NATIONAL BLOWER
EXPLOSION MONTH
By: Terry Cook
When I worked at DRAG WORLD in
1965 and '66, a totally independent newspaper before it was sold
to the AHRA, I would write a weekly column. This is reprinted
from Feb. 4, 1966.
And for you new kids, this was
decades before the ballistic nylon blower diaper was invented.
This was also back in the days when they would have more than
100 Top Fuel dragsters qualifying at Bakersfield, not like today's
NHRA meets where they can't even come up with 16 cars to fill
out the field. Sad but true. Now you know why we call 'em "The
good old days." We were spoiled rotten with great drag racing
in that era, but took it for granted at the time. And I'll never
forget the sound of a blower going "WHOOF," with the
following silence being broken by the shower and tinkle of chunks
of aluminum hitting the ground around you.
cartoon by Bernie Shuman
Now, from 1966:
…And that brings us to this week's topic, which also marks
the start of that famed 31 day period beginning February 5th.
The famed "Spring Tour" officially begins this Saturday
when the 3rd annual UDRA extravaganza gets under way at Lions.
This meet is closely followed by the AHRA Winter Nationals, the
NHRA Winternationals, and capped off by the biggest fuel dragster
race of them all, the U.S. Fuel & Gas Championships at Bakersfield
(which incidentally rounds out that 31-day period previously
mentioned.)
The Spring Tour plays host to
over 150 AA fuel dragsters, and competition, to say the least,
will be keen. Qualifying at these big meets is really a chore
simply because of the multitude of rails trying to squeeze into
a few available qualifying slots. The key word is "lean
it." That is often the ragged-edge road to qualifying. Unfortunately,
a lean condition can have disastrous results, and because of
the tough competition in qualifying and actual racing, we again
welcome that glorious 31-day period known as "National Blower
Explosion Month."
For those of you unfortunates
who have never seen a real quality blower explosion, which usually
occurs in the traps, words simply cannot describe the awesome
grandeur depicted by a set of injectors being catapulted to the
moon, or half a GMC rotor bouncing gaily down the strip. Mind
you, I'm not speaking of a mere cracking of the blower case,
but rather a full fledged explosion, with that glorious showering
of Van Hamptymann parts.
Actually this famed month kicks
off the early contest in which all blower explosions are rated,
tallied and totaled, and the 1966 champion is crowned. Starting
and ending dates center around the UDRA meet, since that is an
unbiased (association-wise) milepost.
GREAT EXPLOSIONS OF HISTORY
Exactly who was the first fuel racer to inaugurate the precedent
of total destruction of the blower case has been swallowed up
into obscurity, but one of the first recorded incidents of greatness
occurred when Art Chrisman blew his crank driven front mount
while racing Garlits. This notoriety was achieved because not
only the case disintegrated but the ducting was turned into instant
shrapnel and flew for a reported 100 feet.
Another 1959 breakthrough came
when Jim Miles lost the puffer on his '34 Ford coupe, lifting
the hood some 150 feet in the air, with the blower under it.
Some maintain that the altitude record must go to the team of
Stellings and Hampshire for their Bakersfield effort which was
applauded by the experts as really "a good one." Sid
Waterman achieved immortality when Modern Rod Magazine featured
a color cover shot of his car immersed in a ball of flame resulting
from a popped blower.
And then there was the time the
Chrisman-Cannon "Hustler" popped a blower, with an
accompanying "shoestring" catch, as the blower was
found nestled between the drag link and the body of the car.
One must understand that a truly
great blower explosion is not the easiest thing to accomplish,
as those who can't make the grade often blow the bottom out of
their blower manifold without even twitching the actual case.
Others, like Art Malone, tried to achieve blower explosion greatness
but only sneezed them, resulting in a case separation but no
altitude.
Yabsley and Mitchell are trying
their best to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. They have lost
a blower four weeks in a row. Unfortunately, they can't seem
to get any further than simply cracking the case. Keep working
at it -- as everyone is behind you boys.
