| |
UNCHAINED LIGHTNING
Shirl Greer, reigning World Champion Funny Car racer, goes right back into the thick of national points competition with one of the slickest Mustang II fuel coupes.
|
Last fall at the NHRA Supernationals/World Finals, held at Ontario Motor Speedway, Shirl Greer had the best and worst weekend of his very, very long drag racing career, all at once. His old Mustang's engine blew up, literally in his face, and Shirl had to be hospitalized for burn treatment. A whole gang of Shirl's friends remade the Mustang's body out of aluminum sheet, and he went back to race on Sunday morning, needing only one more round win than Don Pudhomme to take the NHRA World Champion title. He did just exactly that, losing another motor in the process but winning the points fund.
From the pictures on these pages, you can tell where Shirl Greer put his prize money. The "Unchained Lightning" Mustang II Funny Car is brand-new from bumper to bumper and side to side, and Shirl has already run quick enough and fast enough with it at nation and local Division II events to be second in points standing to, guess who, Don Prudhomme, at this writing.
The 118-inch-wheelbast chassis is a product of Jaime Sarte's Southern California shop, which also generated the minimal upholstery and all of the aluminum and sheet magnesium inner body panels. Shirl is just as safety-conscious as ever, and he stresses that the Simpson suit, harnesses, parachute and fire bottles and his Bell helmet are just as important to him as the powerplant. The engine that powers the beautiful blue II is a collection of California parts unlike anyone else's Funny Car engine. Shirl selected a 1/2-inch stroker, 484-cubic-inch Keith Black combination to start with, and pistons by Steve Montrelli with Speed Pro rings for 5 1/2:1 static compression ratio. The valvetrain consists of a Norris cam, lifters and pushrods with Norris springs, with Manley replacement intake and exhaust valves. The cylinder heads were reworked by Keith Black's staff and attached with Rocket gaskets.
The induction system uses a Cragar blower drive and manifold, Hilborn pump, Enderle injectors, but the blower itself is a product of Ed Pink. Cirello supplied the magneto which fires Champion plugs through Accel heatproof wires. Cragar headers take care of the exhaust gases.
Power transmission for the polyglot powerplant is handled by a complete Crowerglide setup, a Lenco two-speed transmission, Lakewood blast can with Simpson blanket, and a Lenco/Ford rearend using 3.90, 4.10 or 4.30 gears depending on available bite. Kelsy-Hayes disc brakes nest inside the combination of Cragar Super Trick wheels and M&H tires front and rear.
The fantastic exterior paint scheme and lettering were done by Duke of Little Rock, Arkansas, with an assist from son and crew member Rusty. Besides Shirl and Rusty Greer, the car is maintained by Ms. Rosie Emmett, on of the nicest ladies in dragdom. The trio from Warner Robins, Georgia, plan a full schedule of major events, points races and match races throughout the summer season, and they'd all like to carry the Number One right on through 1976, only this time without the last-minute drama of Ontario.
|
|
