Whats' a HAMBster, you may be asking. Well, that's the name that seems to have stuck for the HAMB/SamIAm-style dragsters that took this year's HAMB drags by storm. There were three "HAMBsters" on hand Saturday, and they were all "spot-on" regarding they're kinship to early days (pre-slingshot) dragsters. Not only that, but all three were amazing examples of forethought and craftsmanship. Believe me when I say the HAMB has something special going here. No other group (including the NHRA) has anything like these going (sure, there are a handful of re-pops of early cars - but none that are actually racing, at least that I know of). I predict these things are going to catch on BIGTIME - and take the rest of the drag racing nostalgia movement by surprise. My picture-posting luck has been bad so far this morning, but I'm desperate to show you all these killer cars - so I'll give things one more try. Thanks for your patience.
Yeah, I saw them a Tulsa and they were the highlight of the show I think. That little inliner sounds like a cummins diesel about mid-track, just love it.
Who cares who won or who was fastest??? It was a complete time warp everytime those cars made a pass together. That's what it was all about.
I just wanna say how much of a blast I had driving and building car 82D. Randy, Kyle and I are very glad we committed to build one. It was worth all the sweat and blood. The responses were all great from the fans and fellow HAMBers. We heard a lot of guys say they're building one for next year. I am contacting the other two groups that have current running cars to see about getting together and drafting a firm set of rules based on SamIyam's guidelines. Drag racers will always go faster. I fear that without some rules they will get too fast to be safe and/or the tracks will not let them run due to liability. I don't want this new(again) phenomenon to spiral out of reach for every poor boy who wants to build one. It was too much fun and everyone should be able to afford one even without a shed full of "free" parts laying around. Imagine if there were 10 of them there or 20! Hell ya!!! Any comments??? Brad
Exactly! A guy could have a 10 second car in no time at all with the right parts... eeek! When you guys sit down to draft some rules, give me a hollar... maybe do an e-mail list... or maybe we can start a thread on the HAMB Drags messageboard... either way, I'd like to help. But I think the tires will limit the cars... (but not the speeds)... How fast was the fastest one? Sam.
Recycler, I'd like to get involved with the rules draft. I've read some of the early thoughts and think there are some things you guys could do differently to reach the goal of cheap fun. Lets start an email group and go at it.... Good idea?
That's haulin' pretty good... what, about 98 mph? If he spun the tires... 100mph? I'd like to be a part of the e-mail group, Ryan... so let me know when you gusy get together and where. This is an exciting opportunity for ANY HAMB'er to join in and have some cheap fun! Sam.
i would like to compliment everyone that built one on their qaulity of build......the hambsters were VERY nice machines, all well done , and thought out......definetely get a good rules package put together and keep it fun Fred
There was an e-mail group started once before.... Look what THAT turned into.... Good stuff here guys.
Very good idea. I PM'd Mr Mac about it since his HAMB name was the only one I could recall- he's on the red car team. The fastest trap speed was 94 mph by our car and the 6 cyl car. Brad
after watching these little badboys runnin at MOKAN, i gotta say i got the bug. cheap, fast and fun. count me in on an email group. i'd love to build and run one of these next year at the drags
These little cars WERE waaaay cool for sure, but then the whole experience was cool, even from the spectators side! Thanks Ryan!! JayD
Here's the basic rules... feel free to copy into any e-mail list... Sam. The Rules: 1. Stock frame rails or .120 wall square tube rails. 2. Flathead in-line or v8 engines or vintage pre-1962 Inline engines ONLY. No OHV v8 or v6s 3. Engines should be kept close to stock for the first year.,, but feel free to juice them as you desire. Just remember, if speeds increase, more attention to safety will be enforced. 4. Drivers must wear full faced helmets, fire retardant jacket, gloves, jeans and leather shoes. Dont freak about the jacket Summit and Jegs sells RJS ones for $75 and you can find them on e-bay even cheaper. Single layer. 5. Stock width front and rear ends only, no narrowed rear ends allowed. 6. No "slingshot" chassies. Driver and engine must be positioned entirely between the front and rear axles. Engine and driver placement can vary. 7. Cars must be equipped with an engine mounted starter. Jumper batteries ok to use to get cars started. 