Gleaming towers of power will descend on Charlotte Motor Speedway when a collection of supercharged street rods fires up during the Sept. 21-24 Pennzoil AutoFair presented by Advance Auto Parts.
From a 1950s-era pickup truck nicknamed "Blown Mafia" to a high-octane 1980s Chevrolet Blazer and even a blown Pro Mod dragster styled in tribute to the 1983 cult classic horror film "Christine," fans will enjoy a wide array of supercharged machines that showcase the creativity and artistry of a rare breed of automotive customizers who make modified powerplants their canvas. The display features more than a dozen such vehicles from across the country - and one from Canada - of all makes and models. Just about any car or truck can be made into a blown hot rod, and the special AutoFair exhibit will include a 1929 Ford Model A, 1958 Plymouth Fury, 1970 Pontiac GTO, 1976 Chevrolet Monza, and 1993 Ford Mustang—and everything in between.
A supercharger is a device that compresses air into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. Greater air volume in the combustion chamber makes a more powerful explosion when the gasoline, air, and spark combine. This technology, which has been around for 140 years, is used to get big-engine horsepower out of a smaller engine without adding a lot of weight. Superchargers are common in modern performance cars, with the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Jaguar F-Pace SUV, and Cadillac CTS-V being just three examples of 2017 models with "blowers" hidden beneath their hoods.
Spectators will be able to spot the supercharged street rod display car by the polished chrome intake scoop that rises high—sometimes more than three feet—above a cut-out hood. Below the scoop usually sits a pair of four-barrel carburetors that feed a lot of fuel and air down to a belt-driven compressor. Inside the compressor is where blades or screws spin incredibly fast to increase the volume of mixed air and atomized gasoline that is then forced downward into the engine.
Hot rodders usually build these towering superchargers for large-displacement V-8 engines, which can put out more than 1,000 horsepower. These blown powerplants are often installed in purpose-built frames that can handle their incredible output without twisting in half.
The supercharger exhibit will be joined by collections of Dodge Viper sports cars and classic DeSoto automobiles.
MORE INFO:
The Pennzoil AutoFair Presented by Advance Auto Parts features more than 50 car club displays and more than 10,000 vendor spaces offering an array of automotive parts and memorabilia. More than 1,500 collectible vehicles of all makes and models will be available for sale in the car corral that rings the 1.5-mile superspeedway. In addition, kids can enjoy face-painting, bounce houses, and other games and entertainment in the Play Zone.
Hours for the Sept. 21-24 Pennzoil AutoFair Presented by Advance Auto Parts are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
TICKETS:
Single-day tickets are $11 each day for adults. Admission is FREE for children 13 and under with an adult. A 4-Day Weekend Pass is available for just $32. To buy tickets, AutoFair attendees can call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267), shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com, or buy them at the gate.
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