Gasser Challenge Discussion

EconoCarl Thursday, 3/22/2012

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Trying to see who is up for a Gasser Challenge and open a discussion as to the rules.
I'm guessing we need commitments from 16 cars to get a series started.

Rules I'd like to see:
a. pre 1970 cars, station wagons and trucks (no open vehicles or roadsters, no fantasy cars) built to resemble "Gassers" of the fifties and sixties. Must have four original fenders, modification for wheel clearance ok.
b. front runners up front on all cars (HW skinny's, ex: Madfast, Astro Funk, Passin' Gasser), axles must remain one piece (no FTE axles).
c. rear wheels: no FTE, HSW or Redline wheels, axles must remain one piece (no FTE axles)
d. no extended wheelbases, wheelbase must be as intended for a typical stock single engined car.
e. weight limit - 45 grams or less.

What do y'all think?
How do we distinguish a Gasser (in 1/64 form)?


Discussion

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model40fan 3/22/12

a yes
b lousy axles but fair if all run them, but add no early redlines
b yes, but add no early redlines
c yes
d yes, more than that will be tough to fit in a coupe

gasser ; nose higher than rear... short wheelbase...hogged rear wheel wells / rear fenders removed...
... not knowing the rules both my present gasser projects have BANNED wheels... i like the posted wheel choices....
need to set a weight limit quickly.... GO NOSE BLEEDS ! thanks carl

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Jobe 3/22/12

You know I'm in. hehehehe.

I thought the real Gassers had to have all four fenders.

front runners up front on all cars

what does that mean?

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WorpeX 3/22/12

I have no idea what a gasser is, sorry. : /

Also, what are front runners?

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EconoCarl 3/22/12

a yes
b lousy axles but fair if all run them, but add no early redlines
b yes, but add no early redlines
c yes
d yes, more than that will be tough to fit in a coupe

gasser ; nose higher than rear... short wheelbase...hogged rear wheel wells / rear fenders removed...
... not knowing the rules both my present gasser projects have BANNED wheels... i like the posted wheel choices....
need to set a weight limit quickly.... GO NOSE BLEEDS ! thanks carl


Discussion:

Smitty, what's wrong with the front runner's axles? Aren't they the same as the others?

A Gasser's nose higher than rear? A "Passin' Gasser" has the nose lower than the rear. Would that make it not a gasser?

Jobe, what do you think about the weight limit.

Tastelike dirt is 2 hours behind. Hopefully he will chime in soon, as well as Variation Jason and others.

What about the rest of y'all? Let's see some old school drag racin'!

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EconoCarl 3/22/12

Also, what are front runners?

Skinny front tires (like in the pics show at the link above). Available on Madfast, Passin' Gasser, Astro Funk and more.

Thanks for your interest, now get out the drill and build some cars!

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model40fan 3/22/12

nothing wrong with front runners, i have never had a car running them win anything, but i like the, you all have your identical parts pile, now make a car, idea...not all but most gassers noses were in the air to transfer weight to the rear wheels, and some to fit the shortened wheel base under the front fenders...
also will all 4 fenders be required ? ... let it bleed !

I'm in.

A. All for it
B. Not crazy about the performance of the wheels, bit it's fair if all are using them.
C. Easy to work with.
D. Good rule
E. Not a big fan here. The first three trucks I picked up all weighed between 65 and 81g.

So, I'm good with everything except the weight limit.

I think 3.0oz (85g) would be a good weight. It's a bit above a stock "car" but this is a race after all. An all metal Supervan is 65g, it's really easy to pass that weight limit..


And for those of you who don't know.......

A gasser is a type of hot rod originating on the dragstrips of the United States in the late 1950s and continued until the early 1970s. Gassers are based on production models from the 1930s to mid 1950s, which have been stripped of extraneous weight and jacked up using a truck beam axle to provide better weight distribution on acceleration (Beam axles are lighter than an independent front suspension as well), though a raised stock front suspension is common as well. Common weight reduction techniques include fibreglasss body panels, stripped interiors and plexiglass windows (sometimes color tinted).

Being built for racing, these cars are subject to either an engine swap, tuning or both. It was very common to fit a Roots supercharger and mechanical fuel injection, such as one from Algon, Hilborn or Crower.

With form being dictated by function, their appearance is often very top heavy and ungainly, largely due being raised higher than stock. Having their exhaust headers exiting through the fender well is a common characteristic, as it is the most direct route. Although being functional, these were often flamboyantly painted in metalflakes, pearls and candy finishes complemented by lettering in wild fonts.

The name arose because they were a gasoline-driven class, as opposed to using methanol or nitromethane.

And here's a vette..
Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

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EconoCarl 3/22/12

. . . also will all 4 fenders be required ? ...

I've been looking at Nostalgic Gasser rules and see that the body remains stock. Also no open or roadster type vehicles. It also appears that the wheelbase is near stock, unlike A/FX cars. I'm guessing we should do the same here.

Here's some reading:
http://www.nostalgiagassers.com/rules/
http://www.geezergassers.com/rules.php

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model40fan 3/22/12

please don't restrict wheel wells. i'm playing with a deora on a morris wagon base, tiny wheel wells,
most '41 willys gassers i've see all had wheel wells enlarged for tire size... let us do the same, passing gassers rear wheel won't fit just anything... also to fit a longer or shorter car on your chosen wheelbase you must hog the wheel wells in the direction that lets them "fit"... but, that is only my opinion...
... pair 'em off... flag girl starts

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EconoCarl 3/22/12

Good point Smitty! Let's just leave it at "must have the four original fenders with modification for wheel clearance ok". Howz that?

Keep in mind that this is just a discussion until we have enough builders to commit cars to a series.

Good point Smitty! Let's just leave it at "must have the four original fenders with modification for wheel clearance ok". Howz that?

Keep in mind that this is just a discussion until we have enough builders to commit cars to a series.


That's good for me.