T&T's Sheldon Bissessar sets top dragster world record
Article: Duane Boodasingh
At Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, North Carolina, Sheldon Bissessar, who lead the Trini team, piloted his Top Dragster down the 1/4mile with an ET of 6.45 seconds.
This time has echoed through the halls of drag racing around the world since 6.45sec is the fastest time a gas and nitrous Top Dragster has ever done using a converter instead of a clutch engaged transmission!!!
Sheldon's dragster, flying the T&T flag on its US campaign is actually a Spitzer Racecars prototype/hybrid carbon fibre one-piece body and interior on a Chromalloy Top Dragster chassis (IHRA & NHRA certified). Its 706 cubic inch, all aluminum, pro mod motor is mated to a Lenco 2-speed transmission with a specially built Coan’s converter in a Bruno Converter Drive. Sheldon has been babying this monster, making very calculated runs with the converter configuration before moving on to a clutch system which will really exploit the true potential of this rail. Little did he know that he would unintentionally break a world record while sorting out the car on this transmission.
Converters in themselves aren't the most controllable launch mechanism even in simple drag race cars. Anyone who has loaded up their automatic tranny to launch their car off the line may have a rudimentary understanding of what this is about. A clutch allows much more control from the driver. A progressive nitrous system helps to reduce some of the tyre shake these high horsepower machines with massive slicks suffer from when fed through a converter.
Sheldon has managed to fly this dragster through the finish sensors at trap speeds up to 209mph, with 60 foot times at around 1 second.
This isn’t the first record Sheldon has brought to T&T. He himself is also the fastest man in T&T given these times. One thing that he hasn't forgotten though is his national pride when racing in the US. Even though he has no place to race his car back home in Trinidad, there is always a T&T flag and the colours red, white and black on his car and team uniforms. Always closely monitored by the support team of mechanics, technicians, crew chief, crew and supporters (both local and foreign).
This year his 2007 season is shorter than the previous years but they intend make the best of it. Minor upgrades will be done to the systems to enhance their performance. Future up-grades may see the installation of a clutch system with a three speed gearbox and flow bench tested nitrous system.
Congratulations guys!
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