Just for yuks and grins (1 Viewer)

[Cliff]

Thanks Jim. I've never seen the photo of the wedge car w/o the wedge body - there is no wing on the car! Yep, the Wedge was my favorite. I saw it run 6.43 at OCIR in a big race they had. Snake raced Rick Ramsey in the Calif Charger front motor car and Ramsey also ran 6.43 and won on a hole shot. At that time (1971) 6.43 was low ET of the world, set by Beebee & Mulligan in 1969. I just remember that race cuz of the ET's. I think Snake ran 234 MPH. That's pretty good for an overweight car. Notice in the top Wedge photo that the exhaust is sticking out of the body. They later covered that part & ran F/C headers. I've always wondered if someone would build a modern day wedge, would it have enough down force for a T/F car?

 

[twostep]

There may have been some but I don't remember any streamliner TF effort after Gary Ormsby's, which wasn't a good idea when it comes to supercharger backfires as he found out and any aero improvement was more than cancelled out by the additional weight. Still, I love the days when innovation was the rule. Many ideas failed but I commend those who were ambitious and brave enough to give them a try. Glory days of drag racing, for sure. Today, a nonstandard hose clamp is enough to bring NHRA tech tech down on you like a June bug on a horse turd ("that clamp might constitute an unfair advantage!).

 

[Gone Dead Train]

There may have been some but I don't remember any streamliner TF effort after Gary Ormsby's, which wasn't a good idea when it comes to supercharger backfires as he found out and any aero improvement was more than cancelled out by the additional weight. Still, I love the days when innovation was the rule. Many ideas failed but I commend those who were ambitious and brave enough to give them a try. Glory days of drag racing, for sure. Today, a nonstandard hose clamp is enough to bring NHRA tech tech down on you like a June bug on a horse turd ("that clamp might constitute an unfair advantage!).View attachment 11780

At the 2:00 min mark. Just watch the hole video it's only 3:44 min long

 

[twostep]

At the 2:00 min mark. Just watch the hole video it's only 3:44 min long

Incredible that the drivers of those FC's walked away without a scratch. The rear-ender was a horrific crash.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Cliff]

I seem to remember that Ormsby's car had a carbon fiber body. The body was too close to the engine & contact w/ the body caused the explosion. I think the carbon fiber conducts electricity and that was the cause. John Force had a similiar problem w/ exploding the blower on his funny car. Also seem to remember Ormsby's crew had to re-work the body some to get the explosions to stop.
With the weight requirements of todays T/F, you gotta wonder if a 300" version of Ormsby's car would work today. And a Wedge, and ...... heh

 

[Dennis]

There may have been some but I don't remember any streamliner TF effort after Gary Ormsby's,

I guess it depends on what you mean by "streamliner", but there were some efforts. Granted they weren't super successful, but there were efforts.

Anyhow, going from memory, the efforts that I recall were:

Garlits, SR 31, 32, 34
Darrell Gwynn, 87 streamliner
Joe Amato, constantly trying "ground effects" pods as early as 1989
Amato, One piece body in the '00s
Jim Head fully enclosed rear
Rod Fuller (Lee Beard) monostrut

I believe Fuller and Beard's efforts were the last attempt to change things for streamlining and safety before NHRA stepped in and said "Nah, we like cookie cutter cars. Thanks."

 

[Gone Dead Train]

Incredible that the drivers of those FC's walked away without a scratch. The rear-ender was a horrific crash.

[/QUOTE]
Well you got the world's quickest & fastest living Kamikaze pilot in the seat, Dave Uyehara.
Nice person, great driver and great chassis builder (Car Craft Magazine chassis builder of the year)
He built the chassis that carried Dick LaHaie to the 1987 NHRA Top Fuel World Championship.

AA/FC Dave Uyehara in the seat

AA/FD The late Dick LaHaie 1987 Top Fuel car

 

[Cliff]

LaHaie said that he had 3 cars in 1987, each designed for a certain type of track condition. He never told anyone cuz that was his secret. He was infamous for backing up after the burnout at 70 MPH.

 

[Prestaged]

LaHaie said that he had 3 cars in 1987, each designed for a certain type of track condition. He never told anyone cuz that was his secret. He was infamous for backing up after the burnout at 70 MPH.

Yes, he was. I have some great memories of him. One of my favorite racers ever.