Gassers and rear spoilers?

[Farmboy]

I've narrowed a spoiler to suit the rear deck of my wip Henry J, looks bitchin' imho, and I will probably add it but I can't really recall seeing spoilers on many gassers.  Any reason for this?  One could obviously just take the hint and abandon the idea but it doesn't answer the question.  Just wondering.

 

[64SS350]

The idea/concept of the gasser, which typically has a higher front end, is that it "preloads" the rear suspension . Also, with the front end higher than the rear, I believe would make the spoiler virtually useless.

I'm sure there are more technical answers, of some I'm sure will be brought forth for you.

My two cents...

[iBorg]

Spoilers were not used on gassers except the gasser funny cars like Mustangs and Camaros for the most part in the later 1960's. Henry Js were not used in the gaser class by this time.

[Fat Brian]

Are you trying to go period correct or building something like the modern recreations done today?

[Farmboy]

Something that ran before half frame pony cars hit the scene, despite the Henry's tube frame (gasser?altered?).  With nose high attitude and weight to the rear, I was wondering if a spoiler would increase rear traction at speed or if it would really matter.  why didn't they use them? Was it a rule not to?  Extra weight not worth it?  Im a period fan, not copying anything specific.  Just a question.

 

[espo]

Maybe that sense they only race for a 1/4 mile in a straight line any additional drag from a spoiler may be counterproductive. As for your Henry, if you like it, so what put it on there.  

[Farmboy]

David, it's going on lol.  I don't think having a spoiler will get me kicked off the gasser table 🙄.

[rattle can man]

IIRC, the rules called for stock bodies initially and Wings and spoilers became legal later. Just like Fiberglass, changes to engine setbacks, etc.

[Farmboy]

Thank you Harry

[Sledsel]

I am giving my 2 cents on this......... Build it how you want it! If ya like an idea and think it's cool, just do it.

[Andrew McD]

I would suggest that spoilers were not seen in the Gasser class because aerodynamic devices were not yet common place in auto racing.  The Gasser class was dropped from NHRA in 1972 which was but a few years after wings had begun to sprout on F1 cars.  Apart from the rule book requiring essentially stock appearing bodies the use of aerodynamic devices had yet to become commonplace in auto racing when the Gas class was popular in the 1960’s and very early ‘70’s.

 

[Mark]

1972 sounds way early for the demise of the Gas classes.  I believe they were in place through the end of the Seventies.

Most of the Js built for Gas ran in the early/mid Sixties, they weren't the greatest choice (decent engine setback put the engine partway under the dashboard).  But, being an orphan car, they were cheap because they had no resale value back then.  None of them ever won any high-profile meet, but there were a bunch of them running at the local and regional levels.

There was one high-dollar, show-quality J in the early Seventies, I'm not sure if it was a Gasser or Altered.  I don't recall it having a spoiler.  NHRA was on the arbitrary side in some ways back then.  George Montgomery wanted to run a front air dam on his Willys after testing it in a wind tunnel, NHRA wouldn't allow it.  They wouldn't allow laying the windshield back on a top chop saying it would be "streamlining", disregarding the fact that the chop in and of itself was "streamlining".

[Chris V]

These days the term “Gasser” has become about as misused and worn out as “Rat Rod”. 
 

On the true in-period “Gas”-classes, airfoils and spoilers were a relatively rare occurrance until the late sixties, and not generally associated with the look of the cars. Most were quite crude by today’s standards, but on some of the big-budget racers, they were cleverly incorporated into the design. For instance Ohio George Montgomery’s 1967 Mustang had a Shelby-style “ducktail” wing.

[Straightliner59]

If you want to run the spoiler, just call it an Altered. The rules state that spoilers, in Gas classes, must be originally available, for the body used, otherwise, not allowed. 

[rattle can man]

There is a thread in WIP drag racing that links back to the NHRA rules for the '50s-'60s  on the H.A.M.B. 

[Mark]

Drag racers didn't understand aero in the Sixties or early Seventies.  The streamlined dragster bodies were mostly teardrop shaped but were then going down the track backwards.  The "canard" funny car spoilers and dragster front wheel "pants" were disasters waiting to happen.  

[Farmboy]

On 2/22/2025 at 10:12 AM, Straightliner59 said:

....... The rules state that spoilers, in Gas classes, must be originally available, for the body used, otherwise, not allowed. 

Thank you Daniel.  Hard to beat the rule book.  Guess I'm building an altered 👍

[Straightliner59]

3 hours ago, Farmboy said:

Thank you Daniel.  Hard to beat the rule book.  Guess I'm building an altered 👍

You have a lot more leeway, and can still get a very similar look!