The term 'Gasser"...

[Fastbrit]

Before it gets out of hand and ends up like "Cal Look' being used to describe any Bug that's been lowered, let's not forget that the term "Gasser" when applied to VWs is indicative of a car that ran in one of the NHRA 'Gas' classes – in the case of VWs, that's principally H/Gas, I/Gas and J/Gas. It shouldn't be a term used to describe any old race car...

An old/obsolete race car is an old/obsolete race car. A Gasser ran in the Gas classes... 

[andy M.]

just remind me Keith of the different class rules,( apart from never associating with the working classes and dressing for dinner )
where would your average drag bug sit these days ?
andy

[Fastbrit]

When first introduced in the early '60s, the determining rules for a Gasser were that the class was open to any car running 'gas' (ie petrol as opposed to methanol or nitro). Classes were decided on "weight per cubic inch". But in 1968, rules were changed to accommodate the new VW and Fiat race cars that were appearing,  and new H/G, I/G and K/G classes were introduced, which were open to "pre-1960 flathead V8s, in-line and opposed six-cylinder, straight-eight and in-line or opposed four-cylinder engines with any type of head". The latter requirement regarding heads was a bone of contention as far as Okrasa and later dual-port heads being retro-fited was concerned. So, in 1968, the rules were as follows:

A/Gas    5.00 to 6.49 lbs per cu. in.
B/Gas    6.50  to 7.99 lbs. per cu in
C/Gas    8.00 to 9.49 lbs per cu in
D/Gas    9.50 to 10.99 lbs per cu in
E/Gas   11.00 to 12.49 lbs per cu i.
F/Gas   12.50 to 13.99 lbs per cu in
G/Gas   14.0 lbs per cu in or more. (formerly the class for flathead motors...)
H/Gas   6.00 to 8.99 lbs per cu in
I/Gas    9.00 to 11.99 lbs per cu in
J/Gas   12.00 lbs per cu in or more
K/Gas   10.00 lbs per cu in or more (originally intended for engines of American manufacture, but that seems to have become muddied over the years...)

Note the apparent similarity between A/Gas through to F/Gas and the familiar H/Gas through to K/Gas. The former were for domestic V8-motored machinery, the latter for the flatheads , sixes and fours as described above.

In 1969, the following changes were made:
G/Gas   6.00 to 7.99 lbs per cu in. (formerly H/Gas)
H/Gas   8.00 to 10.99 lbs per cu in (formerly I/gas)
I/Gas   11.00 lbs per cu in or more (formerly J/Gas)
J/Gas   10.00 lbs per cu in or more (formerly K/Gas)
K/Gas   Dropped

Hope that helps – I am still trying to work out some of the finer details. So I can see another trip to NHRA archives coming on!

[andy M.]

Thanks for that Keith, i guess my car would have to run in I /gas (post 69 rules), with only 117cu in it's way to heavy for h/gas,( at 14lbs per cu in) i'd have to cut my legs off to make the grade!

Those boys in h/gas must have had some damn light cars!
cheers

andy

[rick m]

You are right about light cars for H/Gas.  The BUG IRON car that I posted a picture of weighed in at around 1040 without driver. They were flyweights.  Most of the cars you would see with tube axles, floor pan areas replaced with aluminum, plexiglass in all windows, virtually everything that was not needed removed (including some inner body structure.  Frankly, they were death traps with single hoop type roll cages.  Later, more guys started putting a little more work into rol cages vs. roll bars.

The cars were defiinitely light in H, I, K and J gas cars.  The addition of V6 cars into the gas classes really killed VWs.  Plus, there were some incredibly powerful 4 cylinder cars that were not VW powered that began entering the gas ranks.  As time went on, you saw many VW racers move to the Modified Compact ranks where they could be competitive.

Rick Mortensen

[Fastbrit]

What killed the Gasser classes as far as VWs were concerned was the introduction of a minimum weight in H/Gas in 1981 – 2100 lbs, which is way too heavy for a VW to be competitive. Suddenly the new index-based Mod Compact class seemed more appealing.

In H/Gas, 2100 lbs would mean an engine size of between 191 cu in (that's 3.1-litres!) and 262 cu in (4.3-litres) – VWs were dead in the water, right there.

