Update on the Ohio Crankshaft-powered DRO Top Dragster
DRO bracket racing editor Jok Nicholson is on a bit of a Florida tour until the PRI Show next week and he just called the Agent to say the MaxChevy.com project dragster made its fastest runs ever. The vehicle is powered by an Ohio Crankshaft-built 620 ci conventional-headed Chevy.
Racing at the Citrus Nationals last weekend at the all-new Palm Beach International Raceway in 1100-foot corrected altitude air the S&W-built dragster ran back to back 7.335 runs at 180.9 mph. These are the best runs by over five-hundredths of a second for the dragster.
“This combination has been very repeatable and makes good power in all weather conditions. Aside from replacing the head gaskets with a different part number, the only thing we do is check the valves and change the oil,” Nicholson said. “I couldn’t ask for a better engine that makes this much power and is so easy on parts. It’s all motor, no nitrous. I can run 7.30s shifting at 6700 rpms and not even reach 7000 rpm at the stripe.”
More on this “budget” engine from Ohio Crankshaft in upcoming tech stories on the engine and chassis. [12/01/08]
Fuller answers the 1,000-ft question
In a recent editorial DRO editor Jeff Burk asked what team would volunteer to test the NHRA’s new engine combo for fuel cars. In an interview of Hot Rod Fuller just released by the team’s PR folks he answered that question.
Q: At the Auto Club Finals, the NHRA announced that it will begin the 2009 season with 1,000-foot nitro racing. How do you feel about that?
Fuller: I'm still a little bummed. I understand they're trying to make every effort to go back to quarter-mile racing and that's good. I volunteered our team to do testing for NHRA to help slow these cars down. We're still going really fast. We went over 318 mph at Vegas. If they can figure out how to do it and not compromise safety and not cost the teams a lot of money, I think we'll go back. (Ron Lewis photo) [12/01/08]