New for 2026- TAFC / TAD

[sutton]

I thought I'd at least heard of anybody who was anybody in drag racing but I've never heard of Leo Dunn or his twin RED. That thing is gorgeous. Bet it was fun to drive !

Remembering Leo Dunn - Twin Rear Engine Dragster Show Schedule 2019 - Drag Racing List

Hi Friends and Family, I hope you are all well. It’s that time of year again to show my dad’s twin rear engine dragster. When I was growing up I knew when the drag race season started then ended. Each season my family and I would spend hours and endless hours on the road. My […]

www.draglist.com

Yes Carl was a ball to drive. two 540 ci. aluminum big block Chevrolet. If you ever see it check out the 2 splits in the cowling. I had a severe tire shake the last week end driving it. One thing I didn't like about the cars was it had a hydraulic throttle, you could not catch a good light even if you tried to red light. LOL

Larry Sutton---

 

[tb]

Not disagreeing, but even in the earlier days of the category there was accommodations in the rule book for not only injected nitro but also dual engines, gasoline w/nitrous (I think?). Makes me want to dig up an old rulebook to see what else.

From Car Craft Article 1977

Fuel Dragster
A/FD Nitro
B/FD Nitro Small Block

Alcohol Dragster
AA/DA
AA/DA Turbo
BB/DA Small Block
BB/DAT Small Block Turbo
AA/DA Twin Engine Injected

Gas Dragster
AA/GD
AA/GDT Turbo
AA/GDT Twin Engine Injected

Fuel Funny Car
A/FC

Alcohol Funny Car
BB/FC
BB/FCT Turbo

Fuel Altered
A/FA Nitro

Alcohol Altered
AA/A Alcohol
AA/AT Alcohol Turbo

 

[mike]

From Car Craft Article 1977

Fuel Dragster
A/FD Nitro
B/FD Nitro Small Block

Alcohol Dragster
AA/DA
AA/DA Turbo
BB/DA Small Block
BB/DAT Small Block Turbo
AA/DA Twin Engine Injected

Gas Dragster
AA/GD
AA/GDT Turbo
AA/GDT Twin Engine Injected

Fuel Funny Car
A/FC

Alcohol Funny Car
BB/FC
BB/FCT Turbo

Fuel Altered
A/FA Nitro

Alcohol Altered
AA/A Alcohol
AA/AT Alcohol Turbo

That's why it changed was to make it simple -but now it's going back to what ever someone thinks should be in the class.Heritage has it's own place not TAD

 

[Cliff]

I saw the Leo Dunn car run at Lions & OCIR. I wished that when Pro Comp started, they had made a place for the old Top Gas twin engined dragsters, like the Freight Train. If you ever saw 2 twins run side by side, you'd never forget it.

 

[mike]

That's why it changed was to make it simple -but now it's going back to what ever someone thinks should be in the class.Heritage has it's own place not TAD

It's now gain one-lose one not going to build class just loosing the cars you have now - the ones that stuck around now will be gone for the sake of a few maybe 5 new cars

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

Heritage has it's own place not TAD

The blown Nitro rules package for TA is nowhere near what the Heritage series runs.

 

[Cliff]

Last Gasp of Top Gas, Part I

Does anyone remember top gas dragsters? NHRA did away with the class at the end of 1971. The once mighty high-octane gas burning dragsters had been a staple at NHRA race tracks all over the U.S.A. for many years. However, the big three, car manu

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Just for yuks & grins.

 

[LoPony]

I love the whole idea. I’m sure they will be further limiting the nitro percentage, and there will be other restrictions, but it should make them a treat to watch and listen to.

 

[T.Smith]

Great post, totally agree. Running Nitro in an "alcohol" class always seemed a little silly to me.

It's not silly at all. They've always been a part of the class going back to Super Eliminator. They weren't the dominate car when Pro Comp split into Top Alcohol Dragster & Funny Car in 1982, but guys like Chess Bushey and a few others stayed with the combination and after about 10 years the a/fuel cars started to gain some performance to compete again.

