By Bob Bogowicz
12/16/2011…We received a very good question from our loyal listener, Ben Roberts concerning the process of push starting a supermodified and we thought it would be a great topic for our first supermodified tech article on Wing Side Up.
I was wondering if you could discuss the anatomy of a push start. How the driver engages the in-out direct drive, and how that system works. Why a supermodified sometimes fires up right away with a short push or sometimes it takes half a straight·a·way to get the engine to turn over. Maybe he could also talk about what makes a good push truck driver, as we have all seen or heard about push truck/race car incidents in open wheel racing. Finally, does race control/race director or track have rules or guidelines for push trucks, and their drivers, and do they have radio contact with them.A:
Push starting a supermodified is one of the most unique aspects of our beloved class of cars. Supers and sprint cars are most likely the only divisions around that have to be pushed off by another vehicle in order to fire the engine as opposed to an electric starter in most other race cars.The reason why a supermodified needs to be push started is because a super does not have a clutch and a transmission that can shift gears. It is a direct drive. The output of the engine goes directly to the rear axle. However, there needs to be a method to un-couple the engine from the drive train in order to allow the car to idle in place. [Read more...]
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