Joe Amato Ground Effects car. (1 Viewer)

[Speed1288]

Learning about & seeing pictures of this car is the most interesting thing I've seen all day

 

[stanzig44]

Here a link to an article from when he ran it in Houston in 1991 -
Amato hopes to wing his way to victory 03/03/1991 | Archives | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

 

[RacerRose]

Yes it is Eric. And the king of COOL, in the second pic. The snake.

Also noticed the Snake was having him a smoke too. Wonder if it was a Winston?

I remember watching Amato's wingless pass on NHRA Today. Skated around from 1/2 track on, but a 5.08 was a good pass, especially with no wing.

 

[Wes]

Joe was always tinkering with this technology...

 

[Just Paul]

Joe was always tinkering with this technology...

Sure was... Ran them side pods early in 1989.

 

[cantdrive55]

Besides Pomona the only other track I recall it running at was Houston. Kenny Bernstien also tried something similar too, also with a smaller wing, but not as small as Amato's set up.

Bernstein's smaller wing and sidepod setup is featured on a 1991 Pro Set trading card. I have the card, just not the energy to go treasure hunting. I remember the photo well, it was taken at the top end at National Trail during a test session.

 

[mike]

Bernstein's smaller wing and sidepod setup is featured on a 1991 Pro Set trading card. I have the card, just not the energy to go treasure hunting. I remember the photo well, it was taken at the top end at National Trail during a test session.

Keith,

If you ever dig that card up, I'd be keen to see it. Thanks.

I've got a photo of it somewhere, when I'm next over at my dads ill dig through my stuff.

Regards,

Mike.

To Stan, thanks for posting that link.

The Amato car with the side pods ended up in my home state in Perth Western Australia. I got so excited as a kid when it got unloaded out of the trailer for the first time, as it was still in its NHRA livery. Funnily enough the driver who ended up driving it had a similar name - Joe D'Amato RIP. D'amato, along with Bob St Lawrence RIP bought it into Australia and put a Donovan power plant in it. It would later be owned by Santo Rapisarda. Glen Mikres drove it and it would later be destroyed in a bad crash in Sydney with Wayne Missingham at the wheel - he walked away, but the car was finished. Both owners ran the side pods on it for awhile. Ill have to dig up photos.

Here are a couple of it without them, as I'm sure you'd be interested in these Paul.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...0256247616355_591461354_9328826_5020706_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249455_10150265110211355_6411039_n.jpg

Here are a couple of awesome pics....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...0256247091355_591461354_9328825_8094101_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...50256246491355_591461354_9328824_627301_n.jpg

I was sitting in the stands with my dad, sister and cousin when this happened back in 91 and it was LOUD!! Still sticks in my memory.

Anyway back to the ground effects car....

 

[Just Paul]

Cool pics! Thanks for putting those up.

 

[Porkchop]

nice finds, what track is this from? Pretty sure he tried the no wing version at Houston, or maybe the Motorplex

Its Pomona '91

 

[Heavyhauler]

And there is Tommy Sr. and Tommy Johnson Jr. sitting in the back of the van in pic#2.
Tim ran them long enough to see his first approach was best, the tall set back wing. I believe they tested that package at the NRC tunnel in Ottawa.

 

[Toejam]

Thought it may have been Amato, but who ran a 5.08 without a Rearwing in the early 90's? Car was so squirrelly they never did it again!

 

[mick]

did jim head run wingless?....(self sponsored paint scheme)

also seem to remember him trying the 'no burnout' approach once or twice?
driving around the water box and just staging?

 

[mike]

did jim head run wingless?....(self sponsored paint scheme)

also seem to remember him trying the 'no burnout' approach once or twice?
driving around the water box and just staging?

He sure did Mike. Ill grab a photo from a book I have.

I too from memory can recall him doing the no burnout approach. I'm sure someone on here can confirm that for us.

Regards,

Mike

 

[mike]

Here you go Mike...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...596076355_591461354_12229195_1410608562_n.jpg

Regards,

Mike

 

[Just Paul]

Only made 4-5 runs as I recall.

 

[Just Paul]

Excellent artice on Dragster Insider on mid 80's Streamlining, and also Jim Heads car.

Features

 

[tb]

Only made 4-5 runs as I recall.

How heavy do you think that was?

 

[DrRocket]

did jim head run wingless?....(self sponsored paint scheme)

also seem to remember him trying the 'no burnout' approach once or twice?
driving around the water box and just staging?

Jim Head is on record as saying that if he thought NHRA would allow him to dispense with the burnout, even though he knows it would be unpopular eith the fans, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[mick]

Jim Head is on record as saying that if he thought NHRA would allow him to dispense with the burnout, even though he knows it would be unpopular eith the fans, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

he may have said that then, but i don't really think any racer is forced
to burnout - if he still thought the practice valid, he would omit his burnout,
and he doesn't.
there may have been a time with less HP and that period of time's clutch
configurations that he thought the tires sticky enough to hold
sans burnout; guess i'd be surprised if any of the nitro cars still feel this way.

 

[DrRocket]

guess i'd be surprised if any of the nitro cars still feel this way.

he said it about 2 years ago, actually. I remember reading it in ND.