The Kelley Motorsports Nitro Funny Car is a nitromethane burning, 8000hp purpose-built drag racing car with a 500 cubic-inch, Hemi-head aluminum engine manufactured by Brad Anderson Enterprises. It burns 15 gallons of a 90% Nitromethane/10% Methanol mix during a typical run, and does not use a transmission. Instead, the clutch is gradually engaged as the run progresses, applying progressively more and more of the approximately 7000 lb./ft of torque to the pavement. Up to 1/10" of clutch material can be burned off in the course of a typical run.
Correct tire pressure is a critical component in getting the power to the ground. Based on factors like humidity, ambient air temperature, elevation, track temperature and clutch setup, the tire pressure varies around 6 to 7 psi. Andy, your chariot awaits! The handle on the driver's right is the brake, and the lever mounted on the frame on the drivers left is the fuel lever. Andy pulls that lever after pre-stage to increase the fuel flow to the motor and you can hear the car's exhaust note change.
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When the clutch stages come in too fast for the track conditions and existing weather factors, the tires spin and smoke like this. Butch Beacham handles our clutch set ups and does a great job getting all that torque to the ground. The engine is completely disassembled after each run, and the pistons and cylinder heads are replaced, with the used ones going back to the shop for inspection and rebuild before being used again.