About this episode
The hosts dive into the world of drag racing, focusing on front engine dragsters and the nostalgia class. They explore the history and characteristics of gassers, classic drag racing cars from the late 50s and early 60s, known for their distinctive raised front ends and straight axles. The conversation touches on the cultural significance of gassers, their evolving style, and the mixed feelings enthusiasts have about them, especially when used for car shows rather than racing. Along the way, they share listener feedback and personal anecdotes about working in automotive fields and social media frustrations.
Rose reveals FED's, Emily opens the can of worms that is a gasser.
Recorded @iapdx
Recorded & mixed by Emdognightmare & Queen of the Vans
Editor: Emdognightmare
Production & research Queen of the Vans & Emdognightmare
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Hugs, thank you & high fives to Greg Meleney for the killer tunez!
NHRA
""...there's a little bit of like NHRA call out, I think on the chassis, he said, or, on the roll cage...""
NHRA is the group that makes the rules for drag racing cars and races in the U.S. They help keep the races safe and fair.
NHRA stands for National Hot Rod Association, which is the main governing body for drag racing in the United States. They set rules and safety standards for different classes of drag racing vehicles.
roll cage
""...there's a little bit of like NHRA call out, I think on the chassis, he said, or, on the roll cage. Like some, some moderate specs on it...""
A roll cage is a strong metal frame inside a race car that helps keep the driver safe if the car flips or crashes.
A roll cage is a safety feature in race cars consisting of a reinforced frame inside the vehicle to protect the driver in case of a rollover or crash. It is often required by racing organizations like the NHRA.
nostalgia class
""...he's building one to race in a nostalgia class with a friend""
Nostalgia class is a type of drag race where people race old-style drag cars that look like the ones from many years ago.
Nostalgia class in drag racing is a category where racers compete with vintage or classic style drag cars, often replicating the look and feel of drag racing from past decades.
drag racing
"Gassers came about in the sixties and originated as cars In the gas drag racing class."
Drag racing is a race where two cars go straight as fast as they can to see who wins.
Drag racing is a type of motorsport where two cars race in a straight line over a short distance, focusing on acceleration and quick launches.
Gasser
"I asked what's a Gasser, and I tell you what people, I got so many replies I didn't even have to Nice. Uh, what's a Gasser? From my understanding, gassers came about in the sixties and originated as cars In the gas drag racing class. People would jack up the front of their cars for better weight transfer during launch, white slicks in the back with radius cut fenders to clear the big slicks. A lot of people use straight axles and leaf springs up front to achieve this."
A Gasser is an old-school drag racing car that has its front end lifted up to help it go faster when starting. They use regular gasoline and have a special look with big tires in the back.
A Gasser is a style of drag racing car that originated in the late 1950s and 1960s, characterized by a raised front end to improve weight transfer during launch, often using straight front axles and leaf springs. These cars ran on gasoline and were distinct from alcohol or nitro-fueled dragsters.
straight axle
"A lot of people use straight axles and leaf springs up front to achieve this."
A straight axle is a simple metal bar that connects the two front wheels together, helping the car handle better when racing.
A straight axle is a solid front axle that connects the wheels directly, commonly used in older cars and drag racing vehicles like Gassers to improve strength and weight transfer.
leaf springs
"A lot of people use straight axles and leaf springs up front to achieve this."
Leaf springs are metal strips stacked together that help the car's wheels move up and down smoothly over bumps.
Leaf springs are a type of suspension made from layers of metal strips that flex to absorb shocks, often used in older vehicles and drag racing setups like Gassers.
radius cut fenders
"white slicks in the back with radius cut fenders to clear the big slicks."
Radius cut fenders mean the car's wheel covers are cut in a curved shape so big tires can fit without rubbing.
Radius cut fenders are fenders modified by cutting a curved section to allow clearance for larger racing tires like slicks.
white slicks
"People would jack up the front of their cars for better weight transfer during launch, white slicks in the back with radius cut fenders to clear the big slicks."