 

[T.Smith]

Some of this arguing reminds me of my days in UDRA. You had dwindling car counts for roots-blower only alky car rules and a refusal to allow in screw-blower cars unless they had some type of overdrive restriction. Available race dates were also drying up as the old guard of track owners moved on.

A couple racers finally left and went NHRA alky racing. Another refused to put a screw-blower on their car to go NHRA alky racing and figured if they were going to race nitro, it would in be top fuel. A couple more UDRA race dates dried up and the rest is history.

 

[Gone Dead Train]

Some of this arguing reminds me of my days in UDRA. You had dwindling car counts for roots-blower only alky car rules and a refusal to allow in screw-blower cars unless they had some type of overdrive restriction. Available race dates were also drying up as the old guard of track owners moved on.

A couple racers finally left and went NHRA alky racing. Another refused to put a screw-blower on their car to go NHRA alky racing and figured if they were going to race nitro, it would in be top fuel. A couple more UDRA race dates dried up and the rest is history.

TJ's dad (Tony) had a pretty good run in the UDRA back in the day,1980s. Alky Dragster Champion in 1984, 85, 86
and 89. I got the UDRA magazine (newspaper) in the mail back in the 80s. Kids we got are drag racing news and
result's in the mail. My UDRA hatpin, I have 2.

 

[scratch]

Interesting. Rename the class Pro Comp. Let the Heritage Series cars in too, but leave their Nitro percentage (up to 100%) alone. The real problem to solve the issue of the lack of participants or to maintain parity is not just one fix to the exclusion of all others. Any fast class has its share of racers where cost is not as an important concern as it is to others. That gap, for a variety of different reasons, is just far wider and more apparent today.

 

[yoda]

I wouldn't mind if they went back to the old AA/FD and AA/FC designations. Use the old A/FD and A/FC designations for what's now Top Alcohol. I know A/FD mean A/Fuel Dragster but alcohol is also a fuel, no? Let the A classes run blown alcohol, injected nitro or the new 'junior blown nitro' combination they're planning for 2026 in both in the dragster and funny car classes.

Or like I said earlier if there's really a push and a desire to slow the big-show down in the interest of safety, (theoretically) less expense and a return to quarter mile racing, then let this new class become the big show. Perhaps tweak it enough so they'll run high 4's and 300 mph which should keep the fans happy. It'd be interesting to see what current pro-class fuel racers think of that idea.

The more I see posts talking about these new combos, the more I think that the plan is to send EVERYONE to 1000'.

If the bathtubs and pipe racks are all going to be somewhat associated as a "feeder fish category leading up to the Big Show", then isn't it sensible to think that the playing field will also be standardized, and not back to 1320 as many of us desire?

At least they aren't considering 660'...
Yet.

 

[Nunz]

Well we have blown alky, injected fuel, and soon a milder version of blown fuel, all mixing it up in TAFC, why not add altereds? Call it Pro 125, as they all share the same basic 125 in. chassis. Pro Comp stopped working because the blown altereds and FCs couldn't compete with the consistency of the dragsters. At least that's what I remember.

 

[XPilot]

Well….
Gainesville- The premier east coast kick off race had 6 alcohol fueled funny cars. 6!

Pomona- The big west coast kick off had 8.

If they had full fields, and were messing around with the rules, that’s one thing. However , they needed to do something to get car counts up.

Just my opinion.

I'm with you and if the parity is there with the current A/Fuel and blown alcohol in their current forms I don't see how it could hurt the class. That being said, I don't run either of em and never could. Del also brings about a good point. Buy your stuff, build your team, and when you're ready for the big show hop up the car, put a new clutch in it and send it.

Good for the fans too. The stands are pretty empty for cars running 270mph when they should not be.

