Fun cars, or “floppers,” are a type of drag racing vehicle with forward-mounted motors and bodywork resembling showroom models. They have oversized rear wheels for improved racing performance. The NHRA and IHRA both have a fun car class, with guidelines for engine size and fuel type. Fun cars can reach speeds of up to 100 mph in less than a second.
Fun cars, also called “floppers,” are a professional class of drag racing vehicles. Drag racing is a form of auto racing in which cars travel in a straight line, usually from a stationary start, and the first to cross the finish line wins. The floppers feature forward-mounted motors and automobile bodywork resembling the manufacturer’s showroom models. Fun cars get their name because they look like regular cars, but with oversized rear wheels positioned further forward than usual to improve their racing performance.
Drag racing originated in the United States after World War II. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), which has been the main governing body for drag racing throughout the history of the sport, was founded in California in 1951 by Wally Parks. The second largest governing body, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), was founded in 1970 by Tennessee businessman Larry Carrier, and is now owned by Feld Entertainment.
The first fun cars were created in the 1960s by altering normal cars to make them suitable for drag racing. Some of the original models are still raced today in Heritage Hot Rod races. Popular models include the Chevy Impala, Dodge Charger, and Ford Mustang. In addition to their altered wheel setup and fuel systems, the floppers have twin parachutes to ensure the safety of the driver and fans by helping the car slow down and stabilize after a race.
Both the NHRA and IHRA have a fun car class. According to NHRA guidelines, fun cars must have V-8 engines displacing a maximum of 500 cubic inches (1,270 square cm) and only two valves per cylinder and a single crankshaft. Cars are further classified by the type of fuel they use, either Top Fuel or Top Alcohol. Both fuel classes use a combination of nitromethane and methanol alcohol as fuel, but those in the Top Fuel class are allowed a higher concentration of nitromethane, up to 90%. Fun car racing is currently limited to a maximum distance of 1,000 feet (305 meters) by the NHRA.
The power of fun cars is largely due to their fuel systems, as nitromethane fuel allows the cars to drive extremely fast. Fun cars are the second fastest class of cars in drag racing, after dragsters or “diggers.” The fun cars have around 8,000 horsepower and can accelerate from zero to 100 mph (161 km/h) in less than a second.
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