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Two Much!
Text by Alan Currans ~ Photos by Alan Currans and Will Andrews
Two Much indeed! This 225 inch twice small block Donovan-powered beauty is the latest creation of veteran UK drag racer Norm Wheeldon. If I tell you that Norm earned his living fabricating components in the high-octane perfection-driven world of Formula 1, you will not be surprised to learn that the workmanship and attention to detail are of an extremely high standard.
The two 359 inch Donovans date from the early 1980s (no. 0147 front, no. 0229 rear) and are fed on methanol via a pair of 6/71 Mike Kuhl blowers. The drive train consists of a duplex chain linking the engines, a Titan triple plate clutch sitting in a Browell bell housing, a Lenco 2-speed, and a Wheeldon-fabricated back axle based on a 9” Ford. Norm was ably assisted by ex-racer Herb Andrews during the final stages of the build.
These pictures were taken on 20 September 2009 at the National Street Rod Association’s Hot Rod Drags held at Shakespeare County Raceway where it was fired up on a couple of occasions with Herb in the seat, an experience which he enjoyed immensely.
The UK season finishes at the end of October and the plan is to bring the car out once more for burnouts before commencing serious shake down runs in 2010.
I should add that Norm Wheeldon has a bit of previous experience with methanol-burning slingshots. He built a Dale Hall-inspired Pro Comp rail in the early ‘80s (using the front engine of Two Much) and ran it down to 6.85 seconds. This car is tagged to SFI 2.2B, the Nostalgia Top Fuel standard, so is good for 6.29 seconds or better. This is no exhibition-only car, it has been built to run the numbers.
Norm Wheeldon (left) and Herb Andrews
Herb in the seat, Norm priming the front motor, team member Vince Shaw is standing behind the car in the white Tee Shirt. The bearded chap on the right is none other than Andy Rogers (aka Tog) of Eurodragster.com.
Alan Currans
www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/
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