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| News
& Events |
|
| PA:
The Bucks Start Here at Numidia Dragway |
|
|
|
| Numidia,
PA – Numidia Dragway kicks off
their 2013 big bucks bracket race season Memorial Day Weekend,
with three days of guaranteed-payout money bracket racing.
Saturday
May 25th is a Summit Series Points Race with bonus
payouts: Super Pro (electronics, 7.00 – 11.99) pays
$2,500 Win, $800 Runner-Up, and $55 Round beginning 3rd
Round loss. Super Pro entry is $65, with a $50 buyback.
Pro ET (footbrake, 9.00 – 17.99) pays $1,500 Win,
$800 Runner-Up, and $40 Round beginning with 3rd Round loss.
Pro ET entry is $50, with a $40 buyback. There’s also
a $1,000 Street ET race on Saturday.
Sunday,
May 26th and Monday May 27th each feature $5,000
money races for Super Pro (electronics, 6.00 – 14.99)
and $3,000 races for Pro ET (footbrake, 9.00 – 19.99).
The $5Ks pay $5,000 Win, $2,000 Runner-Up, $800 Semis, $400
Quarters, $75 Round starting 3rd Round loser. Entry is $150,
and buybacks are $90. The $3Ks pay $3,000 Win, $1,000 Runner-Up,
$400 Semis, $60 Round starting 3rd Round loser. Entry is
$90, and buybacks are $60.
Gates
open 10:00 am on Saturday with time trials at 3:00 pm, Sunday
and Monday gates open at 8:00 am. For more information,
visit Numidia Dragway’s website at www.numidiadragway.com. |
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|
|
|
| Wrap-Up:
Inaugural MASSA Races at Atco Dragway |
|   Atco,
NJ - Second generation racer Jimmy Stack Sr.
took no prisoners at the inaugural Mid Atlantic
Super Street Association races held at Atco Dragway
in Atco, NJ. Stack started from the #1 qualifying position
in his Garbinski & Livezey ‘71 Challenger on Saturday.
He was closely followed by Nick Mayo, Frank Quarino Jr.,
Ben Saia and Bill Trum.
For
qualifying number one, Stack received a bye-run in the 1st
round. He then took down John Fedeli, Kevin Tiedemann and
Jason Lawrence in the semis. In the final Stack raced Division
1 champion Martin Ganjoin and his 1969 Camaro. Ganjoin took
down Mark Kelly in the first, Bernie Staub, Bill Trum and
received a bye-run into the final round against Stack. In
the final Ganjoin had the 'Tree .028 to .038 but the high
mph Challenger caught Ganjoin and forced him under giving
the win to Stack 10.908 to 10.884.
On day
number two, East Chester, NY resident Kevin Tiedemann took
the number one qualifying spot in his 1970 Nova. He was
followed by Bob Kodadek, Stack, Greg Kelly and Bernie Staub.
Tiedemann took down 2012 .90 Nationals Champion Keith Mayers
in the first round to earn a bye-run to the semi-finals.
In the semis Tiedemann took down Bill Nycz 10.932 to 10.889
to earn a date with Stack, who took down Dave Harvey Sr,
Kodadek and Staub in the semis 10.957 to 10.891. In the
final Stack laid down an 8 thousandths package on Tiedemann.
Stack took the advantage at the tree (.008 vs. .031) and
laid down a perfect 10.900 to Tiedemann’s 10.897.
The
Mid Atlantic Super Street Series will run race numbers 3
& 4 on May 18th & 19th at Maple Grove Raceway in
Reading, Pa. For information on MASSA contact Rob Keister
at 856-332-2851 or e-mail him at Rekeister@aol.com. |
|
| ME:
Oxford Dragway Under New Ownership |
Long
Island Car Show / Test & Tune Raises Money for Cooley's
Anemia |
Oxford,
ME – Oxford Dragway
has new owners and will be run under new management in
2013. The track is unsanctioned for the time being but
plans are for IHRA sanctioning in the near future. Among
other events, Oxford is planning big buck bracket gambler's
races. Visit www.oxforddragway.com
for info.
|
 Long
Island , NY –The final numbers are in... After
expenses and making a donation to the Central Islip, NY
Fire Department, the April 28th Classic Car Show
and Test & Tune presented by Long
Island Drag Racing in Central Islip, Long Island
NY raised almost $13,000 for
the Cooley's Anemia Foundation.
