Thu, 26 Oct 2000, 06:26 PM NHRA Clarifies FMFC Rule Changes

By Len Imbrogno

Following publication of Mike Jex's commentary on the new Federal-Miogul Funny Car rules for 2001, the FastNews Network received the following from Len Imbrogno, NHRA Director of Sportsman Racing and Member Tracks, offering both clarifications of several of the new rules and rebuttals of several of Mike's conclusions:

After reading the article written by Michael Jex entitled "New Rules for Federal-Mogul Funny Cars" on the Summit Racing web-site, I feel it necessary to clarify many of the errors Mr. Jex made in his article.

1- The maximum engine size of 565 cubic inches is not applicable to all cars. It is only applicable to cars running Roots style blowers. Cars equipped with screw blowers will remain at a maximum engine size 528 cubic inches as they were in 2000.

2- Roots blower overdrive has not changed. It has been at 70% this past year

3- The minimum weight for screw blower cars has not changed. It remains at 2250 pounds.. The minimum weight for Roots cars is 2200 pounds.

4- Federal-Mogul Funny Cars have a maximum gear ratio limit of 4.30 which most cars currently run. They cannot use lower rear end ratios in 2001

5- IRL cars and CART cars do not produce boost pressure. They are limited in their ability to produce CYLINDER pressure not boost. Either Mr. Jex totally misinterpreted what was stated to him in our interview or doesn't understand the difference.

6- Mr. Jex claims he cannot find one racer that likes the new rules after spending two weeks investigating the issue on the West Coast. I gave Mr. Jex the names of several proponents of the rules that he apparently forgot. After spending four months at NHRA Division races through-out the country and talking to racers, engine builders and component manufacturers, the NHRA has accumulated an overwhelming amount of data that shows the need for the changes made to the screw style supercharger overdrives.

In support of the NHRA's decision to reduce the screw blower overdrive limits, I would like to submit the following for the Summit Racing readers' review.

One of the most talked about rule changes for the 2001 NHRA season is the overdrive reduction rule for screw supercharger equipped Federal-Mogul Funny Cars. After discussing this issue with NHRA President, Tom Compton and Sportsman Racing liaison, Bob Devour, we all felt that an explanation of why a change was needed would help everyone better understand the reasoning behind the decision.

After accepting my new position as Director of Sportsman Racing and Member Tracks in late June, I spent a great deal of time talking with a cross-section of Federal-Mogul sportsman racers and engine builders at NHRA division events across the country. When it came to the FM/FC class most agreed that the cost to compete in this class has increased dramatically over the last five years. As a result, many competitors with good equipment and smaller budgets have fallen by the wayside. Overwhelmingly, the reason most often cited was the advent of the screw supercharger and the subsequent increase in overdrive ratios through its history of usage in NHRA competition. Many felt that the effects of the screw supercharger, to produce higher levels of boost than the Roots style supercharger, have resulted in two major problems:

1-Higher attrition rates of drive train parts and subsequently higher expenses for stronger, more expensive components.

2- Loss of ability to be competitive for the less-expensive-to-operate Roots style supercharged cars.

Firstly, racers and engine builders will generally agree that by reducing available levels of boost pressure at any given rpm, the life expectancy of engine and clutch components can increase. Cylinder pressure is a function of boost pressure and in every form of racing (with or without superchargers) where cylinder pressure has been effectively reduced (Formula one, Indy car, NASCAR, drag racing) engine life has been substantially increased. In fact, many experts argue that reducing cylinder pressure in Top Fuel cars is a method that should be used to reduce engine explosions. True, rpms can be increased to get back some of the boost, but in looking at the current rpm levels in FM/FC, racers are already exceeding the outer envelope of performance limits for valve train components. Not changing the blower overdrive will not stop racers from further attempting higher rpms' to increase performance, regardless of where the overdrive is. True, static compression can be increased but it is no substitute for boost pressure as any engine builder will agree.

Secondly, there are many that feel the overdrive rules change will allow the Roots style supercharged cars to be more competitive. Diversity in the usage of the two types of superchargers is an important element in the continued growth of the class. Simply put, a Roots car can be run more economically than a screw car. There are still a number of sportsman racers at the division level with Roots equipped cars competing at assorted non-NHRA events across the country. The biggest reason given by them for not running NHRA events has been their inability to be competitive against the more-costly-to-operate screw supercharged cars. Racers and engine builders feel the rules change will now give Roots supercharged cars an incentive to once again race at NHRA events.

Last of all, It is apparent that something had to be done to help this class. Doing nothing would only compromise its continued existence. Everyone at the NHRA, especially Tom Compton, knows how important the Federal-Mogul Funny Car and Dragster classes are to our future. We cannot forget the heritage of this great class or the sportsman racers for which the blown alcohol classes were created. NHRA Drag Racing legends such as Dale Armstrong, Ken Venney, Joe Amato and many others have all come up through the Federal-Mogul style Funny Car and Dragster ranks. We cannot stand by and allow these classes to get further out of the reach of true sportsman racers that aspire to race blown alcohol cars. Have we done enough? Probably not, but what we are doing by reducing overdrive limits is a step in the right direction.