>That depends on what you call an amateur. Lots of non-pros run alcohol, but I wouldn't call them amateurs. Because of the specialized fuel system stuff required to run it, it doesn't really make it practical for a street/strip car.

ahhhh, that explains it. In the drag boats your fuel system is pretty specialized no matter what that majority of the folks who are serious run alcohol or better. Plus in a boat without a cooling system there is a huge advantage to it running cooler than gas does. I've yet to seen anyone up here in flannel land running alcohol in a streetcar...

>There are a couple of guys at the local track running nitro in doorslammers. Now _that's_ serious fuel. I have no idea what it costs, but the same motor uses twice as much nitro as gas, so running it can't be cheap.

Boy your telling me! They run a nitro mix in that pro boat we pit crew for, and it is some serious bucks... we'll start a weekend with 6 barrels, 3 each of nitro & alcohol for about a $1000. If we make it as far as the semi finals, we always buy more.