There
were 125 cars (including three dragsters) for the 60-foot
Test & Tune and more than1,000 spectators. More information
about Long Island Drag Racing can be found at www.LIDragRacing.com.
|
|
| Sponsor
News: New Slant-Edge Valve Covers for Chevrolet LS from Proform® |
 Proform®
Parts has just added these Slant-Edge valve covers
for Chevrolet LS engines to their ever expanding line
of licensed Chevrolet Performance Parts. They fit all
LS cylinder heads, providing a significant increase in
valve train space to accommodate aftermarket roller rockers
or shaft-mounted rocker systems (but you should check
external clearance specs to see if these valve covers
will fit a given engine compartment, including engine
components and associated bracketry). They are available
in six different styles, including raised or recessed
Chevrolet and Bowtie emblems, or no emblem at all. Suggested
retail starts at $250.
Because
these valve covers are taller than stock, they will allow
for a wide variety of custom valve train applications.
Unique mounting studs and oil restricting baffles are
included. Pre-drilled and threaded mounting holes can
be used to mount Proform’s Integrated Ignition Coil
bracket (sold separately). For those not interested in
performing coil relocation, this LS valve cover and bracket
system is the perfect upgrade. These Slant-Edge valve
covers are sold in pairs. Patent Pending. Available Summer
2012!
Visit
www.ProformParts.com
to preview all of Proform’s internal and external
engine parts and tools.
|
|
| Racers
Will Drill For Iron at Rockingham Dragway |
 Rockingham
Dragway presents their IHRA Iron Man Memorial
Weekend Bracket Nationals Friday May 24th –
Monday May 27th, 2013 with big money races for Top ET, Footbrake,
and Jr. Dragster.
SATURDAY, MAY
25th and MONDAY, MAY 27th: Top ET pays $5,000 Win, $1,000
Runner-Up, $500 Semis, and $50 Round after 3rd Round win.
Footbrake pays $1,000 Win, $300 Runner-Up, $100 Semis,
$50 Quarters, and $25 Eighths. Jr. Dragster pays $500
Win, $150 Runner-Up, $50 Semis, and $25 Quarters. SUNDAY
MAY 27th: Top ET PAYS $7,500 Win, $2,000 Runner-Up, $1,000
Semis, $100 Round after 3rd Round win. Footbrake pays
$1,000 Win, $300 Runner-Up, $100 Semis, $50 Quarters,
and $25 Eighths. Jr. Dragster pays $1,000 Win, $300 Runner-Up,
$100 Semis, and $50 Quarters.
ENTRY
FEES: Top ET is $100 each on Saturday and Monday,
with $50 buy backs 1st or 2nd round. Top ET is $200 on
Sunday, with $100 buy backs 1st or 2nd round. Enter the
weekend for $300. Footbrake is free entry all weekend,
with $30 buy backs 1st or 2nd round each day. Jr. Dragster
weekend entry is $100, with $25 buy backs on Saturday
and Monday, and $50 buy backs on Sunday.
SCHEDULE:
Gates open 3:00 pm on Friday May 24th for a Test &
Tune beginning at 5:00 pm. Gates open 8:00 am Saturday
– Monday.
For
more information visit www.rockinghamdragway.com.
|
|
| Wrap-Up:
East Coast Stock/Super Stock at Atco Dragway |
|
Race
#1, 5/4/13: John Kakalecik (left,
1970 Cuda SS/CA, .057 RT, 9.092 on a 9.09 @ 145.36) defeats
Doug Linke (1998 Firebird GT/CA, .036 RT,
(9.98) 9.963 on a 9.98 a2 126.95). Nick Reiter
was the semi-finalist.
Race #2, 5/5/13: Bubba Linke (right,
1997 Camaro C/SA .000 RT, 10.514 on a 10.49 at 116.27) defeats
Frank Ferrucci (1990 Camaro J/SA, .088
RT, 11.413 on an 11.45 @ 110.89. Dave Thomas and Tom Dauber
were the semi-finalists
|
 |
|
| Wrap-Up:
Mellinger, Kershner Win Index Series Opener at Maple Grove |
|  Jennifer
Kershner (New Tripoli, Pa., left) and Ron
Mellinger (Narvon, Pa. below) won the 11.50 and
10.00 classes respectively at the debut of the new Boninfante
Friction B1 Index Series at Maple Grove Raceway. Both racers
took home $450 for first place. The runners-up each received
$150 and the semifinalists all got $100. In the B1 Index
Series, cars competed in a heads-up format. There were no
handicaps and both cars left the starting line at the same
time. There will be two more index races this season on
June 29 and July 7.
