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Grand Prix is highly competetive boat racing in which there are, essentially two basic rules: 1) propellor driven boats must be a minimum of 20 feet in length, and 2) engines must not exceed 500 cubic inches of displacement. That's it! A minimum 20 feet, a max of 500 cubes. Any fuel, any supercharger, nitrous' 'laughing gas" oxide if you like. Anything goes in this wide open division. Real rivalry develops, particularly in the engine compartment. Some of the top teams believe it best to supercharge to increase their horsepower. The "huffers," as the supercharged engines are called, provided added mid-range power, increased top speed, and unquestionably more power than their unsupercharged bretheren. On the other hand, the upsupercharged "hummers," with simple carburetors or perhaps fuel injection, challenge with lower power but reliability. Yes, the GP competition lap record of 104.047 mph is still held by a modest, unassuming "hummer." Last year the Advance United owner Fred Wines said it all boils down to a matter of philosophy. "We know we produce more horsepower with our supercharged Chevy than they can running without a supercharger. The difference has been reliability. The 'hummers' can run flat out and live. But we believe we're learning how to make our power live." 'Yessir, that's been the argument for years," says Norman Lauterbach, owner of Uncle Norman's Deepwater Special. "Last year we ran un supercharged but this year we're going to try a 'huffer' too. We gave up a little horsepower before, but we got it back with consistency, but now we're ready to try it their way. But the issue isn't completely decided yet." How can the obviously outpowered "hummers" challenge the "huffers"? Running a supercharger you commit to a heavier boat, one that is not as efficient. Says Ron Brown, crew chief of the Chrysler supercharged Long Gone, GP-4, the defending High Points Champion, "The good injected boats are using their horses to get around the course the quickest way possible. Their boats are lighter, they turn very well, and they are more efficient." Still, the recent record shows that the finely tuned "hummers" have the edge. "Hey," says "hummer" pilot, "I know that if one of the 'huffers' gets me on the start I'm gone. That's why I have to make a good start and if they get the lead I try to put pressure on them to break." "I think it's important that the unsupercharged boats stay competetive," says one Grad Prix official. The hummers run lighter boats, say about 1800 pounds as opposed to 2300 pounds for the supercharged ones. They are efficient and handle beautifully. But the battle isn't over. We'll learn more this season. The beauty of Grand Prix racing is that everyone is free to run what they want, and everyone is competetive." .......so that "huffers" versus "hummer" battle continues. Article from the PRINCE EDWARD GOLD CUP 1979 RACE Program |
