Overhaulin'

Some modified cars shoot flames out of the exhaust when changing gears without a flame kit...what causes this?

I was driving on an interstate highway the other day and came across a highly-modified S2000 and a Civic racing. I listened to the engine pitches of both cars, and when they changed gears, a quick breath of flame shot out of the exhaust pipe. I heard other stories of this before and I definetely know it is not an exhaust flame kit.

Public Comments

1. very interesting.....must be a lot of valve overlap causing some gas to get by to the exhaust, and it's hot enough to ignite :)
2. Sounds like they were ricers.
3. thats the rings coming apart a little at a time.
4. cars do it when running in a rich enviornment and some engine mods.
5. They probably took the spark arrestors out of the exhaust system. That's how alot of the old school hotrodders did it.