Kershner and her 1972 Nova won the 11.50 class, as runner-up
Keith Reis (Furlong, Pa.) broke. Both of
them earned the right to be part of a special 8-car showcase
eliminator at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge
Township Raceway Park in New Jersey, May 30 – June
1.
In
the 10.00 class, Mellinger and his ’74 Nova also took
advantage of a quicker trigger finger to beat Carl
Ungaro (Langhorn, Pa.) in the final. His run of
10.015 at 127.51 was a tad slower and the reaction time
of .016 was a big help. (photos:
Don Carrick/Studio 413) |
|
| Around
The Dial: Racing In Your Neck Of The Woods |
Midwest:
Michigan: ET Bracket Racing at Milan
Dragway on Saturday, May 11th...
Northeast:
Maine: ET Bracket Racing at Oxford Dragway
on Saturday, May 18th...New Jersey: Philadelphia
Modifiers Yesteryear Nostalgia Drags at Atco Dragway on
Sunday, May 19th... ET Bracket Racing
at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park on Sunday, May 19th...
New York: ET Bracket Racing at Lebanon
Valley Dragway on Sunday, May 19th... ET Bracket Racing
at Skyview Drags on Saturday, May 18th... Pennsylvania:
NETO and East Coast Gassers at Numidia Dragway on Saturday,
May 18th...
South:
Alabama: Southern Outlaw Tour at Montgomery
MotorSports Park on Friday & Saturday, May 17th &
18th... Kentucky: Spring Championship
at I-64 Motorplex on Friday & Saturday, May 17th &
18th... ET Bracket Racing at Mt. Park Dragway on Saturday,
May 18th...
Southeast:
North Carolina: SEVWA Fast Times All-VW
Show & Race at Farmington Dragway on Sunday, May 19th...
Fun Ford Weekend at Rockingham Dragway on Friday &
Saturday, May 17th & 18th... South Carolina:
Grudge and Gambler's Racing at Carolina Dragway
on Sunday, May 19th... ET Bracket Racing at Greer Dragway
on Saturday, May 18th... Virginia: $2,500
Footbrake, ET Bracket Racing at Elk Creek Dragway on Saturday,
May 18th....
Southwest:
Texas: Rumble At The River at Little River Dragway
on Saturday, May 18th....
Canada:
Quebec: Opening Weekend at Luskville Dragway
on Saturday & Sunday, May 18th & 19th....
|
|
A Dragtime News Featured Photo: From Numidia Dragway's 2011
Memorial Day Races |
Numidia
Dragway's Memorial Weekend Money Races are coming up fast,
so mark your calendars. Here's a top-end shot of from
Memorial Day 2011 at Numidia. (photo:
Bob Beucler)
Featured
Photo sponsored by 
|
|
Drag
Race Results
|
Moparts
|
Class
Racer
|
|
Yellow
Bullet
|
|
| MI:
2nd Annual Run ’Em Nationals at Milan Dragway |
 Milan,
MI – The second annual Motor City Run’Em
Nationals takes place on Saturday, June
8, 2013 at Milan Dragway in Milan,
MI. If you enjoy fast cars, motorcycles and good competition,
you won’t want to miss this event. Drivers have the
opportunity to win more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.
This year’s event will be hosted once again by Ken
Herring from the hit shows “Pass Time”
and “Pinks All Out.”
There
are several competitions that will take place on race
day, including Open Competition, Outlaw Limited Street,
9.50 Bike, X275 and Grudge Racing. Individuals who just
want to experience will have a chance to race the quarter
mile with “Test & Tune” sessions. Sponsors
for 2013 are RacingJunk.com, Michigan Hot Rod, Mickey
Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels, Payso Productions
and Brodix Cylinder Heads. Sponsorships are available
at various ranges for those in the racing and car industry
that may be interested in participating in this highly
entertaining family oriented event.
