History Front Engine Dragsters-Wheelbase Through The Years

We all know they got longer as time went by. Anyone care to break it down and give us a history lesson? Maybe some info or photos of frame/rollbar design through the phases?

 

Garlit's web site is a pretty good indication. Here is what I pulled from it maybe someone can fill in the blanks.


Yr /Swamp Rat #/Wheelbase
'56 1 ?
'59 1B ?
'62 111A, B,C ? First year he used Chrome Moly Tubing
'62 5A 120"
'63 5B 140"
'63 7A 140"
'63 8 140"
'66 10 175"
'67 12 215"

 

For some reason it was thought that dragsters shouldnt have long wheelbases in the mid 50s & Scotty Fenn even had a theory that the wheelbase should match the cir***france of the rear tire. Finally everyone figered out you needed to keep the front tires on the ground to steer the car & use weight & leverage to do that.

 

This is a great history from We Did It For Love.

http://wdifl.com/Oblivion.html

 

Roughly it work s out from 1960 it would have been 10 inches per year starting with a 100 inch car. So in 61 it would have been a 110" wb. 62, 120. 63, 130 and mid year 64 145" hence the wheel base of my new car. These are rough figures, but gets you in the drag strip (ball park).

 

That seems about right my dad had a 150" car in about 65 or 66.

 

So what IS the advantage of longer wb? Stability? Wouldn't shorter wb=faster weight transfer to rear wheels?

 

Leverage

As tires and engines, clutches evolved you could move the weight foward by lenthening the ch***ie thus fooling the reaction (the tendency of wheelstanding)without adding any weight.