On "Ollie the Dragon" CSX3009 why did it spit flame out of the hood scoop?

[HistoryBuff]

CSX2009 the Essex wire car. I read it would spit two foot flame out the hood scoop at start-up, hence the nickname. Was this a "backfire" through the carburetor? Was it running a Holley four barrel or Webers? i hope now that McCluskey has tuned it ,  it no longer has that bad habit. What block was it running when racing? Still cast iron, with what intake manifold? Dry sump or wet?

[Bill]

CSX2009 the Essex wire car. I read it would spit two foot flame out the hood scoop at start-up, hence the nickname. Was this a "backfire" through the carburetor? Was it running a Holley four barrel or Webers? i hope now that McCluskey has tuned it ,  it no longer has that bad habit. What block was it running when racing? Still cast iron, with what intake manifold? Dry sump or wet?

Well documented in print already:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM0n4RdH6kU
https://www.cobracountry.com/essex-wire-427-cobra-track-star/
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/141290-whatever-happened-csx-3009-ollie-dragon.html

Hope you find this helpful

Bill

[rkm]

According to Al Joniec, page 132  of his book, Ollie theDragon belched flame because it's initial timing was only 6 degrees BTDC.

[Cobra Ned]

Please make that CSX 3009, not 2009.