Gates
open at 3:00 pm. For additional information please visit
the Run’Em Nationals official website at www.runemnationals.com
or contact Andrew Harrell at 313-799-7751
or via email at info@runemnationals.com.
|
| MD:
MIR = Mountain International Raceway |
 Budds
Creek, MD - Head to Maryland International Raceway
Friday & Saturday May 10th & 11th for their 2013 Mountain
Motor Nationals. Classes
include Top ET, Pro Stock and Pro Mod. Gates open Friday
at 3:00 pm, with Top ET time trials at 4:00 pm and Top ET
eliminations at 7:00 pm. Gates open Saturday at 9:00 am,
with time trials for ET bracket racing classes starting
at 10:00 am followed by qualifying and eliminations in Pro
Stock and Pro Mod.
For
more information, visit MIR's website at www.mirdrag.com.
|
| Dragtime
News On Location: 2nd Day of Points at Englishtown |
KY:
Keeping It Classic at Mt. Park Dragway |
|
Englishtown,
NJ - I spent April 28th at Old Bridge Township
Raceway Park for the 2nd day of Sunoco Super Challenge
Points. I was racing in Pro ET and was able to capture a
few randon shots. If you were there, I might have photographed
you.
CLICK
HERE for the photos. |
 Clay
City, KY - Racers in the vicinity of Mt.
Park Dragway should put the track’s Memorial
Classic on their calendars May 24th –
26th, 2013. As part of Mt. Park’s 50th
Anniversary celebration, the Memorial Classic is three
days of 1/8th-mile big buck racing for Top ET (delay box)
and Modified ET (no delay box).
Top
ET pays $2,000 Win on Friday (entry $65, re-entry $35;
payouts based on 65 entries), $10,000 Win on Saturday
(entry $160, re-entry $80; payouts based on 135 entries)
and $5,000 Win on Sunday (entry $100, re-entry $50; payouts
based on 100 entries). Race all three days of Top ET for
an entry of $260.
Modified
ET pays $500 Win on Friday (entry $40, re-entry $20; payouts
based on 35 entries), $2,000 Win on Saturday (entry $80,
re-entry $40; payouts based on 50 entries) and $1,000
Win on Sunday (entry $50, re-entry $25; payouts based
on 45 entries). Race all three days of Modified ET for
an entry of $150.
There’ll
also be Quick 8 Doorcars, Quick 8 Dragsters and consolation
races for Top ET. Gates open Friday at 1:00 pm, with time
runs starting at 3:00 pm. Gates open Saturday at 9:00
am with time runs at noon, gates open Sunday at 9:00 am
with time runs at 11:00 am.
For
more info visit www.MPDragway.com.
|
| Back
Seat Drivers Announce 2013 Schedule |
 The
Back Seat Drivers front-engine dragster
racing club has announced its 2013 schedule. Their season
kicks off on May 25th at Capitol Raceway in Crofton, MD.
Then it’s June 8th at Cecil County Dragway in Rising
Sun, MD for the North vs. South Slingshot Shootout, June
15th at Atco Raceway in Atco, NJ, July 28th at Old Bridge
Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ, August 3rd &
4th at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA, and September
15th and October 5th both at Atco Raceway.
The
club’s rules are simple: front-engine dragsters
only, all NHRA or IHRA safety rules apply, no delay boxes
or throttle stops, zoomie-style headers only, and driver
must be current member of NHRA and have Competition License
if ET is quicker than 10.00.
If
you own a front-engine rail and are interested in The
Back Seat Drivers, visit their website at www.bsdrivers.com.
|
| Wrap-Up:
East Coast Nostalgia Super Stock at Atco Raceway |
 April
21st was the date of the season opening race of the East
Coast Nostalgia Super Stock Association at Atco
Raceway in Atco, NJ.
14
members made the first round call and did not disappoint
with superb reaction times and tight finish line antics.
When it was all said and done Stephanie Dimino
in her 1966 Chevrolet prevailed with a 9.010 on a 9.00
over new ECNSSA member Steve McDevitt
and his 1968 Dart. Steve had the better reaction time
but was pushed under his dial-in by the hard-charging
Chevrolet.
