I was talking to a guy the other day that implied that OEM clutches,specificaly Borg Warner, were used in sixties FED's and other "hot' cars.. This got me thinking, when did purpose made drag clutches arrive on the scene? I always ***umed that these cars went for Crower, Hays or Schiefer clutches, but I am curious now. Did anybody use BW, or are there any obscure mfgrs now gone? Seems like this would have been one of the first aftermarkets. Anybody know?
The slipper clutch did not come onto being until the late '60s. I think the first Crower Glide came out about '67. So yes, in the early '60s the driver controlled the launch and slipped the clutch during the run. Most major accidents back then were clutch explosions due to shredding the clutch disk.
Yes. It created the need for ****ter shields. Won't be long before someone puts up a pic of Big's clutch explosion.
If you are talking about the explosion on the starting line at Lions, that was a transmission explosion. Apparently, I don't type fast enough.
Uh, thanks, but none of that is what I'm asking! I am curious as to when pupose built drag clutches came onto the scene. thanks
The picture that sticks in my mind is the young Don Prudhomme standing at the top end of the track after getting out of his FED surveying the carnage after the car in the other lane - perhaps Jim Marshall??- exploded a clutch that cut the car in half at the motor plate. It's alledged that Don considered never getting back into a FED again - but he did and the rest is history.
Paul Schiefer and Harry Weber both were making clutches in the 50s.. and there was Auburn before that..not to be confused with car of same name.
Uh, Ok. I didn't ask about slipper clutches. I do remember when they came into use. I was asking who made clutches specifically for drag racing. Thanks anyway
One of Hot Rods little Spotlite books from 1962. In the "Clutching for the Quarter" chapter they mention McGurk Engineering, Hays, Schiefer, C-T Automotive, Weber, Ansen, and I probably missed a couple. Larry T
What is your concern? You building a period car , and need a period clutch? I am only 38 so I dont know alot about this stuff. But there was a long learning curve in clutch development. Like someone has said before,,, clutch explosions where the most common reason for accidents. Law office manager? Is your occupation? Does this thread have to do with work?
No it's not work. It came up in the course of conversation.I'm not building a car, I have been a drag fan since 1964, i am interested in drag history. things like tires and blowers and FI etc, seem to be well represented historicaly, but ( other than slipper clutches ), I have read little about clutch development. OK?
The purpose-built two-disc clutch with a floater came in around 1958, when direct drive started becoming the norm and the idea was to increase clamping force and smoking the tires on purpose became the accepted approach to getting off the line.
The Jalopy Journal
