Any other innovations in top fuel last year

[flapjack]

I know they've done a lot with blowers, and then there is the swept back headers and clutch innovations.. And now this year the two piece manifold. Anything else? I am wondering if there were fuel system changes.

 

[Rajunz]

In Dallas, Dexter Tuttle's dragster had swept back headers. They looked like mini funny car headers, they shot the exhaust around the edge of the tire.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

A question. Did ESPN cover the swept back headers innovation or did Beckman tell the world for the first time in his NHRA dot com interview?? Maybe I missed it.

 

[twostep]

A question. Did ESPN cover the swept back headers innovation or did Beckman tell the world for the first time in his NHRA dot com interview?? Maybe I missed it.

The first time I heard about them was on ESPN. They said the headers were laid back to 32 degrees, instead of the conventional 40 degrees. I'm surprised NHRA stood for it without a fuss, and I can't believe laying the headers back 8 degrees would make nearly a tenth of a second ( and 7-8mph) difference on a car that was already running high 3.90 ETs. I'm guessing some clutch work went along with the header modification.

 

[Litefoot]

When you see a car lose one hole on one side and then the car pushes hard to that side, I would think 8 pipes pushing back more just might have a tenth there, over the years I have thought they would have swept them back before, just figured they needed the down force more, it would seam that they have found the best balance for todays set ups

 

[stitcherbob]

My favorite is the new "swept down" headers...just the thing for a perfect "launch"!

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Thanks Carl!!

 

[vegasnitro]

The first time I heard about them was on ESPN. They said the headers were laid back to 32 degrees, instead of the conventional 40 degrees. I'm surprised NHRA stood for it without a fuss, and I can't believe laying the headers back 8 degrees would make nearly a tenth of a second ( and 7-8mph) difference on a car that was already running high 3.90 ETs. I'm guessing some clutch work went along with the header modification.

Back when the Funny Car ET was getting smashed week after week, Virgil Hartman posted a very detailed description of how an "Auto Flow" clutch system could be lowering the ETs.

EDIT: Here you go.
http://nitromater.com/threads/prock-auto-flow.38702/#post-346099

 

[flapjack]

Back when the Funny Car ET was getting smashed week after week, Virgil Hartman posted a very detailed description of how an "Auto Flow" clutch system could be lowering the ETs.

EDIT: Here you go.
http://nitromater.com/threads/prock-auto-flow.38702/#post-346099

I knew about that. Pretty cool stuff. I figured if they changed the clutch curve, they would change the load on the motor and would make corresponding changes to the fuel curve. But I don't know if that would be through existing technology or if they had to invent something new.

 

[stitcherbob]

In Dallas, Dexter Tuttle's dragster had swept back headers. They looked like mini funny car headers, they shot the exhaust around the edge of the tire.

here's one driver who doesn't want swept back headers...

 

[Rat]

Just a question...When a team gets approved an innovation how long do they get exclusive use of it before everyone else? A season?

 

[stitcherbob]

until somebody gets a peek under the towel.....

 

[Nunz]

I don't think there's a rule like that. If a team is allowed a new innovation, then I'm sure the other teams can either buy it or make their own version, whatever "it" is.

 

[Gordon]

I heard the Mono-Strut wing is finally going to be approved for use in Top Fuel.