The
next race of the 8 race series will be at Cecil
County Dragway on June 8th. If you're interested
in racing with the group contact actionange1@att.net
for more information.
|
| Sponsor
News: M/T Tires Returns As Presenting Sponsor of DRO AA/FC
Challenge |
 Mickey
Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to
the Drag Racing Online (DRO) AA/FC Challenge
in 2013 as the presenting sponsor. The company will be posting
awards for winners and runners-up for all events beginning
with the first event which was held April 26-27 at Texas Raceway
Park. “Nostalgic
nitro funny car racing is as strong as ever, and we look
forward to this series every year,” stated Tom Kundrik,
Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires &
Wheels. “It will be great to be on the ground for
six action packed events in six different states featuring
vehicle model years 1979 and earlier. These racers are in
a class by themselves, and we’re proud to be a part
of the series again this year.”
For
info about the DRO AA/FC Challenge and to review the schedule
and rules, visit www.dragracingonline.com/challenge/index.html.
|
| $3K
Shopping Sweepstakes from Ford Racing and Fun Ford Weekend |
|  Fun
Ford Weekend Series officials along with Ford Racing
Performance Parts announce the 2013 "$3G Shopping Spree"
sweepstakes for Fun Ford Weekend racers, fans and spectators.
The winner of the season-long promotion will win a $3,000
shopping spree right out of the 2013 Ford Racing Performance
Parts catalog.
"We
really enjoyed working with Ford Racing last year in the
Ford Racing Engine Sweepstakes," says Jeff Lacina,
marketing director for the Fun Ford Weekend Series. "Given
the incredible scope of their performance parts lineup,
the team at Ford Racing literally want to 'open up the catalog'
and let the winner select $3,000 worth of Ford Racing parts...
whatever the winner wants."
The
"$3G Ford Racing Shopping Spree" runs throughout
the Fun Ford Weekend season and entries can be made online
and at the Fun Ford Weekend events in 2013. The deadline
for entries is midnight (eastern) on September 14, 2013.
Click HERE
for more info and be sure to read all the official Ford
Racing / Fun Ford Weekend "$3G Shopping Spree"
sweepstakes rules.
|
| Dragtime
News On Location: 1st Day of Points at Englishtown |
TN:
Have A Fling at Bristol Dragway |
|
Englishtown,
NJ - We spent Sunday, April 7th, 2013 at
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the first
day of Sunoco Super Challenge points. It was a beautiful
day in the country of New Jersey, and the track was packed.
There was a great assortment of Super Pro, Pro ET, Street,
Top Street and bikes & sleds on hand. I joined Pro ET
points and I was there racing the only vehicle I could:
my 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (long story). CLICK
HERE for the photos. |
 Bristol,
TN - Bristol Dragway’s K&N Spring
Fling 20s are coming up the weekend of May
16 – 19, 2013, with four days of big bucks,
electronics bracket racing. Bristol is running their Spring
Fling 20s like last year in 1,000 feet.
Thursday’s
kick-off race pays $12,500 Win, $5,000 Runner-Up, $1,200
Semis, $600 6th Round Win, $450 5th Round Win, $300 4th
Round Win and $200 3rd Round Win. Each race on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday pays $20,000 Win, $6,000 Runner-Up,
$2,000 Semis, $800 6th Round Win, $600 5th Round Win,
$400 4th Round Win and $200 3rd Round Win.
Entry
fees are $175 for Thursday and $250 each day for Friday,
Saturday or Sunday. If you enter Friday, Saturday and
Sunday together, the three-day special is $650. 1st Round-only
buybacks are $125 on Thursday and $150 for Friday, Saturday
and Sunday.
Gates
open Wednesday at 12:00 pm for parking, registration and
tech. Gates open Thursday 7:00 am, Friday 7:30 am, Saturday
and Sunday at 8:00 am.
Visit
www.bristoldragway.com
for more information.
|
| Earn
A $50 Prepaid Mastercard® On Eligible M/T Tires |
 Starting
April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013, Mickey Thompson
Performance Tires & Wheels is offering consumers
who purchase two Mickey Thompson ET Drag, ET Street, ET
Street Radial, or ET Front tires, or four new ET Pro-5 Drag
wheels a $50 prepaid MasterCard.
“As
part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we wanted to
develop a great incentive for our drag tires and wheels,”
stated Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson.
