The Roots Supercharger: Why It Sticks Out and Boosts Power

Discover how a Roots-type supercharger works, why it protrudes from the hood, and how it transforms engine performance in drag racing and muscle cars.

Imagine the roar of an engine and the glint of chrome under the evening light — a dragster launches forward like a compressed spring. Above its hood rises a massive device with three round openings — the legendary supercharger. It’s this piece of engineering that turns an ordinary engine into a beast ready to tear the asphalt apart.

A supercharger is a forced-induction system that pushes more air into the engine than it could naturally draw in. More air means more fuel, and more fuel means more power. The concept is simple, yet the results are spectacular. Unlike a turbocharger that runs on exhaust gases, a supercharger is belt-driven directly from the crankshaft. As the engine spins, the rotors inside the unit feed fresh air into the intake manifold.

One of the most famous types is the Roots blower, named after the Roots brothers. It doesn’t compress air inside itself but pushes it directly into the cylinders, creating boost pressure instantly. This delivers immediate throttle response, unlike turbo lag. That’s why drag racers and muscle car enthusiasts love it — it provides brutal low-end torque and instant power.

The shiny three-hole scoop, nicknamed the “bug catcher,” is not just for show. It allows the engine to breathe cool, dense air, improving combustion efficiency. The nickname is well-deserved — anything flying by might literally get sucked in.

Why does this setup often stick out of the hood? There are several reasons. First, size — the classic Roots is simply too large to fit under a standard bonnet. Second, efficiency — cooler air outside provides better performance. Third, maintenance — mechanics can easily service the exposed components. And of course, aesthetics: a chrome supercharger jutting from the hood has become a symbol of raw power and rebellious style.

Historically, the tradition dates back to postwar America, when hot rodders repurposed surplus GMC diesel blowers from military vehicles for their V8 engines. Thus, the culture of visible superchargers was born — a celebration of speed and mechanical might. Hollywood cemented this image in films like Mad Max and The Fast and the Furious, where chrome blowers became visual shorthand for unrestrained power.

Technically, such devices remain vital in professional drag racing. Top Fuel dragsters still rely on Roots superchargers to achieve mind-bending acceleration. Yet on city streets, these chrome giants are rare — too bulky, too aggressive, and often illegal.

Still, enthusiasts keep installing them on show cars and restorations. For them, a supercharger is not just hardware — it’s heritage, a bridge to an era when horsepower was a religion. Even if today they mostly gleam at exhibitions, these machines continue to remind us that cars can embody character as much as motion.