Lawson Cox
Well-known member
I see the term "gasser" a lot. Must be a colloquialism. Never heard it used down south. Oh, by the way we don't say "******" either. LOL
What is a "gasser"?
- Thread starter Lawson Cox
- Start date
Gas class was an early drag racing class. It was for more heavily modified cars. The cars had engine, and suspension changes. Some got straight axles and very high stance. Hood scoop and rear fenders cut out for protruding slicks were common. Interiors cut out and a 4 speed would be found inside. Just the thought of C/G and D/G send chills up my spine. A 4 sp and a wailing 7800 rpm 302 Chevy comes to mind.
Lawson Cox
Well-known member
Thanks fellows. You have taught me a little something I didn't know. Not being into modified cars as a young man, I was stumped.
Scott H
Well-known member
Scott H
Well-known member
Tony, I seem to remember commercials where they also used the word "SMOKIN", as in
AT SMOKIN' US 30, WHERE THE GREAT ONES RUNNNNNNN (trailing echo..)
Henry/Kokomo
Well-known member
As I recall from my mis-spent youth, the term refers to NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) "Gas" classes for modified cars. The class were broken down into alphabetically designations - i.e. A/G, B/G, C/G etc. - with the engine displacement and the car weight being the basic determining factors. Hope this helps. Excellent pictures preceeded.
Lanny
Well-known member
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Lawson, you have to see them race to have a better understanding of what gassers are, so here
is a 3 minuet video showing some "A"-Gas cars running 180 mph in 7 seconds.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vi...e6-398600242063?q=a-gas+drag+video&FORM=VIRE5
.
TonyM
Well-known member
Yep, you are probably remembering it better than me. I was just winging it off of the top of my head; I haven't heard one of them US 30 commercials in almost 40 years. But thanks, you knew where I was going with that. I 've got some old photos from there some where.
TonyM.
51 MERC-CT
Well-known member
I thought 'gasser' was something that happened when you ate too many beans.
cuzncletus
Senior Member
Actually they did use flatheads in gassers. One of the lower classes, I think it was H, was reserved for flatheads and sixes. ("I" was for aircooled; i.e., Volkswagens) I looked at buying the WinterNationals winner one time, a 53 Ford w/ flathead. It ran low 15's/high 14's. It was definitely not streetable so as a kid I passed.
Hardly ever mentioned these days were the modified production classes. These had to run the same make motor, carbs, no engine setback allowed (gas class was 10%?), front bumpers, no body modifications like wheelwell cutouts, and limited fiberglass to the hood. Many of these were on the tracks and a good MP car could give an average gasser fits. These were the golden days of drag racing when a couple of guys at the corner gas station could drag an old car out of a garage, find a wrecked big engined car, get out the torch, and build a class winner. Wish as we may, they ain't comin' back.
Hardly ever mentioned these days were the modified production classes. These had to run the same make motor, carbs, no engine setback allowed (gas class was 10%?), front bumpers, no body modifications like wheelwell cutouts, and limited fiberglass to the hood. Many of these were on the tracks and a good MP car could give an average gasser fits. These were the golden days of drag racing when a couple of guys at the corner gas station could drag an old car out of a garage, find a wrecked big engined car, get out the torch, and build a class winner. Wish as we may, they ain't comin' back.
Uncle Bob
Well-known member
Aren't some of you worried about introducing too much seduction from "the dark side"? 
You're close cuzncletus. The formula for most of the gasser period classification was based on pounds per cubic inch. For instance, I used to run in H/Gas with a '39 Chev coupe powered by a 302 GMC. This was a dedicated race car. By 1969 I was no longer competitive being out classed by the smaller 6 cyl engines in Anglias and such. Toward the end of the gasser era some "big inch" VWs came to dominate that class on a national basis. My personal opinion is there weren't many flathead V8's evident (though I'm sure there had to be some, and somebody here will regale us with stories of victory and opponent vanquishment) because it was more difficult to pull enough horsepower per cubic inch compared to other options. I know, I know, just tell me where to report for my flogging.
For those interested in learning more here's one site that is very good. If you click on the "history" link on the left margin you'll learn about the classification system: http://gassermadness.com/
You're close cuzncletus. The formula for most of the gasser period classification was based on pounds per cubic inch. For instance, I used to run in H/Gas with a '39 Chev coupe powered by a 302 GMC. This was a dedicated race car. By 1969 I was no longer competitive being out classed by the smaller 6 cyl engines in Anglias and such. Toward the end of the gasser era some "big inch" VWs came to dominate that class on a national basis. My personal opinion is there weren't many flathead V8's evident (though I'm sure there had to be some, and somebody here will regale us with stories of victory and opponent vanquishment) because it was more difficult to pull enough horsepower per cubic inch compared to other options. I know, I know, just tell me where to report for my flogging.
For those interested in learning more here's one site that is very good. If you click on the "history" link on the left margin you'll learn about the classification system: http://gassermadness.com/
Displayman
Senior Member
Tony,
We went with all my buddies to U.S. 30 dragstrip.
It was a gas! Loud and hard to breath.
Bob
We went with all my buddies to U.S. 30 dragstrip.
It was a gas! Loud and hard to breath.
Bob
jerry grayson
Well-known member
Lawson, You , as I did not run with the drag race crowd as a young man, but I did know what the "gasser" term was. I was a subscriber to "Hot Rod magazine" from 1948 to about 1980 so I became acquainted with drag race terms. I grew tired of the magazine when it got full of vans, VW's and drag race, so I dropped my subscription.
The term "******" and "dizzy" are used by people, I suspect because they don't know how to spell the parts or don't want to go to the trouble. I believe that we have not seen anything yet like this because of texting!
Just my rant.
ken ct
BANNED
BTW hows your ****** doing W/O a pin floating around in it.LOL. Grease it and the slot and it wont fall inside next time. lol ken ct.
GRIN,Grinn
Tim Brown
Senior Member
I thought 'gasser' was something that happened when you ate too many beans.
Pull my finger?
Charlie ny
BANNED
LC,
That was a great video and the comment about the gas station
built cars is so so true. Before the yellow and green launch lights we had
the flag man and heads up racing...no worry about brackets and exceeding
your posted speed and ET. The statement about never coming back is true,
kind of like Sunoco 260 selling for .38 cents a gallon!
Charlie ny
That was a great video and the comment about the gas station
built cars is so so true. Before the yellow and green launch lights we had
the flag man and heads up racing...no worry about brackets and exceeding
your posted speed and ET. The statement about never coming back is true,
kind of like Sunoco 260 selling for .38 cents a gallon!
Charlie ny