“Choose from the eligible tires and wheels and earn
$50 in the form of a prepaid MasterCard as our way of
saying thank you for 50 great years.”
Consumers
purchase qualifying tires or wheels within the program
dates and submit the invoice and claim form to Mickey
Thompson by mail. A Mickey Thompson prepaid MasterCard
in the amount of $50 will be provided by mail. The prepaid
card may be used virtually anywhere MasterCard debit cards
are accepted. Requests must be postmarked no later than
July 31 and received by August 15 to be eligible. This
offer is valid in the United States and Canada, and certain
terms and conditions apply. For details and official rules,
visit www.mickeythompsontires.com/rebate.
|
| From
The Files Of Drag Racer Magazine: Nostalgia Nova FC at Auto
Club Raceway |
Thanks
to Drag Racer Magazine for sending
this photo of this sharp Nova nostalgia funny car at Auto
Club Raceway, taken at the 2011 Hot Rod Reunion. I always
like sharing what Drag Racer sends in because the photography
is first-rate.
Drag
Racer Magazine is available at better bookstores
and magazines stands or you
can subscribe HERE. (Drag
Racer Magazine photos: Doug Adama / James Drew / Lou Hart
/ Pete Ward)
|
| Bracket
Racing 101 |
|
| Bracket
Racing 101: Just The Basics |
Bracket
Racing 101: Take Action For Reaction, Pt. I |
Bracket
Racing 101: Take Action For Reaction, Pt. 2 |
| This
is a reprint of my Bracket Racing 101 column
from the March 2011 issue of Drag Racer Magazine
(click
HERE to subscribe). Being that it's currently
mid-winter and the topic of the column was basic off-season
maintenance, it seemed like a good time to run it here... |
This
is a reprint of my Bracket Racing 101 column
from the May 2011 issue of Drag Racer Magazine
(click
HERE to subscribe). Now that we're getting
into the 2012 season and we're all working on cutting good
lights, it seemed like a good time to run it here... |
This
is a reprint of my Bracket Racing 101 column
from the July 2011 issue of Drag Racer Magazine
(click
HERE to subscribe). Now that we're into
the 2012 season and we're all working on cutting good lights,
it seemed like a good time to run it here... |
| As
you’re reading this it’s the winter leading up
to the 2011 season. This is
when some basic
maintenance can
pay big dividends
to your bracket
program. In my
last column, one of the main points I discussed was the importance
of consistency and parts longevity as being part of a successful
bracket car: consistency because it goes hand-in-hand with
predictability, a primary factor in winning races, and longevity
because broken race cars are not typically effective tools
for going rounds. Article
continues HERE... |
In
my last column, I discussed the importance of periodically
inspecting various components on your racecar such as suspension.
In addition to the safety aspect, I mentioned the fact that
loose suspension components can rob your car of reaction time.
Now that Spring is approaching and a new racing season is
upon us, I thought it might be timely to delve deeper into
reaction time. Having a better understanding will be helpful
as racing gets under way. Article
continues HERE... |
In
my last column, where I discussed how reaction time is comprised
of driver reaction time and vehicle reaction time, I took
a closer look at the former. I also described how you, by
using a practice tree, could determine your own driver reaction
time. In this column I’ll take a closer look at vehicle
reaction time. Although this can be applied to any drag racing
application, it’s most relevant to Pro tree or bottom-bulb
Sportsman tree racing where the vehicle does not use a delay
box. Article
continues HERE... |
|
| Bracket
Racing 101: Racing Into Fall |
| This
is a reprint of my Bracket Racing 101 column
from the November 2011 issue of Drag Racer Magazine
(click
HERE to subscribe). Now that we're into
the Autumn months it seemed like a good time to run it here... |
| Bracket
racing constantly changes from season to season. Cars and
drivers perform differently in Summer and Fall. Now that we’re
getting into the Autumn months, let’s take a look at
some of the ways to adjust for racing in the Fall.
