A-fuel dragster (TAD) vs top fuel dragster operating costs difference? (1 Viewer)

[NITROJUNKIE18]

looked around and couldn't find a direct comparison... anyone have a ball park for A-fuel dragster? would you say it could be done with a much smaller team, even running such high nitro? depending on financial situation are there teams running with no to mild amounts of main sponsors? anyone got experience? i know the costs of a top fuel dragster are practically everywhere i just didn't know how much less A-fuel would be in comparison to its nitro bigger sibling. do you guys think it is to extreme for the weekend warrior? or even a few guys with a flat bed and some trucks full of tools and parts? or do you think at that level should be moving more toward 18 wheelers with 8 spare parts of everything... like the other main nitro classes. let me know what yall think!

 

[Cliff]

I think it's already at the point of 18 wheelers and LOTS of spare parts.

 

[M Jones]

I think it's already at the point of 18 wheelers and LOTS of spare parts.

And spare long block motors

 

[Cliff]

Just to throw out something, my vote for all time greatest A/FD would be Gene Adams & Don Enriquez.

 

[twostep]

Just to throw out something, my vote for all time greatest A/FD would be Gene Adams & Don Enriquez.

On the blown alcohol side, how can we forget the little SBC terror of Rick Santos?


So what's harder on engine parts? Injected nitromethane in an engine that redlines at 6500 or so, or alcohol in an engine with stupid amounts of boost and an RPM limit rivaling that of a Pro Stock engine?

 

[Nappy]

On the blown alcohol side, how can we forget the little SBC terror of Rick Santos?


So what's harder on engine parts? Injected nitromethane in an engine that redlines at 6500 or so, or alcohol in an engine with stupid amounts of boost and an RPM limit rivaling that of a Pro Stock engine?

Gotta be the alcohol combo

 

[mick]

Behind The Scenes: What It Takes To Race An A/Fuel Dragster

Racing an A/Fuel dragster is a lot of work and requires a dedicated team.We talk with Will Smith and Dave Hirata about what goes into running one of these cars.

www.dragzine.com

 

[glofria]

Here's the difference:

A/FD = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

T/F = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ + more.

 

[sutton]

I think it's already at the point of 18 wheelers and LOTS of spare parts.

How much to run either, ALL YOU HAVE and as far as 18 wheelers. No big deal there is a 18 wheeler in Jr. dragster class with a complete machine shop on board.
Larry Sutton---

 

[Slowpoke96z28]

How much to run either, ALL YOU HAVE and as far as 18 wheelers. No big deal there is a 18 wheeler in Jr. dragster class with a complete machine shop on board.
Larry Sutton---

At the local race, a junior got pulled to the line by a full on 2020+ chevy Suburban. I thought Terry Haddock was gonna make a test n tune pass or something lol.

Without running the full tour, some teams have done top fuel on a super budget. I'm talking 90s dually pulling a long gooseneck, and a couple pop up walmart 10x20 canopies vs an awning. Rob Passey is super low budget. Krista Baldwin stayed super low budget for a good while after taking everything over from the Greek. Europe and Australian teams manage to post big numbers also with US hand me downs.

 

[Nunz]

Here's the difference:

A/FD = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

T/F = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ + more.

You nailed it Gino!

 

[twostep]

At the local race, a junior got pulled to the line by a full on 2020+ chevy Suburban. I thought Terry Haddock was gonna make a test n tune pass or something lol.

Without running the full tour, some teams have done top fuel on a super budget. I'm talking 90s dually pulling a long gooseneck, and a couple pop up walmart 10x20 canopies vs an awning. Rob Passey is super low budget. Krista Baldwin stayed super low budget for a good while after taking everything over from the Greek. Europe and Australian teams manage to post big numbers also with US hand me downs.

Exactly what Eddie Hill did until he secured the Pennzoil deal. Along with a small group of mostly volunteer crew members.

 

[Cliff]

I miss Eddie & Ercie.

 

[Lyle]

looked around and couldn't find a direct comparison... anyone have a ball park for A-fuel dragster? would you say it could be done with a much smaller team, even running such high nitro? depending on financial situation are there teams running with no to mild amounts of main sponsors? anyone got experience? i know the costs of a top fuel dragster are practically everywhere i just didn't know how much less A-fuel would be in comparison to its nitro bigger sibling. do you guys think it is to extreme for the weekend warrior? or even a few guys with a flat bed and some trucks full of tools and parts? or do you think at that level should be moving more toward 18 wheelers with 8 spare parts of everything... like the other main nitro classes. let me know what yall think!

Maybe not 8 of everything, but you better have 2 or 3 of darned near everything. I don't run a A/Fuel car, but I do run a somewhat competitive Nitro FC/FA in Nitro Chaos & Funny Car Chaos. It costs me $2,500-3,000 per run. We only run 5-6 races a year, so typically less than 25 runs/year. The low number of runs means that things like recerts don't get leveraged very far. But stuff like that is inconsequential in the big picture. I think that we probably run as good as any 6-71 blower, medium pump car in the country on a tiny budget ... but it is still a lot of money. Like Larry Sutton says, usually "everything you got"! If you reach out via FB Messenger (at Cone Hunter Racing as I don't come here very often) I would be happy to tell you anything you ask on my style of nitro racing, which is certainly not the same as A/Fuel, but bears similarities.

 

[Lyle]

Just to throw out something, my vote for all time greatest A/FD would be Gene Adams & Don Enriquez.

Cliff - IMO specifically this one that they brought out of mothballs in 1977 (long after the RE Revolution) and darned near won Pomona!

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

Cliff - IMO specifically this one that they brought out of mothballs in 1977 (long after the RE Revolution) and darned near won Pomona!

That photo and these two were from the '77 Winter Nats. Awesome car!!!

Of course, I may be a little partial. I just might be building an A/FD right now...

 

[Cliff]

I was at Pomona & saw A&E almost win. I remember they brought out the front motor car & were running 6's with it. We were all going "whoa" at how quick it was. If I remember right, Dave Settles won Pro Comp and I think A&E were runner up. Settles ran 6.65 Low ET & A&E were 6.70's. People usta say that Gene Adams could make a beer can haul patooies. He really was a wizard with just about any combo he ran. And Don Enriquez was one of the all time best drivers. To this day, I think A&E was the baddest of the bad with nitro cars, regardless of class.