Roller Starters (1 Viewer)

[qtermile14]

I remember during Lion's last year when I had attended a Top Fuel race there that was a show put on by a group called something like the California Top Fuel Association. Before eliminations started, the drive to one of the rollers had sheared off, so they reverted back to the push start. How that was accomplished at Lions was there was a road in the grass area on the right side of the track. The only way to get to it was before the round started, a section of the guardrail would be rolled open for all of the cars to access this road. This meant if you were late to get in line there, you would miss that round. They would then push down to the shut down area, and be started on the track towards the starting line. Since this was the era of almost everyone having the longer rear engine cars, it was very tight in the starting line area maneuvering the turn around, but were able to accomplish it.

 

[TopFuel@Lions]

I so recall the line on that road Mike for the 67 PDA, it stretched from the opening until the very end. Just for the record, I loved, repeat loved the push starts back in the day. It was awesome. Was the norm for so long, u deal what you are dealt.


A push started AA/FD at Lions was the best.


TopFuel@Lions

 

[DG]

David, did you ever get any "stuff" from the engine that splashed on the windshield of the push truck / car? San Fernando was a short push road. I think Lions was about 1/8 mile. Six guys in the push truck & try to get to speed to start the dragster...... heh

Yeah! In 1965 I bought a A100 pickup [cab forward] with a small V8. With the windshield right in front, I got a lot of stuff on the windshield when the nitro engine didn't want to start right up! Been there! Did that!

 

[Nick Name]

My favorite push start story. Sunday at San Fernando, first round of Top Fuel. We push out of the hot pit and are on the right side, To our left is The Syndicate. The car is not starting, We are about to give up when we see that The Syndicate car is also not lit.

It is pedal to the metal to get this thing lit. Giving up at the last minute we swing out to the right of the racer. Phil’s Bonneville wagon was way over due for a brake job. Thank God there was an empty lane in staging. We were about three cars deep when we got stopped.

Neither car had started, so Harry let us both go back and try again.

 

[Cliff]

Jay I can see this in my mind. I loved San Fernando, my first ever track about 500 years ago. heh

 

[Bob G.]

The Roller Starters at Lions were a big deal when they came out. Not too long after they were in there was a guy who showed up giving away his all new "whiz bang" oil filters. Most of us ran a block off plate but I decided this might be a good deal. You could go up to the rollers and get started for a warm up. WELL - He probably didn't count on 70 weight oil and 120 PSI oil pressure when the motor was cold. We were about 3rd or 4th in line to warm up and the car was pushed up on the rollers. "Weed" (the assistant starter) hit the switch that turned on the rollers and revs her up and nodded to me to let the clutch pedal out. In about 3 seconds there is a bang and said "Whiz Bang" oil filter is a missle going down on the roller platform with 10 quarts of oil following it as the motor started. There was two guys holding the car down in front and one holding onto the rollbar to keep it straight. They absorbed a couple of the quarts but the rest went onto the rollers. It was a fiasco getting the car off the slippery rollers and about an hour to clean up the mess. Needless to say CJ went around the Pits and said no one was allowed on the rollers with those filters. I don't know if the problem was ever fixed, but I do know that I went back to a block off plate instead of a filter. I remember that you had to let the clutch out on one car after the other one was turning over or it would bog down the motor on the roller setup.

Did that filter have a cleanable screen and held together with 4 bolts? Name started with "O"?

 

[Ramjet]

Did that filter have a cleanable screen and held together with 4 bolts? Name started with "O"?

Was NOT an Oberg - Never had a problem with them!

 

[James]

Roller starter at New England Dragway in use.