[speedwell]

what term can we use now to describe an old vw drag car 

 When I use the term " gasser " to speak about a drag vw, it is not with regard to the drag gasser running in this class, but more to indicate a style of car running on dragstrips in the 70s i don't speak about funny car or top fuel , but more a car with  original body

[Fastbrit]

Use whatever term you want! 

[speedwell]

Use whatever term you want! 

ok KaSser 

[Jim Ratto]

I remember reading somewhere that Don Crane ran his red '67 in K/Gas....so 10lb or more per cu in?
Car was a stock weight street car, right?
so 1700-1800lb
did he compete with the car with 88 x 78?
Too little known about that very, very cool red '67

[deano]

Remember too, NHRA and AHRA had slightly different rules, using similar class designations.

I had a call the other day from an old Anglia gasser driver (pilot)... He said whenever the "gas" class came to the line, the announcer called them "Rail Bangers". Meaning guard rails....

[Fastbrit]

Remember too, NHRA and AHRA had slightly different rules, using similar class designations.

I had a call the other day from an old Anglia gasser driver (pilot)... He said whenever the "gas" class came to the line, the announcer called them "Rail Bangers". Meaning guard rails....

"Rail Bangers"! Perfect!!!

[turtle racer]

When first introduced in the early '60s, the determining rules for a Gasser were that the class was open to any car running 'gas' (ie petrol as opposed to methanol or nitro). Classes were decided on "weight per cubic inch". But in 1968, rules were changed to accommodate the new VW and Fiat race cars that were appearing,  and new H/G, I/G and K/G classes were introduced, which were open to "pre-1960 flathead V8s, in-line and opposed six-cylinder, straight-eight and in-line or opposed four-cylinder engines with any type of head". The latter requirement regarding heads was a bone of contention as far as Okrasa and later dual-port heads being retro-fited was concerned. So, in 1968, the rules were as follows:

A/Gas    5.00 to 6.49 lbs per cu. in.
B/Gas    6.50  to 7.99 lbs. per cu in
C/Gas    8.00 to 9.49 lbs per cu in
D/Gas    9.50 to 10.99 lbs per cu in
E/Gas   11.00 to 12.49 lbs per cu i.
F/Gas   12.50 to 13.99 lbs per cu in
G/Gas   14.0 lbs per cu in or more. (formerly the class for flathead motors...)
H/Gas   6.00 to 8.99 lbs per cu in
I/Gas    9.00 to 11.99 lbs per cu in
J/Gas   12.00 lbs per cu in or more
K/Gas   10.00 lbs per cu in or more (originally intended for engines of American manufacture, but that seems to have become muddied over the years...)

Note the apparent similarity between A/Gas through to F/Gas and the familiar H/Gas through to K/Gas. The former were for domestic V8-motored machinery, the latter for the flatheads , sixes and fours as described above.

In 1969, the following changes were made:
G/Gas   6.00 to 7.99 lbs per cu in. (formerly H/Gas)
H/Gas   8.00 to 10.99 lbs per cu in (formerly I/gas)
I/Gas   11.00 lbs per cu in or more (formerly J/Gas)
J/Gas   10.00 lbs per cu in or more (formerly K/Gas)
K/Gas   Dropped

Hope that helps – I am still trying to work out some of the finer details. So I can see another trip to NHRA archives coming on!

Thank you for this important information which I did not know!!

[Russell]

Keiths 100% correct again and Im with Speedwell on this....

I use the term gasser to describe old 60s, 70s and maybe 80s style drag race cars done in a specific way, i realise that they maybe all wouldnt comply with the class's but like cal look there are many different styles within a name that are not truly correct but we use this as a blanket name.....

So "Gassers" as blanket name is pretty good for describing a car style, a period of time and reconiseable style, as far as im concerned, if you want to read about some Real Gasser read Gasser Wars, theres only 2 VWs in there IP1 and DDS car ! if i remember correctly

LOTS Of LOVE

Russell at the VW GASSER Garage

[Fastbrit]

Russell at the VW GASSER Garage

Don't you mean Russell at the Obsolete Old Race Car Garage?

[Russell]

No i should mean Russell at the broken race car garage, sponsered "broken" by Keith S.

[Bewitched666]

I agree with Keith on this gasser term,but like Russel said the callook name is being miss used too in various occasions.