SCORING SYSTEM
With the sport of drag racing developing at a rapid pace, it
is time that an accurate and handy scoring system for rating
blower explosions was established. After many long hours of research
by a competent panel delegated the task of founding a system
for rating, the following stipulations for points scoring has
been established.
Before getting into exact point
scoring, a few introductory remarks are needed. The committee
felt that the difference between day and night explosions had
such different effects that a daytime and night-time rating system
should be set up, as night explosions, where the vivid flames
are easily distinguishable, are naturally more spectacular than
the day occurrences. This puts the two categories on a par without
competing against themselves, where night explosions have a definite
advantage.
The first prerequisite in a high
scoring explosion is that the blower case is completely severed
and leaves the car. This, as opposed to a mere cracking of the
blower case or separation of the blower on the car, slightly
akimbo atop the manifold, is definitely the first step toward
a record attempt.
UNIVERSAL BLOWER EXPLOSION OFFICIAL
SCORING SYSTEM
A. BLOWER CASE
1. Case is merely cracked -- 10 points
2. Case is severed but held to car by fuel line -- 20
3. Blower case and injectors separate completely from car and
are catapulted above or around the driver -- 40
4. Manifold is completely cleared, no portion of case remains
on the car -- 50
B SHRAPNEL
1. One or more pieces of case lands in parking lot -- 10
2. One large piece, or two or more small pieces of case lands
in grandstands -- 15
3. One or more pieces of shrapnel lodged in finish line tower
or overhead signs -- 35
4. Blower case or any large piece of shrapnel hits driver's helmet
with glancing blow (Note: scratches on helmet or two witnesses
are necessary for any scoring) -- 20
5. Any portion of case/shrapnel hits opponent's car -- 20
6. Shrapnel hits opponent's car and puts it out of commission
-- 40
7. Audible "plinking" of raining aluminum parts --
20
C. ACCESSORIES
1. Front mounted fuel pump is torn from place but remains on
car -- 10
2. Fuel pump leaves car -- 15
3. Loss of one rotor, or any part thereof -- 10
4. Loss of both rotors -- 15
5. Magneto is blown from engine -- 10
6. Magneto is blown from engine and cannot be found by search
parties (night) -- 20
7. Magneto is blown from engine and cannot be found by search
parties (day) -- 30
D. DAYTIME POINTS SCORING
1. Explosion visible from finish line -- 10
2. Explosion visible from starting line -- 15
3. Small explosion where blower leaves car and is accompanied
by at last one rotor, fuel pump and/or magneto, and at least
five pieces of case shrapnel -- 15
4. Everything goes -- 30
5. Longest Distance -- 20
6. High Altitude -- 20
(NOTE: For points 5. and
6., at least three experienced observers must attest that the
explosion was the highest or threw parts furthest of any explosion
they ever saw)
E. NIGHT SCORING SYSTEM
1. Grade C Fire: Simple flash of flame, immediately extinguished
by the win -- 15
2. Grade B Fire: Lasting fire with resultant singeing of parachute
or scorching of tailpiece. Also a few audible screams from spectators
-- 25
3. Grade A Fire: All engulfing ball of flame which starts at
the traps and lasts almost to the point where the car turns off
the track. Parachute burned off, tailpiece completely blackened,
windshield completely melted. Audible oooohs and aaaaaahs from
spectators plus boisterous applause from onlooking racers --
50
NOTE: There are a few cases where
the points scoring system can be canceled or doubled, depending
upon the situation. If any serious injuries are incurred by either
the driver or spectators, all points are nullified, regardless
of how spectacular the explosion was. If the car which experiences
an explosion is either sponsored by or campaigned by a professional
blower re-worker, the points score is immediately doubled. If
the explosion is featured in a magazine or newspaper with photographs,
it is an automatic double point score. If it received a color
magazine cover, it is a triple points score. It is recommended
that all blower explosions be planned to occur at points where
the maximum number of fans-racers-judges can witness the spectacle
for a highest rating. Examples are for day racing, the traps
adjacent to the pits at Irwindale, or for night racing, the traps
adjacent to the push-out road at Lions.
