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Watch An Old Fuel Dragster Suffer A Blower Explosion During A Burnout And Shoot Shrapnel Everywhere – Nitro = Danger!


Watch An Old Fuel Dragster Suffer A Blower Explosion During A Burnout And Shoot Shrapnel Everywhere – Nitro = Danger!

Chad and I both love nostalgia drag racing very much. Some would say too much, but that is another story for another day. One of the things that is both cool and really freaking dangerous at nostalgia events is seeing period dragsters with period parts fire up and run on nitro. It is cool because your ears are treated to the same sounds and your eyes the same sights that fans saw 50 years ago. This video is an illustration of the worst case scenario (with the best possible result) when old parts and pieces fail on a fuel motor. To say that the blower on this dragster explodes like it was packed with dynamite is an understatement. The cast case comes apart like a vase made of China and thankfully no one was standing near the car because they could have easily been killed by flying pieces.

While standing in the pits at Epping, a coupe of us heard a cackle car firing up and it was clear that something was not right with it. Still, it lit off inside a tight ring of people and the crew was whacking the throttle. All of us were convinced that it was going to explode with bad consequences, but thankfully it was shut down before disaster struck.

The point of all this is that when you are around ANYTHING running on nitromethane, you need to be paying attention. At any moment something can go sideways like it does in this video. We make it a habit not to be standing at a 90-degree angle to any engine running on fuel. Why? Pay attention to which way the metal shards fly when the ancient blower case gives up the ghost.

Steve Auglis gets the video credit on this one!

PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE AN ANTIQUE DRAGSTER EXPLODE DURING A BURNOUT!


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6 thoughts on “Watch An Old Fuel Dragster Suffer A Blower Explosion During A Burnout And Shoot Shrapnel Everywhere – Nitro = Danger!

  1. cyclone03

    No comment on the blow up.

    But big thumbs up for a nostalgia car moving under its own power with out current roll bar/cage upgrades!

    That’s what I want to see,push start up the return road,turn it around and do a burn out,maybe a couple dry hops….

  2. Michael Craven

    Was at MIR on Sat when this happened…truthfully the carnage wasn’t nearly as spectacular or dangerous as it could have been. Only injuries I could discern were hurt pride and minor burns suffered by those who thought they’d pick up shrapnel for souvenirs.

  3. Itsagasman

    I remember a cackler back at the CHRR a couple years back that blew a window in the ol’ mooney blower while it was being taxed….. people were all tight in around her when she blew, shrapnel went everywhere, but nobody was hurt….. You can find a vid on youtube i think; Fuel, it can and will happen, treat it with the respect it deserves, always.

  4. Lorie Bilbow

    So proud of “my” Lyndwood guys…THANK GOD nobody was hurt…cars can be fixed…Love ya’s Lor Ps…Ya know Dad is proud of you all too!!!!

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