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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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POWERS, David: Difference between revisions

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Nicknamed the "Hicks from the Sticks," the two worked their regular jobs, ate dinner and rested, and then worked on their cars until midnight. Friday began the weekend of racing.
Nicknamed the "Hicks from the Sticks," the two worked their regular jobs, ate dinner and rested, and then worked on their cars until midnight. Friday began the weekend of racing.


[[Image:imp129.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Austin Adams]]In addition to winning races, the Powers & Riley team pioneered advances in racing. Over the next two or three years, the partners designed and manufactured racing innovations which became standard equipment. Riley believes his team was the first to experiment with a "reverser" in its fuel dragster in 1967. Designed and built by Powers and Riley in Dubuque, the aluminum reverser allowed dragsters to backup. The component gave the Powers and Riley team a definite advantage for several years, but they manufactured the parts in Dubuque, assembled them locally, and sold them to other racers to use.
[[Image:imp129.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Photo courtesy: John Riley]]
[[Image:imp132.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Photo courtesy: John Riley]]In addition to winning races, the Powers & Riley team pioneered advances in racing. Over the next two or three years, the partners designed and manufactured racing innovations which became standard equipment. Riley believes his team was the first to experiment with a "reverser" in its fuel dragster in 1967. Designed and built by Powers and Riley in Dubuque, the aluminum reverser allowed dragsters to backup. The component gave the Powers and Riley team a definite advantage for several years, but they manufactured the parts in Dubuque, assembled them locally, and sold them to other racers to use.


Powers and Riley also led the way in the development of adjustable clutches. Most racers then used clutches with triple discs and customary pressure plates with different spring pressures. After a competition, the unit would need to be taken apart and a new plate inserted. Powers and Riley developed a method by which the driver adjusted the clutch using an Allen wrench through the housing.
Powers and Riley also led the way in the development of adjustable clutches. Most racers then used clutches with triple discs and customary pressure plates with different spring pressures. After a competition, the unit would need to be taken apart and a new plate inserted. Powers and Riley developed a method by which the driver adjusted the clutch using an Allen wrench through the housing.


When the partners went into the Funny Car, they were the leaders in experimenting with direct-drive units. Most funny cars used automatic transmissions, spring rear suspensions and regular differentials. The Power & Riley Mustang used direct drive prior to 1970.
When the partners went into the Funny Car, they were the leaders in experimenting with direct-drive units. Most funny cars used automatic transmissions, spring rear suspensions and regular differentials. The Power & Riley Mustang used direct drive prior to 1970.

Revision as of 21:27, 24 December 2008

Brent Fessler, crew member, David Powers, and John Riley. Photo courtesy: John Riley

Powers, David. (Dubuque, IA-- ). Business leader and racing legend. Long before he was an extremely successful home builder, David Powers was half of a team with John William Riley (see separate entry) which piled up honors with its dragsters. In 1968, Powers won the United Drag Racers Association circuit championship. In 1969, he placed second in the Hot Rodding Magazine Championships. Ending his absence from the sport in early 2000, Powers re-entered the National Hot Rod Association as a team owner. In 2006 the Valvoline/David Powers Homes Top Fuel dragster stood at No. 6 in the world rankings. In 2007 Rod "Hot Rod" Fuller raced to his second straight Top Fuel victory in the Valvoline/David Powers Homes dragster with a 4.490-second run at 327.19 mph to claim his fourth career victory and take the series points lead for the first time in his career.

Photo courtesy: John Riley

Powers and Riley began a partnership when Riley worked part-time as a gas station and Powers stopped in to see the work being done on the cars. In 1958, however, the two set a goal of reaching the top in the world of drag racing. Riley had several years of experience as a top-flight mechanic and Powers supplied the nerves and skills of a great driver. In an article in the Telegraph Herald in 2006 the two men claimed their success was due to never blaming each other.

Photo courtesy: John Riley

Nicknamed the "Hicks from the Sticks," the two worked their regular jobs, ate dinner and rested, and then worked on their cars until midnight. Friday began the weekend of racing.

Photo courtesy: John Riley
Photo courtesy: John Riley

In addition to winning races, the Powers & Riley team pioneered advances in racing. Over the next two or three years, the partners designed and manufactured racing innovations which became standard equipment. Riley believes his team was the first to experiment with a "reverser" in its fuel dragster in 1967. Designed and built by Powers and Riley in Dubuque, the aluminum reverser allowed dragsters to backup. The component gave the Powers and Riley team a definite advantage for several years, but they manufactured the parts in Dubuque, assembled them locally, and sold them to other racers to use.

Powers and Riley also led the way in the development of adjustable clutches. Most racers then used clutches with triple discs and customary pressure plates with different spring pressures. After a competition, the unit would need to be taken apart and a new plate inserted. Powers and Riley developed a method by which the driver adjusted the clutch using an Allen wrench through the housing.

When the partners went into the Funny Car, they were the leaders in experimenting with direct-drive units. Most funny cars used automatic transmissions, spring rear suspensions and regular differentials. The Power & Riley Mustang used direct drive prior to 1970.