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In a season short of nitro performance superlatives, what with the
90-percent rule of NHRA and the IHRA blower restrictions, it was refreshing
to see the results of the Pepsi Fuel Altered bash held this summer at
Firebird Raceway in Emmett, Idaho. At that event, long-time Funny Car
and Fuel Altered driver Ron Fassl carded a 5.51, making him the quickest
Fuel Altered driver in history.
As much as it grinds me to say it, that feat probably drew a "Big deal"
from a lot of drag race fans. The average age of the typical drag racing
fan is something like 35, which means that they were born when the Fuel
Altered was coming into its own. They're ancient history.
As for me, I took my usual purist stance when informed of the run:
Fassl's roadster was a Funny Car using a roadster body. In fact, nearly
all Fuel Altereds of the last 20 years can be nailed on that charge.
The Fuel Altereds of today feature a lower, longer swoopier chassis
than the old 90- to 100-inch-long '23-T high-sitters and squirrely little
Fiats of the past. They're easier to drive and to this observer don't
produce half the drama of the older cars.
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