2010 Front Engine Dragster Week 2010 01 23
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This week I went out to Keith Burgan’s (Roo Man) shop (Roo Man Motor Sports) for my first fitting into the chassis. I saw many interesting things but I will break them up here so that they make some sense. I was sick and did not stay long as I was afraid that I would end up in the hospital out there rather then here. That turned out well as when I returned and saw the Doctor I was assured that it is a minor thing and should be gone (by living through chemistry) by Friday. This is good because Keith stated that he would like me back this coming weekend for another fitting.
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First up was sitting in the chassis. I am sitting on 2X4’s to get the right height. The engine plate will be 43 inches from the centerline of the axle. The chassis will be as long as possible and still have a foot of clearance on either end in the trailer. It will be challenging to make the body astatically pleasing with these constraints. The chassis will be a full body chute pack with body work above the roll cage. This chassis is 23 inches wide. It is a good thing I did not go with the 19 inch wide chassis from SlingShot. Want to be a mind reader? Click here for what is going through my head.How do you like my red neck fire suit? |
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| One of the first change requests has been to go from a Junior fuel to a Top Fuel Dragster, Below are the puck tubes | |
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| We will try and keep the dragster looking as nostalgic as possible. It will have a torsion front end with radius bars. The front axle pictured here is not the correct one. | |
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| Below are some shots of the best looking dragster I have found (my taste) while looking at pictures on the web. This is what I would like mine to look like. Well almost, there are some changes I will make. | |
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| The transmission was shipped directly to Roo Man. We opened the box and found that the bell housing had been damaged in shipping. I have contacted the builder to see what can be done. | |
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This is what the rear wheels will look like. |
| Keith is also in the process of building a Top Fuel Dragster for himself. He needs it done by Mach so that he can take it to Bakersfield. | |
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The second change order on my dragster was to go from a flange type axle to a floating axle as he is installing into his dragster |
| There is a change in the rule book for this year. The chassis needs the tubes in this “K” pattern this year. | |
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| An interesting story here (not how sure Keith viewed it that way) was I also sat in his chassis, (this was done to see how the carbon fiber seat fit me). If you note the work horse the chassis is sitting on is a way in front to the seat. Well when I placed my abundant weight in the seat, the car did it’s first wheelie. We joked that it was it’s first and only crash. Keith Burgan aka The Roo Man from the land down is restoring the 1970 Soapy Sales fueler that Steve Carbone drove in Australia. That car was originally the Mr. Lucky that was pictured on the cover of the January 1970 issue of Hot Rod with a 426 Pink Elephant and Kelly Brown’s name on the cowl. It never ran in that form and actually made its first run in Australia with one of Huff’s 392 bullets in the frame. He acquired the car from the Dustman brothers from northern Ohio and has slowly been collecting parts to restore it. On his dragster wish list are a Powers & Reilly reverser and a M/T mag third member for an 8 3/4 Chrysler rear. If you can be of any help, contact Keith rooman@tds.com. | |
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The original chassis is behind the original body on the upper rack behind and above my chassis which is in the jig. Keith’s intention is to put the original chassis back on the car. |
| This is Pat and Chris Buck’s from York, PA chassis that is being worked on. | |
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| I was given a price for this rear end, it is worth more than most cars on the road today. | |
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There is quite a story behind the chassis below. It is going in the other direction. All usable parts are coming off. That is because it was involved in an experiment where it was once again proven that two physical objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Here is the story. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – During the first round of Top Fuel at the 51st March Meet driver Dan Horan was slightly injured when his dragster crossed over into the right lane and ran into the dragster driven by Mike Chrisman. The contact shot Horan’s dragster back across the track and into the concrete wall in his lane. He was awake and talking with the rescue works and has taken by ambulance to the local hospital. The car that Chrisman was driving, the Paso Posse racer, was damaged to the point that they could not continue this weekend but according to Crew Chief Donnie Couch the car can be easily repaired. This was the same team that lost a car at this event last year when Randy Beck got the dragster upside down. Here is a video of the incident. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbZcTUVJCzc He still crossed the finish line in 6.83 seconds at 220 MPH |
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| Roo Man, you look way to relaxed for a man that has as much on his plate as you do. | |
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