The Supercharger: Revving Up Horsepower on Your Favorite NHRA Dragsters
There are so many great reasons for watching the Top Fuel nitro burning dragsters at an NHRA event that sometimes it is difficult to grasp it all at once. One of the things I like best about going to NHRA events is seeing the technology that helps these cars generate 8,000 horsepower.
The supercharger is one of these great technologies. Sounds pretty awesome, right? A supercharger is a type of device that pressurizes the air intake to above-atmospheric pressure, and then forces the air into the engine via an impeller system. Depending on the equipment rating, the supercharger increases air pressure in the engine to the point that it helps produce a bigger explosion inside the engine’s cylinders. This, in turn, pushes the car down the track with a stellar force; it is like riding a shock wave from a truck load of dynamite.
In drag racing, teams use the biggest supercharger and induction ram they can to get as much air flowing to the engine as possible. The induction ram is what you see at the top of the engine, having three or four entry holes facing that face forward and are typically made of carbon fiber. The supercharger and induction ram work together to produce more forced air pressure, translating into more horsepower … and yes, we want more horsepower don’t we!
If you race your own car, picking the right supercharger is an important part of setting up your vehicle. Do not be afraid to ask people at the track what they recommend – track officials and even other drivers and crews are eager to help people improve their cars, and will probably be happy to share their experience with you. And when it is time to purchase your supercharger, make sure you get it from a reputable dealer or shop that specializes in high-performance vehicles. Make sure you understand installation costs, including whether any modifications are needed inside the engine compartment. Buying the wrong supercharger, or installing it incorrectly, can cause excessive and expensive wear and tear on your engine.
Having a supercharger on a racer can have a down side, of course, since greater speeds may result in more serious crashes. However, with today’s improved safety technologies and procedures, mishaps are few and far between. You will need to make sure that you pay attention to safety on your own vehicle if you install a supercharger, since requirements may change when you start running with the extra horsepower.
A lot goes into producing 8,000 horsepower, but when the right technology comes together under safe conditions, the result is enough excitement to keep us all coming back for more.
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