White slicks are special racing tires that are very wide and smooth to help the car stick to the track when racing.
White slicks refer to wide, smooth racing tires without tread, often used on drag racing cars like Gassers for maximum traction on the drag strip.
injection
"nose high supercharged in injection monsters."
Injection means the car uses a system that sprays fuel into the engine in a controlled way to help it run better.
Injection refers to fuel injection, a system that delivers fuel into the engine's combustion chambers more precisely than carburetors, improving performance and efficiency.
Dodge Nitro
"...run on gasoline and not allowed to run alcohol or nitro, but they famously grew into light and straight ..."
The Dodge Nitro is a type of small SUV made by Dodge between 2007 and 2012. It looks tough and can handle some rough roads, but it uses regular gasoline like most cars. When people talk about not using 'nitro' or special fuels, they mean it runs on normal gas, not special racing fuels.
The Dodge Nitro is a compact SUV produced from 2007 to 2012, known for its bold, boxy styling and off-road capability. It is often discussed in the context of mid-2000s SUVs that combined rugged looks with everyday usability, though it was less refined compared to competitors. The mention of 'not allowed to run alcohol or nitro' likely refers to fuel restrictions in racing or performance contexts, contrasting the vehicle's gasoline engine with specialized fuels.
supercharged
"That's a full-sized car that had to run on gasoline and not allowed to run alcohol or nitro, but they famously grew into light and straight front axle, nose high supercharged in injection monsters."
Supercharged means the car's engine has a special part that pushes extra air in to make it go faster and have more power.
Supercharged refers to an engine equipped with a supercharger, a device that forces more air into the engine to increase power output, commonly used in high-performance drag racing cars.
chop
"Like how do you see over the big engine? You know, like you got a chop model A or something."
Chop means cutting the top of a car lower to make it look cooler and go faster.
Chop refers to lowering the roofline of a car by cutting and welding the pillars, a common modification in hot rods to improve aerodynamics and style.
Ford Model A
"Like how do you see over the big engine? You know, like you got a chop model A or something."
The Ford Model A is an old car from the 1920s that people like to change and race.
The Ford Model A is a classic car produced from 1927 to 1931, often modified by hot rodders and Gasser builders for drag racing and custom styling.
fiberglass front end
"Is like a tilt front, fiberglass, willie's front end, you know, like that's, that's the car."
Fiberglass front end means the front part of the car is made from a light plastic material to make it lighter and faster.
Fiberglass front end refers to a car's front body panels made from fiberglass, a lightweight material often used in racing to reduce weight.
tilt front end
"Is like a tilt front, fiberglass, willie's front end, you know, like that's, that's the car."
A tilt front end is a car's front part that can be lifted up to get to the engine easily.
A tilt front end is a fiberglass front body section on a race car that can be tilted forward for easy access to the engine and components.
solid front axle
"And then the rear axle is lowered for weight distribution and then it has a solid front axle, which everybody talks about. Really common is a 32 Ford front axle and yeah, large leaf springs to get the nose high as possible so that you can put all that rip and power."
A solid front axle means the two front wheels are connected by one strong bar, so they move together. This makes the car tough and good for certain types of racing.
A solid front axle is a suspension design where both front wheels are connected by a single rigid beam. This setup is common in older vehicles and some race cars like gassers for strength and simplicity.
32 Ford front axle
"Really common is a 32 Ford front axle and yeah, large leaf springs to get the nose high as possible so that you can put all that rip and power."
This is a strong front axle from a 1932 Ford car that people use to build race cars that look lifted in the front.
The 1932 Ford front axle is a popular solid front axle used in hot rodding and gasser builds due to its strength and availability. It is often used to achieve the raised front stance characteristic of gassers.
electric cutout
"Emily BB13: yeah. Electric cutout sounds cool."
An electric cutout is a switch that lets you make your car louder by opening a special valve in the exhaust.
An electric cutout is a device installed in the exhaust system that allows the driver to bypass the muffler electronically, increasing exhaust flow and sound on demand.
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