 

[Sean Bellemeur]

Here's the thing... we're actually talking about two completely separate issues here. They are trying to use one to fix the other. I'll be careful with my words here because I don't want to create more $#!+ than I already have but basically I'll give y'all a couple things to think about. First... Why did the majority of the alcohol racers who once were in TAFC leave in the first place?? i.e. Bucky, Dennis Taylor, Tom Lemon, Van Gundy/Clark, Rupert, Januik, Cox, Leanders, Kirk Williams, Bill Bernard, and a ton more) all of these names listed are either currently still racing or will be soon... so why did they throw in the towel?? I think most of us know that answer and it's one that they (insert sanctioning body here) can't or won't fix. Run times... pay... pits... respect...

So...

Insert Big Show Crew Chiefs idea here.... Is it a bad idea?? Not at all. In fact perhaps it's a good idea to have some sort of "training" class for the big show with nitro and blowers. Thing is... I thought we already had that, they just have old bodies on them and we call it the Heritage Series.

But the big show needs a place for their used parts to go... and why not kill two birds with one stone. Create a feeder car with the old parts. Not a bad idea. BUT! You have to build a big show compliant chassis, body, basic engine combo, etc. That's some big money unless you can get someone's wore out stuff. So you build this big show car. I've been told you have to have a big show license to drive it (that may not be a fact but what I was told). So now you've built a car to prepare you for big show but it doesn't run fast enough for big show so you can't get a license in the car you just built! I suspect that will change if it hasn't already.

Keep in mind that TAFC still runs 1/4 mile not 1000 ft. like AA/FC. We've all learned that the last 300 feet can raise some big time hell in the engine with a blown nitro combo. We've seen it in the big leagues and nostalgia racing too. So... could this possibly create more oildown issues and parts attrition? We'll have to see how well those used parts hold up.

Then the last thing is why would you build one? Numbers 17/18 non qualifiers make more money in AA/FC than we do to WIN TAFC. If you're gonna go big show fc racing wouldn't it be more beneficial to just build it... hire a tuner to keep your stuff as safe as possible and go collect a few bucks and run as a feature car (on time, in front of the crowd, and prime TV coverage making it easier to gain sponsorship.

Maybe I'm missing something but with all the meetings, ideas, and promises that main goal is to get the car count up... it sure seems like this is using one solution to try to fix an issue that has little or nothing to do with the type of "TAFC" going down the track. Sorry for the long read. Have a blessed day y'all!

 

[M Jones]

Here's the thing... we're actually talking about two completely separate issues here. They are trying to use one to fix the other. I'll be careful with my words here because I don't want to create more $#!+ than I already have but basically I'll give y'all a couple things to think about. First... Why did the majority of the alcohol racers who once were in TAFC leave in the first place?? i.e. Bucky, Dennis Taylor, Tom Lemon, Van Gundy/Clark, Rupert, Januik, Cox, Leanders, Kirk Williams, Bill Bernard, and a ton more) all of these names listed are either currently still racing or will be soon... so why did they throw in the towel?? I think most of us know that answer and it's one that they (insert sanctioning body here) can't or won't fix. Run times... pay... pits... respect...

So...

Insert Big Show Crew Chiefs idea here.... Is it a bad idea?? Not at all. In fact perhaps it's a good idea to have some sort of "training" class for the big show with nitro and blowers. Thing is... I thought we already had that, they just have old bodies on them and we call it the Heritage Series.

But the big show needs a place for their used parts to go... and why not kill two birds with one stone. Create a feeder car with the old parts. Not a bad idea. BUT! You have to build a big show compliant chassis, body, basic engine combo, etc. That's some big money unless you can get someone's wore out stuff. So you build this big show car. I've been told you have to have a big show license to drive it (that may not be a fact but what I was told). So now you've built a car to prepare you for big show but it doesn't run fast enough for big show so you can't get a license in the car you just built! I suspect that will change if it hasn't already.

Keep in mind that TAFC still runs 1/4 mile not 1000 ft. like AA/FC. We've all learned that the last 300 feet can raise some big time hell in the engine with a blown nitro combo. We've seen it in the big leagues and nostalgia racing too. So... could this possibly create more oildown issues and parts attrition? We'll have to see how well those used parts hold up.

