11 Second Pass

[cobrav8]

There was a big car show in Wellington (NZ) over the weekend called 2Hot to Handle , and I was talking to the manager of an American (I think) drag team who use a Nissan 4 cylinder Turbo motor in a Datsun 1200 drag car.

This motor produces 1000hp. It is a 2.1 litre standard crank, flash rods and pistons, head work, big turbo and dual big injectors per cylinder.

Anyway... I cant remember the time (is very fast) - but apparently it has set some record - and... loe and behold it is a manual!

Now... how they get the traction, and times is using a slipper clutch. It allows for a certain amount of slip until up to a certain rev range where it locks up and provides full grip. I had a look at the engine and clutch that was there on an engine stand - and it looks very much like my Tilton 3 plate clutch , but with these weird fingers off the back that throw out to make it all work.

Anyway - I guess it would basically give a manual the similar attributes of an auto - ie the slip like a torque converter provides.