Regan Brown
Funny Cars are a type of drag racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organized drag racing. They are characterized by their use of tilt-up fiberglass or carbon-fiber bodies, giving them a distinctive appearance that sets them apart from traditional dragsters. With powerful engines capable of generating up to 7,000 horsepower, Funny Cars rely on a combination of nitromethane and methanol as their fuel of choice. This unique blend of fuels, coupled with their custom-fabricated chassis and supercharged engines, has made Funny Cars a popular attraction in the world of drag racing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine | V8s displacing no more than 500 cu in (8.2 L) |
| Engine Design | Donovan, loosely based on the second generation Chrysler 426 Hemi |
| Crankshafts | CNC machine-carved from steel billet |
| Intake Valves | Titanium, 2.40 in (61 mm) diameter |
| Exhaust Valves | Inconel, 1.90 in (48 mm) diameter |
| Fuel System | 85–90% nitromethane and 10–15% methanol |
| Fuel Consumption | 15 US gallons (12 imp gal; 57 L) of fuel per run |
| Fuel Injection System | Continuous-flow with a mess of injectors |
| Horsepower | 7,000-11,000 |
| Top Speed | 330+ mph |
| Body | Carbon fiber |
| Chassis | Custom-fabricated |
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What You'll Learn
Funny cars use a continuous-flow fuel-injection system
Funny cars are a type of drag-racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organised drag racing. They are characterised by their use of tilt-up fibreglass or carbon-fibre bodies, which loosely resemble production cars. They also have the engine placed in front of the driver, as opposed to dragsters, which place it behind the driver.
The fuel mixture in funny cars typically consists of a high percentage of nitromethane ("nitro" or "fuel"), usually around 85-90%, and a smaller percentage of methanol (alcohol or "alky"), typically 10-15%. This mixture is key to the immense power of funny cars, allowing them to burn up to 15 gallons of fuel during a single run.
The engines in funny cars are usually V8s with a maximum displacement of 500 cubic inches (8.2 litres). The most common design is based on the Chrysler Hemi, with supercharged versions capable of producing 7,000 horsepower and hitting the quarter-mile in 4.6 seconds at speeds of up to 330 mph.
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They burn nitromethane
Funny Cars are a type of drag-racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organized drag racing. They are powered by supercharged and fuel-injected 500-inch engines.
Nitromethane is a highly combustible fuel that provides a significant power boost to the engine. It has a high octane rating, which means it can resist detonation and allows for a higher compression ratio, resulting in more power. The use of nitromethane also contributes to the distinctive sound of the engines as they roar down the dragstrip.
The use of nitromethane fuel in Funny Cars is carefully regulated and monitored by racing organizations such as the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). They ensure that the fuel is used safely and that the engines are properly tuned to handle the demands of burning nitromethane.
In addition to the nitromethane fuel, the engines of Funny Cars also require a sophisticated fuel-injection system. This system utilizes multiple injectors, such as the Dodge car's 32 injectors, to deliver the fuel to the engine. These injectors are strategically placed throughout the engine, including in the intake ports, intake manifold runner, and supercharger.
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They also burn methanol
Funny Cars are a type of drag racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organized drag racing. They are characterised by their use of tilt-up fibreglass or carbon fibre automotive bodies, giving them a resemblance to manufacturers' showroom models. They also have the engine placed in front of the driver, as opposed to dragsters, which place it behind.
The first funny cars were 1964 Dodge 330 Max Wedges, named the "Dodge Chargers". They were originally pure exhibition cars, but their popularity led to the development of the funny car category.
Today, funny cars are powered by supercharged and fuel-injected 500-inch engines. They can burn up to 15 gallons of nitromethane fuel during a single run, with a flow rate of 8 gallons per minute. However, they also burn methanol, with the fuel mixture usually consisting of 85-90% nitromethane and 10-15% methanol.
Top Alcohol Funny Cars, a specific class of funny cars, are restricted to using methanol fuel and have a three-speed transmission. They are capable of performances in the 5.3s at more than 270 mph.
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They have a fuel capacity of 18 gallons
Funny Cars are a type of drag-racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organised drag racing. They are characterised by their tilt-up fibreglass or carbon-fibre bodies, which are built over a custom-fabricated chassis. This gives them a look that somewhat resembles manufacturers' showroom models.
The first funny cars were 1964 Dodge 330 Max Wedges, named the "Dodge Chargers". They were originally in the Super/Factory Experimental (S/FX) class. They were pure exhibition cars, and the NHRA treated them as a passing fad, trying to "legislate them out of existence".
Funny cars have a fuel capacity of 18 gallons. They use a continuous-flow fuel-injection system with numerous injectors. The Dodge car, for example, has 32 injectors: two in each intake port of the cylinder head, one in each intake manifold runner, and eight upstream on the supercharger (which also serve to cool and lubricate the blower). These injectors are fed by a 300-gallon-per-hour fuel pump with dual-stage operation.
The fuel mixture is usually 85–90% nitromethane ("nitro", or simply "fuel") and 10–15% methanol (alcohol, or "alky"). They burn about five gallons of fuel in a one-quarter-mile run, which averages between 16 and 20 gallons of fuel for just one mile.
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They use a fuel-control lever to shift from idle to full-power
Funny Cars are among the fastest-accelerating machines in the world, with 11,000 horsepower. They are powered by the same supercharged and fuel-injected 500-inch engines as Top Fuel dragsters. They use a continuous-flow fuel-injection system with multiple injectors. For example, the Dodge Hellcat has 32 injectors: two in each intake port of the cylinder head, one in each intake manifold runner, and eight upstream on the supercharger (which serve to cool and lubricate the blower). These injectors are fed by a 300-gallon-per-hour fuel pump with dual-stage operation.
Now, to the heart of your question: Funny Cars use a fuel-control lever to shift from idle to full-power fuel operation. This lever is located to the driver's left inside the central cockpit. The cockpit also features a very short-travel throttle pedal and a clutch pedal. To the driver's right is a hand brake, which operates single-piston brake calipers on all four wheels.
It's worth noting that the placement of the engine in a Funny Car differs from that of a Top Fuel dragster. In a Top Fuel dragster, the engine is behind the driver, while in a Funny Car, the engine is in front of the driver. This difference in engine placement affects the weight distribution and aerodynamics of the vehicles. The longer wheelbase of a Top Fuel dragster acts as a lever to counteract the torque produced by its powerful engine. In contrast, the shorter wheelbase of a Funny Car requires the engine to be positioned in front to provide the necessary counterbalance to keep the front end down at full power.
The performance of these cars is impressive. Top Fuel dragsters can cover a dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at speeds exceeding 330 mph. Funny Cars are not far behind, with times in the 3.8-second range and top speeds surpassing 330 mph.
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Frequently asked questions
Funny cars use a combination of nitromethane and methanol. The fuel mixture is usually 85-90% nitromethane and 10-15% methanol.
The fuel-control lever in a funny car controls the shift from idle to full-power fuel operation.
A funny car can burn up to 15 gallons of fuel during a single run.
The injectors in a funny car's fuel system are responsible for injecting fuel into the engine. They are fed by a fuel pump, which supplies fuel at a high flow rate to meet the engine's demands.
Top Fuel dragsters burn nitromethane fuel and can use up to 15 gallons of fuel during a single run, similar to funny cars. However, funny cars use a combination of nitromethane and methanol, while also considering fuel efficiency with their carbon-fiber bodies.
