mcwont
Jim Davis invention
My friend, Jim Davis, invented the self start system used today for all top fuel motors. In the early 70's Jim was building dragster chassis in his Concord,CA shop. A top fuel driver himself, the practice at the time was to push start the dragster from the starting line, make a u-turn on the track (no reverse yet) and return to stage and race. As the chassis grew in length making a u-turn on track became more difficult. Jim invented the blower drive starter using P-51 12 volt aircraft starter motors from WWII which he purchased in bulk from military surplus dealers. When NHRA mandated self start systems others copied Jim's invention which he never bothered to patent. Bob "Mun" Munroe worked for Jim at the time and recalls Jim eventually giving the molds and tooling to a friend and fellow racer as gift. About this same time in the early 70's is when a biker named Arlen Ness approached Jim about modifying Sportster frames. Jim Davis was a World Record Holder in NHRA drag racing and drag boat racing. At the end of his life he was still driving front engined nostalgia top fuelers. Here is a link to YouTube video of Jim in 1983 at Fremont Raceway in California www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAbjZk4o-dY
Jim Davis invention
My friend, Jim Davis, invented the self start system used today for all top fuel motors. In the early 70's Jim was building dragster chassis in his Concord,CA shop. A top fuel driver himself, the practice at the time was to push start the dragster from the starting line, make a u-turn on the track (no reverse yet) and return to stage and race. As the chassis grew in length making a u-turn on track became more difficult. Jim invented the blower drive starter using P-51 12 volt aircraft starter motors from WWII which he purchased in bulk from military surplus dealers. When NHRA mandated self start systems others copied Jim's invention which he never bothered to patent. Bob "Mun" Munroe worked for Jim at the time and recalls Jim eventually giving the molds and tooling to a friend and fellow racer as gift. About this same time in the early 70's is when a biker named Arlen Ness approached Jim about modifying Sportster frames. Jim Davis was a World Record Holder in NHRA drag racing and drag boat racing. At the end of his life he was still driving front engined nostalgia top fuelers. Here is a link to YouTube video of Jim in 1983 at Fremont Raceway in California www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAbjZk4o-dY