Why 97's?

I always carried a hammer with me when I was running 97 and 81 carbs. Sooner or later needle valves would stick and flood motor with gas. Happened even with new needles and seats ! My flatheads had 3 and 4 97's and the Caddy had 4 81's those were the days !

 

I thought I'd found all your hammertops in the last few years, but they still keep showing up!

 

I have always assumed that the popularity of the 97 with racers was the ability to change main jets with the carb on the manifold. Don't see how you can do that with a 94. Since we all got our info on the hot set up from magazines, walking thru the pits etc. we assumed they were superior, we really didn't know why but if Rounthwaite, Fran Hernandez, Chrismann etc. used them then we needed them.