Continued
here... |
|
| Bracket
Racing 101: Looking Back To The Future |
| This
is a reprint of my Bracket Racing 101 column
from the January 2012 issue of Drag Racer Magazine
(click
HERE to subscribe). Being that it's currently
mid-winter and the topic of the column was off-season research,
it seemed like a good time to run it here... |
Shortly
before writing this column I was on location at the NHRA
Division 1 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Old Bridge Township
Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. One of the announcers was
Lewis Bloom, with whom you may be familiar from the NHRA
broadcasts on ESPN2. I told Lewis how much I enjoyed his
insightful analysis and statistics, and it got me to thinking
about how I’ve used similar historical analysis in
my own racing. This is a great time to have this discussion,
now that the past season is behind us and we’ve started
planning for the new one.
Article
continues HERE... |
|
| Tech,
Tests and Installs |
|
Burnouts
101: Heat Your Tires Without Beating Your Parts |
|
|
Burnouts.
We love doing them, but do we know how to do them properly?
In a recent issue of National Dragster, David Reher
had a great column entitled "Are Burnouts Abusing Your
Engine?" I thought his article was so important that
I referenced it here earlier this year as a must-read.
On a
separate occasion, I had a conversation at The PRI
Show with Milodon about a new
oil pump they came out with because racers were breaking
regular oil pumps on the burnout due to excessive shake.
Article
continues HERE... |
|
|
| Tech:
The Effects of Heat and Dehydration on Performance |
Tech:
Brake System Info & FAQs |
| |
|
|
While
attending the 2012 Performance Racing Industry Show
in Orlando, I was especially intrigued by one company in
particular, CoolShirt
Systems, manufacturers of personal
cooling systems. Being a racer from the hottest place
on the planet (central New Jersey in August), ...
Continued
here... |
As
racers, we're always looking to go fast, but slowing safely
is actually much more important. Additionally, for the footbrakers
among us, it's the braking system that holds the car at
the starting line as we're way up on the converter. That's
why when I saw this technical piece about brake systems
on the website of Mark
Williams Enterprises, I knew I had to share
it here with you. The article continues at the link below,
and discusses Pedal Ratio & Master Cylinder, Master
Cylinder Selection, Caliper Alignment Clearance and Position,
Proportioning Valves, Brake Lines and Fluid, and Troubleshooting.
Continued
here... |
|
|
|
Tech:
High-Performance Flywheels |
Tech:
Torque Converters 101 |
|
I came
across an interesting and informative technical piece on
the website of Mark Williams Enterprises (www.markwilliams.com)
that discusses driveshafts. I thought it was good information
so I'm sharing it here with you.
Continued
here... |
How
to get instant effect by shedding 15lb surplus from your
rotating assembly
by Sam Logan
The
chief advantage of an aluminum high performance flywheel
is weight saving...
Continued
here... |
By
David Caine, ATI Performance Products, Technical and Sales
One
of the most important pieces to any winning combination
is also one of the most misunderstood. Your torque converter
is the biggest variable in the driveline. To better understand
a converter, you need to look at how it really works.
Continues
HERE...
|
| Tech:
Billet Pistons |
 |
|
In every
class of motor sport, engine power is increasing in impressive
leaps. Even small displacement engines now produce horsepower
that only ten years ago was considered the realm of exotic
mills hundreds of cubic inches larger. |
| And
sizeable cubic inch power plants regularly produce over 1,000
horsepower in street trim with a cast aluminum intake manifold
and a single carburetor. There seems to be no end to the power
potential. Cylinder
head technology with increased air flow and combustion chamber
design has led the charge. Many of these advances have been
accomplished by improving the performance of the valve train,
achieved largely by state-of-the-art test and development
equipment such as the Spintron, and also by the latest computerized
machining centers.
Article
continues HERE... |
|
Tech:
Comparing Axle Designs |
Tech:
Jon Kaase, Lifting The Shroud |
Track
Testing ATI's 8" TreeMaster Converter |
|
I came
across a very interesting and informative technical paper
on the website of Mark Williams Enterprises (www.markwilliams.com)
in which various types of axles are discussed. I thought
it would make a good read here for the visitors of The
Dragtime News, especially for those of you who
are in the process of perhaps building a new rear for the
upcoming season.
The
paper compares the differences between flange axle , full
floater and live axle type, as well as safety aspects of
each.
