Page 38 - Poker Runs America 17-1

the Ford GT super car and Mercury Racing

High Performance engines.
After problems with a merger between
Lysholm and the Opcon Group resulted

in little output of twin-screw compres-
sors, Art Whipple decided to develop his

own superchargers. The Whipple product
offered reduced noise levels and a high-flow

rotor coating for increased efficiency and
durability. The new design also provided
for increased bearing lubrication for lower

operating temperatures, which eliminates
the need for an intercooler. Reliability is

enhanced thanks to a double angular front
bearing and an oil sight glass that lets you
easily check the lubricant level.

Compared to other types of supercharg-
ers, the Whipple is the only blower with a

positive displacement design that produc-
es efficiency from the bottom of the rpm
range to wide open throttle. Centrifugal-

style blowers and turbochargers can have
lag time during shift points and on-off

throttle sequences. Old-school roots-type
blowers have shown less efficiency at high-
er boost levels.

“We offer a blower that’s half the physi-
cal size of their supercharges and we’re

40 to 50 percent more expensive than a
roots,” said Dustin. “But we can fit 1300 hp
in such a tight package that it’s really hard

to compete with us in any way.”
One of the most attractive attributes
As Whipple continually works with a series of engine builders, seen here is a 650ci all-
aluminum Goodwin Competition 1850 hp powerhouse on a 91 octane engine combo of a Whipple supercharger is they rarely
require any engine hatch modifications to
with Whipple fuel injection, a Whipple 4.0 Liter Quad Rotor and Whipple Cooler.fit in a given boat.

The 1,000 available Whipple kits for
marine use range from a 100-cubic inch com-

pressor to a 510-ci unit and the supercharg- When Dustin and Shonda were growing formance. He discovered an Australian
ers can be used on MerCruiser and Mercury up, the family always had boats. Patriarch company called Sprintex that made twin-
Racing models, ranging from the 350 MAG
Art was a drag racer, on land and on the screw superchargers and adapted it to
MPI to increasing power on models such as water. In land-based competition, Art his own Chevy Silverado pickup. Soon,
the HP1075 SCi. The most popular kit is for owned the Revelloution Funny Car that Ed Whipple Industries became the sole U.S.

the Mercury Racing HP525 EFI that Dustin “The Ace” McCulloch drove. The duo won distributor for Sprintex Superchargers. In
Whipple said makes 800 hp at 7 psi.the 1970 NHRA US Nationals and the 1971 1991, Art Whipple discovered a Swedish
A 496 kit with the computer raises
Winternationals.company called Opcon Autorotor, a sister
horsepower output to 620 hp and costs Art retired from racing to start his family company to Svenska Rotor Maskiner (SRM).
$7,995. Upgrade a MerCruiser HP 850 SCi but then started tuning for his father-in-law SRM offered a larger variety of twin-screw

with a new Whipple supercharger, com- Ed Wills and his Top Fuel Funny Cars and blowers.
puter and all required components and drag boats, under the Mr. Ed and Whipple & When Autorotor and SRM split, Whipple

pay $3,295 to take output to 1150 hp.Mr. Ed brands. The Mr. Ed Top Fuel drag boat stayed with SRM and their new compa-
However, it was collaboration with Bob was the first to top 200 mph.ny Lysholm Technologies. In 2004, the
Teague, owner of Teague Custom MarineIn 1987, Art Whipple got back into per-Lysholm/Eaton compressor was used on

“...THE BEST ENDORSEMENT FOR WHIPPLE SUP E

WHO USE THEIR BOATS EVERY WEEKEND FO

38 POKER RUNS AMERICA | Volume 17 Number 1 WWW.POKERRUNSAMERICA.COM