Then the last thing is why would you build one? Numbers 17/18 non qualifiers make more money in AA/FC than we do to WIN TAFC. If you're gonna go big show fc racing wouldn't it be more beneficial to just build it... hire a tuner to keep your stuff as safe as possible and go collect a few bucks and run as a feature car (on time, in front of the crowd, and prime TV coverage making it easier to gain sponsorship.

Maybe I'm missing something but with all the meetings, ideas, and promises that main goal is to get the car count up... it sure seems like this is using one solution to try to fix an issue that has little or nothing to do with the type of "TAFC" going down the track. Sorry for the long read. Have a blessed day y'all!

Thanks for info and thoughts

 

[cknight]

What!! No turbo nitro??

 

[mike]

Here's the thing... we're actually talking about two completely separate issues here. They are trying to use one to fix the other. I'll be careful with my words here because I don't want to create more $#!+ than I already have but basically I'll give y'all a couple things to think about. First... Why did the majority of the alcohol racers who once were in TAFC leave in the first place?? i.e. Bucky, Dennis Taylor, Tom Lemon, Van Gundy/Clark, Rupert, Januik, Cox, Leanders, Kirk Williams, Bill Bernard, and a ton more) all of these names listed are either currently still racing or will be soon... so why did they throw in the towel?? I think most of us know that answer and it's one that they (insert sanctioning body here) can't or won't fix. Run times... pay... pits... respect...

So...

Insert Big Show Crew Chiefs idea here.... Is it a bad idea?? Not at all. In fact perhaps it's a good idea to have some sort of "training" class for the big show with nitro and blowers. Thing is... I thought we already had that, they just have old bodies on them and we call it the Heritage Series.

But the big show needs a place for their used parts to go... and why not kill two birds with one stone. Create a feeder car with the old parts. Not a bad idea. BUT! You have to build a big show compliant chassis, body, basic engine combo, etc. That's some big money unless you can get someone's wore out stuff. So you build this big show car. I've been told you have to have a big show license to drive it (that may not be a fact but what I was told). So now you've built a car to prepare you for big show but it doesn't run fast enough for big show so you can't get a license in the car you just built! I suspect that will change if it hasn't already.

Keep in mind that TAFC still runs 1/4 mile not 1000 ft. like AA/FC. We've all learned that the last 300 feet can raise some big time hell in the engine with a blown nitro combo. We've seen it in the big leagues and nostalgia racing too. So... could this possibly create more oildown issues and parts attrition? We'll have to see how well those used parts hold up.

Then the last thing is why would you build one? Numbers 17/18 non qualifiers make more money in AA/FC than we do to WIN TAFC. If you're gonna go big show fc racing wouldn't it be more beneficial to just build it... hire a tuner to keep your stuff as safe as possible and go collect a few bucks and run as a feature car (on time, in front of the crowd, and prime TV coverage making it easier to gain sponsorship.

Maybe I'm missing something but with all the meetings, ideas, and promises that main goal is to get the car count up... it sure seems like this is using one solution to try to fix an issue that has little or nothing to do with the type of "TAFC" going down the track. Sorry for the long read. Have a blessed day y'all!

Someone somewhere has a heritage car that wants to race more in the big show has pull in nhra- Sean they keep saying to improve the car counts the only way to do that is to pay more!The purses has been bad since day one.My first nat.event we made 16g with contingency my last was total of6g backward inflation

 

[GumbyWVU]

It's not silly at all. They've always been a part of the class going back to Super Eliminator. They weren't the dominate car when Pro Comp split into Top Alcohol Dragster & Funny Car in 1982, but guys like Chess Bushey and a few others stayed with the combination and after about 10 years the a/fuel cars started to gain some performance to compete again.

I wasn't aware of that. But I meant silly only in the sense of it being called "alcohol" when non-alcohol cars run in it. Perhaps like others have said, give it a new name..

Maybe we could call Pro Stock "Pro-Money". Not much stock there anymore.