fire suit all the stuff

Thinking it would spin them pretty good in low I started in second and just free wheeled those 10 hundereds even a bit going into 3rd hi was pulling pretty good and clicked it early to get a plug check and see how I was on the jet

Coasted throu at 120 , well i'am hear to tell ya that 90% I the tank really makes a BIG difference

I was a bit nervous after that first run and went to start it up after a jet change, and totally forgot to back off the engine OPPS big mistake as it broke a rod right in half when I hit the swtich from too much fuel I the chamber when the piston came up and fired at the same time BIG BOOM

About then I was thinking the hell with this 4 dollar a gallon stuff and back to the parts washing stuff and have more fun and keep it together

The local tracks would give you some extra money for gassers on fuel and have a match race , but it was just to costly on fuel and parts and the 25 bucks did not cover it

So I sold the Enderle's bought a new set of Hilborns and set a record in b/gas at Irwindale in 66' of 121.80

Gas only after that, as I learned my lesson

G Don

 

I might assume 3...

3 dudes... 3 willies.

*drum roll*

 

No single 4bbl carbs. Must have fenders and wheel housing headers.

 

At the same time, or total? I know for sure they ran two at the same time, but I think for a short time they either had a third, or converted one of the Swindler I-II cars to strictly match race configuration.
Leonard started out with a '50 Olds sedan with Cadillac power, but changed it to Olds in 1960. Then teamed with Fred Woods and ran a Stude with the Olds in it, and that was the first Swindler. They got the first Willys later that year and it was the 2nd Swindler car. In '61 they got the 2nd Swindler Willys, and KS Pittman drove I, and Doug Cook was added to drive II.
In '62 they built the new Willys, and it was Swindler A. I'm uncertain as to whether they kept I and II also, or sold one of them when A was built. The new A car was about 1,000 lbs. lighter than the B car, and had a larger 467 c.i. Olds. It seems for at least a short period they had 3 cars at that time, but only two drivers.
Around 1964 the big money match races started, and SWC used the more competitive A car for these races. The Mallicoat Bros, Big John Mazmanian, Ohio George Montgomery, SWC, etc. all ran match races, and some with specific cars for that style racing.
In '65 SWC swapped both Willys to hemi engines of around 447 c.i., and changed the paint on the A car was changed to black. In '66 the A car got changed strictly to match racing when SWC cut a couple inches off the bottom edge of the body, disqualifying it from any more Gas class racing. Not sure if they ever added the metal/glass back before the Gas class died.

 

At least three and multiple colors too.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19&20 2014

 

Not sure if it has been said but all lettering or signage should be hand done no vinyl.

 

Here's the rules for our Gasser deal if you might want to run a few of our races.



These rules are by Time Travler Gasser LLC.




NOSTALGIC GASSER RACE RULE
These rules are set in place in order to control the appearance of the participating cars. We are striving for the look of a 1960’s era A-C Gas car. The cars must represent the 60s era in the pits as well as on the track. This applies to the body, wheels & tires, as well as the chassis/suspension interior and the engine compartment. If rule changes are made it will be more strict and not less. If you would like to run please send detailed photos of your car to Jeremy Pearson at wjp460@gmail.com he will present the photos to the group for consideration/approval. For any tech questions contact Jeremy Pearson Phone 864 430 8485 or email at wjp460@gmail.com. For race bookings Contact Quain Stott at 828 863 1201 or email quainstott@live.com.


No rack and pinion steering (they don't work right on a straight axle anyway)
No sheet metal rear end housing must be made from production car housing
No sheet metal intakes
No dominator carbs
No N20 Nitrous Oxide or any part of it on the car
No Round Tube Chassis
No A Frame or Strut type front end
No 4 Links
No wish bone type sway bars.
No anti roll bars hooked to the rear end housing
No narrowed or pro street type rear ends.
No crank trigger
No Electronics (This includes but not limited to: two steps Delay boxes, Throttle Stops, Crossover boxes, Data recorders, Traction control systems, Infrared starting line systems, Air Shifters, etc.)
*Line locks & will be allowed as well as high side Rev limiters (engine safety only) , MSD box will be allowed ( At least try to hide msd boxes so the engine compartment will look old school )
* Rev limiters can be used only as engine protection but not for launching the car
No long wheelie bars (try to keep them as close to the bumper as possible) Must be old school like the early 60s max length if hooked to housing 44"
No visible springs on wheelie bars unless it the old school type mounted to the bumper ( if you must have springs for what ever reason they must be at the top of the bar out of site)
No open bodies styles or Altered. Closed body cars only.
No billet or spun aluminum wheels
No billet engine covers, breathers, valve covers, etc.
No rear tires wider than 11.5 inches
No rear wheels wider than 10"
No wedged out front ends
No modern letters on tires (if they are lettered they must be old school small type letters)
No modern graphics.
No Pro stock/ snorkel style hood scoops (scoops must be of the 60s)
No wings or air dams
Body modifications allowed will be radiused wheel wells. Chopped tops will be approved through the group
No alcohol gas only (These are gassers )
Coil over shocks must be approved through the group if you are building a new car don't use them there might be a rule in the future outlawing them.
Aluminum blocks are allowed but must be painted

REQUIRED
Closed full body styled cars 1967 or earlier
Body must be stock or stock replica
All cars except the ones grandfathered in must have a clutch and straight drive transmission.
Left hand steer
Open headers
Interior must be 60’s era styled. No modern high back seats, etc.
Straight Axle Front end suspension
60’ era wheels. (Steel, aluminum slots, Magnesium, etc.)
Front tires must be skinny no wide front tires
At least 11" from the ground to the rocker panel or the lowest part of body right behind the front wheels
At least 10" from the ground to the rocker panel or the lowest part of the body just in front of the rear tires.
front wheels in the air on launch


REQUEST
Old school tack and gauges we don't like to see 80s style tack and gauges in what's supposed to be an old school Gasser ( why would you want to ruin the looks of your old school Gasser with new stuff like this anyway it's the first thing you see when some one looks inside your car.)

