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Petersen and Fritz dragster

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Petersen and Fritz dragster
Overview
ManufacturerWoody Gilmore
Also calledCan-Am dragster
Body and chassis
ClassTop Fuel
Body styleFront-engined streamliner dragster
Powertrain
Engine392 cu in (6,420 cc) Chrysler hemi

The Petersen and Fritz dragster, also known as the Can-Am dragster, is a streamliner dragster.[1]

Purchased by Herman Petersen in 1974, it was built on a Woody chassis with a blue-anodized aluminum body,[1] which strongly resembled a contemporary Can-Am car.[2]

It was powered by a Donovan 392 cu in (6,420 cc) Chrysler hemi (when most of the competition was running 426 cu in (6,980 cc) hemis).[1] This, plus the 200 lb (91 kg) weight disadvantage thanks to the full body, meant it was only capable of mid-6 second e.t.s, when conventional fuellers were running low sixes.[1]

The car ran a total of just nineteen times before being retired. It was restored by Petersen in the 1980s, and now resides in the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Taylor, Thom. "Herm Petersen-Sam Fritz Can-Am dragster", in "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone", p. 32.
  2. ^ Taylor, p. 32 photo.

Sources

  • Taylor, Thom. "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone" in Hot Rod, April 2017, pp. 30–43.