Adding alcohol based fuel with nitro just leans the mixture out to the proper ratio...the same can be done with proper tuning of the carb.
Joe, your comment on this is 100% correct!!!
As many of you guys know I have been involved with B.R.E...i.e. I make the engines. The B.R.E. rail runs on 90% Nitromethane and 10% Alcohol. It is a Top-Fuel horizontally opposed 4-cylinder.
Nitromethane must be compressed; in order to get the horsepower benefit from this fuel.
Nitro doesn't burn like gasoline...It explodes under compression! These engines run on the edge...They run on the edge because that is the only way you can run Nitro. Nitro is not a fuel in the true sense...it is more of an explosive, and there is a very narrow window between making horsepower and blowing up.
Hobby engines are specifically designed with a VERY high compression ratio. Add 15-30% Nitro with some Alcohol and a little oil and you have an incredible cc to power ratio.
Adding Nitromethane to a conventional engine, (2 or 4 Stroke), will NOT make the engine more powerfull.
Think about our set-up...it is very close to the V8 Top-Fuel set-up
1) 10:1 Compression ratio
2) Littlefield 4-71 Blower. (35lbs Boost @ 6,000R.P.M.)
3) Two plugs per cylinder, Twin Magnetos @ 7Amps
4) Enderle 85 GPM mechanical fuel system. (When we go from Alcohol to nitro, the flow is ON...The jets and pressure pop-offs that were set prior to the run are the only controls!!! If we get this wrong the engine goes BOOM!!!, or it runs slow.
Jim