8. Batteries must be mounted in a tray made out of angle iron and have 3/8" studs or bolts with a 1" x 1/8" (or larger) strap over the top. 9. Cars must have rims no wider than 5.5" and in the spirit of the event, only bias ply street tires are allowed. No radials or modern "wrinkle wall" slicks allowed. Tire tread width can measure no wider than 6". 10. If a cooling system or water tank is used, car must have a radiator cap and an overflow (catch can) system. 11. Closed drive lines are encouraged... but not required. 12. If an open drive line is used, driveshaft must have an 1 1/2" x 1/4" "driveshaft loop" within 6 of front and rear universal joints AND be totally covered/ sealed off from driver with a sheet aluminum or steel floor pan. 13. Cars must have floor boards and/or belly pans. If a belly pan is used, car must have a sufficient structure to prevent drivers legs from pulling a "Fred Flintstone" if the belly pan is torn off or if it falls off. 14. All cars must have a firewall. 15. All cars must have a cowl or body to prevent drivers legs from exiting the vehicle in the event of a crash. 16. All cars must incorporate some type of "roll bar" one main hoop behind drivers head and two support towards the firewall. 17. All cars will be inspected for general soundness and safety. Things like sound steering, all lug nuts in place and safety belts required. Front suspension and steering components must be sound and all bolts and nuts must be tight. All lug nuts must be in place. All heim joints must be captured, cotter pins in place etc. 18. Fuel line(s) can have no single piece longer than 24", has to be fasted by hose clamps and may not be hard or cracked. 19. Cars must be built in the spirit of "The Bug" and other early "rail jobs". 20. Cars with keyed axles must be equipped with hub safety retainers. 21. Five point NHRA approved safety harness required. 22. Cars must be equipped with at least one rear red running light for night drags. Any and all items are open for discussion and explanation. After all, we dont want to exclude anyone if they arent to the letter of the law that would take the fun out of this. Sam.
I'd like to be on the email list also. I'm scrounging my parts pile right now. I have an axle and rear end. Heck I'm on my way.
The HAMBster with the inline doesn't appear to be within the "pre-'62" engine rule. Chevys had 235's in '61.
Yes, they were more like guidelines than rules. I can only speak for my team but we had many ideas and parts that we didn't use in the build because we didn't feel it was in line with the spirit of the concept that originated here on the HAMB and led to SamIYam's guidelines. I'd bet the other teams did the same. Brad
I think ya'll are right and this is going to catch on big time. When me and eric (flexicoker) saw em come in in on the trailer we quickly went over to see what was going on. Very neat little cars and a hoot to watch fly down the strip. I am excited to see what the final set of rules are. Im sure come august 06 we will see a bunch more of these throwbacks.
The whole experience was great. All the hard work was worth it. When I drove it (once), my foot slipped off the throtte and I missed a shift. I coasted throgh the lights and got my assed kicked. I didn't give a damn. I might as well have been strapped into a top fuel car. What a rush. I've driven lots of cars and bikes fast and that seventeen seconds was just about the best. As far as rule clarification goes, one term comes to mind "No E". Any performance equipment that was not available during the era that these cars represent, has no place in this class. Talk to a bunch of old racers. I don't think they'll mention trans brakes from the fifties. I vote for all maunal trans. That mid-track shft is one hell of an equalizer. I'm not pissed at all. We just need to agree to keep it safe, cheap and fun. Count me in.
Awesome cars, people, atmoshpere = HAMB Drags! I can't wait for next year to get here. Also, I practically have the parts for one of these little hambsters, so count me in on the e-mail list, please. phil
I know everyone wants to be on the e-mail list... but I think the e-mail list is just to iron out the rules. My experience with rule writing is the fewer cooks in the kitchen the better... The more people you get lying out rules, the broader the rules get. As for communication about what everyone is building... I think we should keep that right here on the HAMB for all to see... that way people get inspired to work on them... and get ideas. Sure, you can keep your speed secrets to yourselfs... but for the rest, I think we should do it here and not on an e-mail list. Sam.
I'm like a bunch of other folks and would like to be in on the rules list, but barring that, I'd like the chance to bend the ear of someone who is on the list. How about a free wheeling suggestion thread? Then the rules folks could take or leave the the ideas. You never can tell; maybe someone would toss out the that wonderful HAMBster notion that would make all the difference.
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