But like with alot of things peopel tend to put things in a pocket to name it

[Ole]

...  at the broken race car garage...

Hey, that's the name of my place... 

[Russell]

Ole

Thats ok at least you race your old gasser....

[vwcab]

Funny topic guys!!!

[Udo]

I agree with Keith on this gasser term,but like Russel said the callook name is being miss used too in various occasions.

But like with alot of things peopel tend to put things in a pocket to name it

And in europe it is very easy to get a gasser . Only make pin stripes on the car and give it a name or paint a beetle new and write an old name on it . 

Udo

[dougmische]

No i should mean Russell at the broken race car garage, sponsered "broken" by Keith S.

Alright, just calm down, Islanders...  I don't want anybody punching holes in the walls of the B&B in November... 

[tikimadness]

I agree with Keith on this gasser term,but like Russel said the callook name is being miss used too in various occasions.

But like with alot of things peopel tend to put things in a pocket to name it

And in europe it is very easy to get a gasser . Only make pin stripes on the car and give it a name or paint a beetle new and write an old name on it . 

Udo

You're right but isn't it better to call it a gasser-look car because of the pinstripes,names used and the comparison with the old cars.
I don't want to upset people because I think my car is going to be a gasser-looker.It is because I love the look of the gassers from yesteryears.

Michael

[Russell]

Udo

Its more than a paint job and some pinstrips, to make a gasser look involves engaging the brain unlike may other race cars that are fast but look plain.... the way it is now its the proper racers who normally have very highly detailed and fast cars, but normally the gasser style cars are built for looks and some performance, its always the other way round and with old Gassers its all for fun.

[Rennsurfer]

I've either been under a rock since 1962, or just don't get out much. But I grew up going to Orange County International Raceway and Irwindale. I've watched hundreds of drag races and the only time I've ever heard the term "Gasser" was when people were referring to these types of cars.

I've never heard the term attached to Volkswagens or any other car (besides old American ones) till I came across The Lounge. Not that this is a bad thing. I'm merely making an observation based upon my own experience. To this day, I've never heard anybody use the term in reference to Volkswagens or any other type of car, other than vintage American cars like the one in the above photo.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, just sayin'. Of course, another exception for using said term is for someone that can't handle Mexican, spicy, or Thai food. Thank God that I'm not one of those people. But every time that I read the term, I instantly think of old American cars that look like the above photo. Sorry... just wanted to share that tidbit of free speech.

 

Carry forth.

[Dave Rosique]

I've either been under a rock since 1962, or just don't get out much. But I grew up going to Orange County International Raceway and Irwindale. I've watched hundreds of drag races and the only time I've ever heard the term "Gasser" was when people were referring to these types of cars.

I've never heard the term attached to Volkswagens or any other car (besides old American ones) till I came across The Lounge. Not that this is a bad thing. I'm merely making an observation based upon my own experience. To this day, I've never heard anybody use the term in reference to Volkswagens or any other type of car, other than vintage American cars like the one in the above photo.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, just sayin'. Of course, another exception for using said term is for someone that can't handle Mexican, spicy, or Thai food. Thank God that I'm not one of those people. But every time that I read the term, I instantly think of old American cars that look like the above photo. Sorry... just wanted to share that tidbit of free speech.

 

Carry forth.

No doubt a very clean yet subtle rock Fred, probably orange

According to KS's post and the c/g on the above 55 Chebby, that car must fit in to the 8.00 to 9.49 lbs per cu. in.
I, too thought of the american iron of that style as Gassers until the Lounge... but it all makes sense now

~DR.

[Luftkraft]

"There's a very wicked 55 Chevy lookin' for you." 

alright, back to the topic...
@DKK_Fred: What a bitchin' Chevy!
@Fastbrit:  Very interesting info about the Gasser era, thanks!

[Fastbrit]

"There's a very wicked 55 Chevy lookin' for you." 

alright, back to the topic...
@DKK_Fred: What a bitchin' Chevy!
@Fastbrit:  Very interesting info about the Gasser era, thanks!

Phew! For one minute, I thought I was going to have to join Fred under that rock... 

[Russell]

Fred

Read Gasser wars, VW's are mentioned. 

[Bewitched666]

I have seen old pictures of gasser and back then not all had pinstripes on their car so Michael go ahead and finish yours,haha