Try to hide charging plugs and master kill switches ( the kill switch can be mounted inside the trunk area then have a small rod to the out side to shut it off it's safer this way anyway (I'll explain if I need to) they didn't have them in the 60s and it's the first thing you see when looking at the back of the car
Old school long ladder bars (if you are building a new car keep in mind that this could be a new rule in the future)

We would like to see aluminum heads painted unless you have heads that were produced in the early 60s

Grandfathered in for now

The only automatic car that will be allowed is the ones that ran with us last year no new cars will be accepted.If you have an automatic car and was approved to run last year but could not make it to one of our races we will consider letting you in just at select races so give me a call I have kept records and know who was accepted. We have done surveys and we can plainly see that the fans like the stick cars better.

Same goes for sheet metal intakes the only ones that will be allowed is the ones that ran with us last year and they are in the process of changing them this year.

Forward mounted carbs (this will be a rule in the future)

 

Gotta love that list
Thanks for the extensive answer
I had considered posting a consolidation of inputs so far.

which of these wheels are most correct for the front?
<TABLE border=1 cellPadding=1><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD align=center>Gray</TD><TD align=center>Polished</TD><TD align=center>"As Cast"</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

None of them. Cragars ,American 5 spokes( or similar) kidney bean, big window, even stock steel are more correct than them. Gassers up to 1965 at least were required front brakes and the 12 spoke was a spindle mount wheel that would have had to of been modified to run an airheart style brake which was a waste of time.

 

X 2 they just don't look right for some reason we have been letting a few in our group run them but we might not next year. I know that some gasser group don't let them in.

 

Ladder Bars, round or square tubing?

 

Either. Both styles were used.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19, 20 2014

 

The aluminum block rule is an interesting touch.

 

SWC there were only two Willys, the '33 Willys pictured was Chuck Finder's car "sponsored" by the SWC team. The Original Willys was the Swindler II car which had a steel nose with a double flex pipe tube grill, that was replaced later with the glass nose which is still on the car today. K.S. was the first driver of the Willys and Doug took his place in that car, in '63 they built the "A" car. Although the did many paint schemes on the "A" car, there were only two and both are accounted for today as well as Chuck Finders '33. Doug brought the "A" car out of retirement in the 80's and had his son Mike drive it.

 

We have had a hard time with some of the rules trying to keep the old look under the hood. Aluminum block, radiator and heads don't just slap you in the face as being wrong if painted. We don't worry much about performance because the old school suspension and high center of gravity has kept everybodys times to around 5.80 in the 1/8. If anybody get much faster than that we will make the tire rule smaller. We will do anything we have to to keep it heads up with no brake out.

 

I have seen a bunch of these groups run. My opinion.... Quains group has this thing down. Maybe not perfect to some but I have seen them run . Heads up , cars react different each time making it more a drivers race. The cars look and act like early -mid 60's cars.

Building my car right now swapping auto for 4 speed to run with these guys.

I was at a car show recently and a guy had a 55 chevy ( nice car) with a nose high straight axle and the ass end up almost as high and thought it was a gasser. I remember when they called those street freaks in the early 70's

 

Looking at the rules Quain has posted, my car would fit right in them without my having to do much if anything.

My problem would be that I'm a LOT slower than these A/G and AA/G guys are running. Hell most of the real deal A and AA cars from back in the day wouldn't be able to run with them.

What's us D, E, F and G/Gas guys suppose to do for fun, watch?

I would love to see the event promoters have classes for us slow guys with similar rules, hell everybody loves old field cars! Not to mention every additional car represents another four or five heads buying gate admission.

Personally I enjoy watching two turtles race just as much as I do two hires!

 

What you dont like the rocket gasser wheel,lol!

 

Lets not forget about all the crazy "match race" style gassers!

 

Correct me if I'm in error, but wouldn't that be an FX instead of a "Gasser"?

 

That looks like Hayden Proffits match bash car. Not really an FX car because they didn't meet the rules.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19, 20 2014

 

Moon Rocket you're in luck we feel the same way the slower cars are welcome at our races as long as you fit the rules it's as much a car show as it is a race. We do our deal chicago style match race. We make a few practice runs to log everybodys times then we do 3 rounds with cars that run close to the same et matched with each other. The two cars that have the quickest times of the day come out last on the 3rd round and run each other to determine the overall winner. That way everybody gets to make the same amount of runs and we also don't use the score boards or have the announcer call out times so the fans don't know the difference. We have about 15 cars right now in our group with about 6 more being built that range from 5.80 to 7.00 in the 1/8 mile. The only disadvantage for the slow cars is that you have to run at least 6.40 to get any money that could change to 6.20 next year. We have a race at Ware Shoals SC September 14 and another at Greer SC November 16 but you have to pre enter just give us a call it's also free entry for driver and 2 crew members. I think we may have high jacked dirtydaves thread sorry.

 

No high Jack, no worries.
I am enjoying the twists and turns while appreciating the information and perspectives.

 

Still closer to an F/X than a Gasser(?)

 

Ecactly. Wasnt trying to say it was a gasser, but it's not a factory experimental either. They were only allowed to move the wheelbase 2%.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19, 20 2014