{"id":25357,"date":"2013-12-13T20:56:39","date_gmt":"2013-12-14T03:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/?p=25357"},"modified":"2013-12-29T11:44:34","modified_gmt":"2013-12-29T18:44:34","slug":"2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2F2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F12%2FIMG_00841.jpg&amp;description=2013+Muscle+Car+and+Corvette+Nationals+-Gasser+Madness%21\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\" rel=\"lightbox[25357]\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\" data-text=\"2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!\" data-desc=\"Ya Just Gotta Ask...What's The Deal With Gassers? (And Why We Love 'Em!) In the very early years of the NHRA, gassers were nothing more than slightly modified gas powered sedans that could compete in five gas classes, determined by engine size and weight. In 1958, a gas class racer was basically a\" data-image=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_00841.jpg\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><h2>Ya Just Gotta Ask&#8230;What&#8217;s The Deal With Gassers?<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>(And Why We Love &#8216;Em!)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In the very early years of the NHRA, gassers were nothing more than slightly modified gas powered sedans that could compete in five gas classes, determined by engine size and weight. In 1958, a gas class racer was basically a street coupe with no engine setback allowed. All \u201cgassers\u201d had working lights, wipers, starter, generator and all other street equipment.\u00a0 Fans and belts were optional, but radiators were required. Full exhaust systems, including mufflers, were required but could be unhooked for competition, but they had to remain on the car.\u00a0 Cars even had to be currently licensed for the street.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25361\" style=\"width: 585px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_00841.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[25357]\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25361\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-25361   \" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"1957 Ford Fairlane Gasser\" alt=\"1957 Ford Fairlane, Gasser Ford Fairlane\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_00841.jpg\" width=\"575\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_00841.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_00841-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_00841-575x412.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-25361\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1957 Ford Fairlane, 2dr post built by D &amp; M Corvette Specialists of Downers Grove, IL.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cars in the gas classes were required to have full \u201cfactory-type\u201d upholstery but two buckets could replace the standard bench seat as long as both were fully upholstered.\u00a0 Customs were allowed as long as the car wasn\u2019t chopped, channeled or sectioned a total of more than four inches.\u00a0 Cars had to have four stock fenders and the stock bumpers had to be in place.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Drag Racing Gassers and A\/FX cars\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/tag\/gassers\/\" target=\"_blank\">More Gassers and Altered Wheelbase hot rods<\/a>\u00a0(opens in new window)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Full transmissions and four-wheel brakes were required. Quick-change rear-ends, locked differentials or ratchet-type rear-ends were permissible with safety hubs. The five gas classes, classified according to total car weight divided by total engine displacement cubic inches, had designations of A\/G, B\/G, C\/G, D\/G or E\/G preceded by car number.\u00a0 Use of a supercharger moved you up one class.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25365\" style=\"width: 585px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0085.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[25357]\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25365\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-25365   \" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"1965 Plymouth Belvedere A\/FX\" alt=\"1965 Plymouth Belvedere A\/FX, 1965 Plymouth Gasser, funny cars\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0085.jpg\" width=\"575\" height=\"502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0085.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0085-150x131.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0085-575x502.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-25365\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Another D &amp; M creation&#8230;1965 Plymouth Belvedere A\/FX. The FX classes pre-dated the first Funny Cars.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>By 1960, the rules changed significantly with engine setback of up to 10% permitted although most of the street equipment rules were still in force.\u00a0 The setback rule was introduced because there was nothing in the rules that required the original engine in the car to be used. If someone performed an engine swap in most any car chances were they would have to cut the firewall. The question then would be what is the \u201cstock location\u201d for a particular engine in a specific car?\u00a0 Introducing an engine setback limitation provided a level playing field for all competitors.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>By 1962 the rules that required full street equipment including mufflers, wipers, horns, generators, emergency brakes, license plates and registration were now gone.\u00a0 Roll-up side windows were no longer required and could be replaced by Plexiglas windows screwed to a window frame.\u00a0 Gassers were now real racecars and the performance of \u201cblown\u201d cars was getting pretty quick. Supercharged gassers were becoming the fastest full-bodied cars in drag racing.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25366\" style=\"width: 585px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0227.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[25357]\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25366\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-25366   \" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"1962 Corvette gasser\" alt=\"1962 Corvette gasser, hot rod corvette, drag racing corvette\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0227.jpg\" width=\"575\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0227.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0227-150x138.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0227-575x529.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-25366\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1962 Corvette built in the style of John Masmanian by Nickey Chicago. Owner Dave VanAlystine.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Heading through the mid to late 60s saw even more rules changes and racers were removing stock front suspensions and replacing them with simple straight axles, tiny front wheel\/tire combinations and engines pushed even further back into the chassis. This effort to transfer more weight to the rear of the race car resulted in the golden age of gassers we seem to emulating now with this renewed interest in the nostalgic gasser.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25368\" style=\"width: 585px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0236.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[25357]\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25368\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-25368   \" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Ford Falcon Gasser\" alt=\"1962 Ford Falcon, falcon gasser, drag racing falcon\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0236.jpg\" width=\"575\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0236.jpg 2484w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0236-150x81.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/IMG_0236-575x312.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-25368\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1962 Ford Falcon, built by Midwest Street Rods, owned by Dan Ulreich, Plainfield, IL.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>More and more of these ungainly looking, brute force machines are finding their way into shows and events now even though their \u201cstreetability\u201d is probably pretty suspect. But the pure \u201ccoolness\u201d of a gasser can\u2019t be beat. Rod and custom shops that in the past were working on street rods and what might be considered \u201cshow cars\u201d are finding customers wanting the \u201cgasser\u201d image so we can expect to see more of these in the future.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2F2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness%2F&amp;media=&amp;description=2013+Muscle+Car+and+Corvette+Nationals+-Gasser+Madness%21\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/2013-muscle-car-corvette-nationals-gasser-madness\/\" data-text=\"2013 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals -Gasser Madness!\" data-desc=\"Ya Just Gotta Ask...What's The Deal With Gassers? (And Why We Love 'Em!) In the very early years of the NHRA, gassers were nothing more than slightly modified gas powered sedans that could compete in five gas classes, determined by engine size and weight. In 1958, a gas class racer was basically a\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Email Ya Just Gotta Ask&#8230;What&#8217;s The Deal With Gassers? (And Why We Love &#8216;Em!) In the very early years of the NHRA, gassers were nothing more than slightly modified gas powered sedans that could compete in five gas classes, determined by engine size and weight. In 1958, a gas class racer was basically a street [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[1814,378],"tags":[1843,1946,2547,2600,376],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25357"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25357"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25613,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25357\/revisions\/25613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}