Funny Cars are a class of car used in drag racing, and they get their name from the fact that the rear wheels are oversized and moved forward on the chassis, making the car look different or funny. Funny Car race car tires endure such stress during a drag race that they will wear out after 2 miles (3.2 km). By comparison, the rear tires on a typical passenger car can last for more than 25,000 miles (40,233 km) before they must be changed.
More facts about funny cars:
- Although there is some difference of opinion over who actually came up with the name, Fran Hernandez, head of Mercury’s racing program in the mid-1960s, generally is credited with the first use of the term "Funny Car."
- One of the first recorded races of Funny Cars occurred in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 1965. Seven race cars sponsored by Chrysler were entered into the Winternationals at the Bee Line Dragway.
- Funny car race cars are also known as floppers because of the inclusion of parachutes in the rear of the vehicles that help in the deceleration from high speeds.
By Malcolm Tatum
, Writer
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.