Article
continues HERE... |
Engine
philosopher Jon Kaase (Jon Kaase Racing
Engines, Winder, Georgia) had an idea that nagged. For too
many years, he’d watched the ubiquitous 302 amass
part upon improved part, but observed nary a deviation from
the original cylinder head configuration. He thought he
could produce cylinder head castings that looked like ordinary
Windsor 302/351 parts on the outside but inside would be
entirely different from the original blueprint. Article
continues HERE... |
Misinformation
- we’ve all received it or innocently
passed it along at one time or another. I’m sure
you have your own examples of it.
One
of mine pertained to torque converters,
and ATI helped educate me. Follow the
link below to read about my experience.
Article
continues HERE...
|
|
Techtorial:
Crankshaft Vibration Dampers 101 |
 By
JC Beattie, Jr. of ATI Performance Products
I've
been around dampers
for a long
time and traveled to different engine
shops
around
the
country
to
test actual crankshaft twist for the past 16 years. Throughout
these years I have collected a lot of information that
allows me to make informed decisions on “how much”
damper certain engines need. When given the crank weight,
peak normal operating RPM, horsepower, rotating system
materials, rules about the damper specifications (if racing),
and the application of the engine (road racing, oval or
drag), I can make a very good prediction of how much inertia
weight and what sort of dampening device your vehicle
will need. Let’s stop for a second and think about
the way a crankshaft is designed. On one end, you have
your flywheel, torque converter, or a clutch. On the other,
you have your timing chain / belt / gear drive, and then
a small “snout” sticking out on which to bolt
your damper and any needed accessories. In between all
of that, you have a main caps and bearings that hold your
crankshaft in the motor.
Article
continues HERE... |
| Dragtime
News On Location |
2012
NHRA Auto Plus Nationals, Maple Grove Raceway,
October 5th, 6th and 7th, 2012.
The
Shakedown Nationals (Friday night only),
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, October 12th 2012..
2012
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,
Old
Bridge Township Raceway Park,
September
8th & 9th, 2012.
2012
Mopars @ Etown, Old Bridge Township Raceway
Park, August 25th & 26th, 2012.
NHRA
King Of The Track,
Numidia
Dragway, July 22nd, 2012.
2012
NHRA SuperNationals, Old Bridge Township
Raceway Park, June 1st -3rd, 2012.
MASGA,
MASCA, ECSSSA, ECNSSA,
Atco Raceway, April 29th, 2012.
2011
24th
Annual Performance Racing Industry Show, Orlando,
FL, December 1st - 3rd, 2011. Click HERE.
Big
Money Electronics and Footbrake Races,
Numidia Dragway, October 8th, 2011. Click HERE.
NHRA
Division 1 Bracket Finals, September 22nd - 25th,
2011 US-13 Dragway. Click HERE.
NHRA
LODRS, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, September
10th and 11th, 2011. Click HERE.
NHRA
LODRS, Atco Raceway, August 6th, 2011. Click
HERE..
Night
Of Thrills, Old
Bridge Township Raceway Park,
June 18th 2011. Click HERE.
NHRA
SuperNationals, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,
June 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2011. Click
HERE.
Main
Street Car Show, Woodbridge, NJ, June 15th, 2011.
Click
HERE.
Memorial
Weekend Money Races, Numidia Dragway, May 28th,
2011. Click HERE.
25th
Annual Mopars
@ E-Town, Old
Bridge Township Raceway Park, May 14th,
2011. Click HERE.
Philadelphia
Modifiers Yesteryear Drags, Atco Raceway, May
1st, 2011. Click HERE.
2010
23rd
Annual Performance Racing Industry Show, Orlando,
FL, December 2nd - 4th, 2010. Click
HERE.
Toyo
Tires NHRA Nationals, Maple Grove Raceway, October
9th and 10th, 2010. Click HERE.
NHRA
Division 1 Bracket Finals, US13 Dragway, September
15th -18th, 2010. Click HERE.
NHRA
LODRS, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, September
10th and 11th, 2010. Click HERE.
Labor
Day Money Races,
Numidia Dragway, September 4th, 2010. Click HERE.
NHRA
SuperNationals,
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, June 10th - 13th, 2010.
Click HERE.
Night
Of Thrills, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,
June 19th, 2010. Click HERE.
The
Mid-Week 500, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,
June 2010. Click HERE.
Memorial
Weekend Money Races, Numidia Dragway, May 29th,
2010. Click HERE.
NHRA
LODRS, Atco Raceway, May 1st, 2010. Click
HERE.
|
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