1965 SEASON AWARDS
Although the Universal Blower Explosion Official Scoring System
was not in effect during last year, the selected panel of judges
has singled out a few of the really great explosions of 1965.
The Santa Monica "Surfers",
Skinner-Jobe & Sorokin, receive the award for the "Loudest
Explosion of 1965" for their recent blast at Irwindale.
Marvin Schwartz relieves the "Agility Award" for getting
hit in the head by an exploding blower case back East. The Northern
California "Vagabonds" get the 1965 "Longest Burning"
for their fine exhibition at San Fernando. Gotelli & Thode
receive plaudits for the "All Around Good Explosion of 1965"
at Irwindale.
The "Outstanding Explosion
of 1965" Award goes to the team of Alberts-Childs &
Toler for their sensational performance at a local track. Scoring
highly on originality points, the team racked up a high point
score when Jim Alberts leaned over the motor to check it in the
staging area just before a run. When he "wapped" the
throttle linkage on the "Addict," the blower let go,
slamming him up against the fence. Because the incident occurred
right in front of the spectators,and in clear view of the judges,
the event was noted as perhaps the best blow of '65. Unfortunately,
the blower case did not disintegrate into numerous fragments
and none of the parts flew into the adjacent grandstands, robbing
the team of an all-time high points score. However, the raw nitro
which squirted out all over track was luckily ignited, resulting
in a fire. Judges noted that the flames seemed to change color
beautifully when the fire extinguishers were applied.
Congratulations to Alberts-Childs
& Toler for the "Outstanding Explosion of 1965"
Award.
BEST BLOW EVER
Without a doubt, the unanimous choice of the judges for the "Best
Explosion in the History of the Sport" goes to the team
of Brisette & Alexander for their sensational performance
a few years ago at Riverside. The amazing this is that this was
a daytime explosion and was not aided by the naturally high scoring
effect of flames at night. Not only did the car lose the blower
in its entirety, but one piece of shrapnel hit the opponents's
car (Herbert & Tapia), and another piece was lodged in the
Champion Spark Plug sign on the overhead bridge above the traps.
02.13.08 - "I just read
the story by Terry Cook about "National Blower Explosion
Month". Believe me when I tell you this is the first time
I have ever seen this article. I say that because in 1982 at
Indy I wrote up a scoring system that in many ways is identical
to Terry's. Mine was more extensive, in that it covered oil downs
and and other calamities as well. If you recall 1982 was when
everybody was messing with Nitrous and other "enhancers"
and stuff was getting blown up left and right. On his way to
his absurd 5.63, the Snake left 3 motors laying on the ground.
Anyway, practically every pair brought another oildown. I was
down by the Safety Safari truck at turnoff 2 with Cameron Evans
and Scott Forthmann, who ran the contingency midway for NHRA
for many years. We had to figure out some way to kill the time
from all these oildowns so I sat down with a piece of paper and
started jotting down notes. I remember the potential high score
being something like "oiling down both lanes from starting
line to finish line, culminating in an engine explosion that
hit the other car with parts." Same as with Terry, if anybody
got hurt it was immediate disqualification. Oh how I wish I could
find the score sheet. Probably in the same place as all my old
(very valuable) baseball cards. One other memory of the score
keeping. I was sitting in the finish line stands at Fremont during
Funny Car keeping score. We're laughing at a score we gave when
from behind I hear this "Little Mac, what in the e hell
are you doing?" I turn around, and it's Frank Bradley. I'm
thinking I'm done for, so I show it to him and starts laughing
for about 20 minutes straight. Must be since I didn't show him
his score.
As I get older, I think about
how much fun it was growing up at the drag races. Thanks for
sharing all of these memories.
Mike McClelland
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