What has become of the Gummelt Bros Dragster? Haven't heard anything in some time. I gathered there was problems with the chassis in the past, but is it going to run anymore?.. also noted in the last issue of YBM, that John Mummert Y-block lists Rocker Arm shafts & Roller Timing Chains as "no longer available!"

Paul

Randy was at Columbus last year. He said he would have to get a complete chassis to get the Y-Block to go faster. The current chassis has no give in it and breaks loose after 1/8 mile. Now if anyone had access to a "sprung" dragster chassis let him know! It sure would be nice to see him move the record into the 7's that we all know the engine can run.

He is, however, working on a full size car (55/56) with a killer setup. Can't wait to see that one.

Hey Randy! Speak up, long time no hear. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Randy’s dragster is sitting dormant at the moment.  The chassis is simply too stiff to get the car into the sevens under full throttle but runs very low eights while blowing the tires off of it at mid-track.  The last effort involved the installation of a rear wing but that didn’t help either.

 

 

The Rollmaster timing sets are no longer available from the original supplier.  Rollmaster has apparently sold out and the chain sets are currently not being manufactured at this time.  I've tried contacting the new company but no responses back.  As far as rocker arm shafts go, the last supporting manufacturer of these in the U.S. went under recently but upon talking to Verne Shumann, he expressed an interest in making these to the old Holman & Moody specifications.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

So we won't be seeing it at Columbus this year?


Lawrenceville, GA

Randy hasn’t mentioned running the dragster anymore and as Chuck mentions, He’s building another car which is where his priorities are being concentrated right now.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Would he like to donate the engine? I have a friend with an older top fuel chassis. It's set up for a hemi but I may be able to persuade him to change that.


Lawrenceville, GA

Ted: just a quick follow up question on the Gummelt Dragster. If the chassis was used previously, was it o.k. then? And what type of engine was in it?..

Paul

It was run with a scrub big block in the 8's, confirmed by Ted and Randy before the swap. They key is the chassis is too stiff. It gets "light" after about 1/8 mile and breaks loose. Needs a quicker rated chassis to keep the tires on the ground. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

As Chuck mentions, the dragster previously had a 763 horsepower BBC in it.  It was set up for Super Comp (8.90 Class) and the chassis was adequate for this with the timers and throttle stop in place.  I had the opportunity to drive the dragster with the BBC in it and upon taking some timer out of it, was breaking loose the tires through the traps while running an 8.33.  I didn’t give it much thought at the time as the tires were needing replacing.  It was only after Randy was having trouble with the Y breaking the new tires loose that the original reason the dragster was up for sale was remembered in that the previous owners had put a big inch BBC (630 cubic inch comes to mind) in the dragster and the car wouldn’t stay hooked up at all.  And to be honest, I didn’t think the Y was going to make as much power as it did.  Randy was only shooting for high eights but the engine was making much more power than needed for this.  Besides the chassis being too stiff, general concensus is that the wheel base needs to be longer than the current 230”.  Like the saying goes, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

So! Who has a good dragster chassis sitting in their garage? I'd sure like to see some 7's out of this rig before it retires! Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire