Volume IX, Issue 11, Page 14

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Ian Tocher Reporting

'41 WILLYS JET CAR DEBUTS

Dec 09, 07 | 12:09 am

Larsen Motorsports offered the public debut of its new 1941 Willys jet car at the PRI Show. Elaine Larsen (shown) handles the driving while her husband, an ex-jet aircraft technician, serves as crew chief on the Jet Shop-built ride that carries a Pratt & Whitney J-60 engine. Jammin Graphix laid down the patrotic paint job on the Hairy Glass body and Larsen Motorsports handled final assembly. Larsen, already an experienced jet-car pilot, said she expects to be out testing the new creation early next year.

INDY INCREASES 6.1L HEMI TO 426 CUBES

Dec 08, 07 | 11:59 pm

With its brand-new bore-and-stroke kit, Indy Cylinder Heads can transform a modern 6.1-liter (369 c.i.) Chrysler Hemi into a true 426 cubic incher. Indy also has a new kit to take the 5.7-liter (345 c.i.) Hemi up to 392 cubic inches. The Indy 426 engine shown uses Hilborn electronic fuel injection aboard a billet-case, 8.71 blower to produce approximately 900 horsepower.

QUARTER-MAX OFFERS ADJUSTABLE STRUT MOUNT

Dec 08, 07 | 11:50 pm

New for '08 is this adjustable strut mount presented at the PRI show by Quarter-Max. The unit allows racers to adjust ride height without affceting strut travel, or vice versa, a Quarter-Max representative explained. It also has a spherical bearing to eliminate binding during strut travel.

THE CARS ARE THE STARS - PART II

Dec 08, 07 | 11:45 pm

NEW AJPE MOUNTAN-MOTOR, NITROUS HEADS

Dec 08, 07 | 11:40 pm

The guys at Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE) proudly showed off this new head for 5.30-inch bore center, mountain-motor, nitrous oxide-assisted powerplants.

BDS BOASTS NEW NOSTALGIA ACCELERATOR PLATE

Dec 08, 07 | 11:28 pm

Blower Drive Service (BDS) out of Whittier, CA, has on display its new accelerator plate for "birdcatcher"-type blower hats. Designed for the nostalgia classes or anywhere birdcatchers are required, the plate is intended to mimic the airflow offered by modern "deep throat"-style hats. Also, the fuel distribution block is molded into the rear of the plate for simplicity and assuredness it will never come loose, even in the most violent of tire shake.

JONES MOTORSPORTS TESTING TIRES FOR TRUE ROUNDNESS

Dec 08, 07 | 11:15 pm

Larry Jones of Larry Jones Motorsports in Cool Springs, NC, demonstrates his invention for checking the roundness of racing slicks. Though the Super True Tire Machine does not record data, the gauges above the rotating tire can be read to find high or low spots and a cutting blade can then be dialed in to help achieve maximum roundness. The device also can shave excess rubber from the shoulders of a tire, which can eliminate several unecessary pounds of rotating mass, Jones said. The machine fits all sizes of slicks, from Jr. Dragster to Top Fuel and is easily transportable for trackside use. Jones confirmed at least two major NHRA drag racing teams placed orders with him at the show, but declined to reveal their names.

MOSER MEETS MOPAR LOVERS' NEEDS

Dec 08, 07 | 10:58 pm

Among the many items Moser Engineering brought to the show was this brand-new fabricated rearend housing made to work with a Mopar 8 3/4-inch center section. The housing is made of 1/8-inch thick, laser-cut mild steel fabricated from one triangulated piece of metal and features a 3/8-inch thick face plate.

NEW M/S NITROUS PLATE FROM NOS

Dec 08, 07 | 10:50 pm

Designed especially for the ORSCA Modified Street class, Nitrous Oxide System's (NOS') new Super Double-Cross nitrous plate includes the new Super Bigshot solenoid that allows more nitrous flow. NOS representative Monte Smith said the new plate has shown capacity for a 600-horsepoer shot in flow-bench testing.

THE CARS ARE THE STARS - PART I

Dec 08, 07 | 10:44 pm

MICKEY THOMPSON TESTING 'BIG' TIRES

Dec 08, 07 | 10:39 pm

With Bily Glidden at the wheel, Mickey Thompson is using this Jerry Haas-built '06 GTO set up in NHRA Pro Stock trim as a test mule for its "big" tire line. M-T also had one of its new 16-inch inside diameter Outlaw 10.5W tires on display.

ADRL RELEASES 2008 SCHEDULE

Dec 08, 07 | 1:10 am

March 7-8: RacingJunk.com Dragpalooza IV Houston Raceway Park Baytown, TX April 25-26: 2nd annual Shelor.com Spring Drags Tulsa Raceway Park Tulsa, OK May 9-10: 4th annual Camp Motorsport Georgia Drags South Georgia Motorsports Park Valdosta, GA June 6-7: 4th annual AMS Staff Leasing Summer Drags Knoll Gas Motorsports Park Martin, MI July 4-5: 2nd annual Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags Motor Mile Dragway Radford, VA July 25-26: Inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags Maryland Int'l Raceway Budd's Creek, MD Aug. 22-23: 2nd annual ADRL Ohio Drags Summit Motorsports Park Norwalk, OH Sept. 12-13: Hushpower Dragstock V Rockingham Dragway Rockingham, NC Oct. 24-25: 4th annual AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals Texas Motorplex Ennis, TX

ADRL REVEALS NATIONAL GUARD TEAM

Dec 08, 07 | 12:58 am

ADRL co-backers Dave Woods (left) and Tommy Lipar tear back the tarp to reveal the U.S. National Guard as primary sponsor of Lipar's Pro Extreme '57 Chevy driven by Joshua Hernandez. A second National Guard-backed teammate to Hernandez is expected, but not yet named. Earlier this fall, the National Guard signed on the ADRL's 2008 title sponsor. The interest and attention of the PRI crowd was obvious as ADRL head honcho Kenny Nowling (right) also revealed ADRL's new "Minute Man" trophy-sculpture, a tribute to the country's earliest National Guardsmen.

NEW DUSTER BODY ALMOST READY

Dec 08, 07 | 12:35 am

Car builder Andy McCoy (left) is joined by father, Stan, Swedish Pro Mod star Mats Brag, younger brother Ryan, and shop foreman Scott Wymore behind McCoy Race Cars' new 1970 Plymouth Duster body for Pro Mod and Outlaw 10.5 use. Actually, the body on display is the fiberglass-and-steel, painted plug that's being shipped north to Cynergy Composites in Ontario, Canada for the making of all-carbon-fiber bodies that typically will weigh just 60 pounds or less.

RACEPAK CLEANS UP INTERIOR

Dec 08, 07 | 12:18 am

Racepak Data Systems, the original data acquisition company, has its new IQ3 in-dash display at PRI, offering it as a cleaner installation alternative to its comon UDX display. Racepak also has at the show a new eight-magnet collar for quicker, more accurate, high-resolution measurements of driveshaft speed.

DHRA PLANS LIVE INTERNET UPDATES

Dec 08, 07 | 12:07 am

Diesel Hot Rod Association (DHRA) president Larry Knight and series founder Eric McBride said they plan to ofer live video Webcasts from several of their 12-event series next year, as well as online, real-time timing results from racetracks using compatible software in their timing systems. Also, DHRA announced Kyle Johnson has come on board as director of the series' sled-pulling division.

NEW 4-BANGER COMP MOTOR

Dec 07, 07 | 9:30 pm

Dick Maskins created this four-cylinder DRCE billet block as a one-off for a yet-be-revealed NHRA Comp racer. The block is exactly one half of a DRCE aluminum V-8 requiring just one DRCE head to top it off. (Jeff Burk photo)

FIRST 2009 CAMARO RACE CARS REVEALED

Dec 07, 07 | 9:13 pm

Suncoast Race Cars in Homosassa, FL, has the first two all-composite 2009 Camaro bodies its ever built on display at the PRI show. The yellow car belongs to Baudier Racing and is in the Baudier Graphix booth, while Suncoast is showing the black car owned by Dean and Buck Privett. The Privett's car also features working headlights and tailights and carries a naturally aspirated, alky-injected 540 cubic incher that draws air ducted from behind the car's billet-formed grille.

ADRL CHAMPS

Dec 07, 07 | 9:10 pm

Recently crowned ADRL Pro Nitrous champion Jamie Hancock (left) shares a moment with new ADRL Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs. It was the first time at the PRI show for both drivers.

NEW PRECISION TURBO

Dec 07, 07 | 8:56 pm

Precision Turbo has on display its new 90-millimeter turbocharger that helped propel Outlaw 10.5 star Tim Lynch to new 1/8- and 1/4-mile records this season. Lynch used a pair of prototypes on his 2000 Mustang, but company president Harry Hruska said the Precision 90-mm units are now available, along with larger 94- and 114-mm versions. Each features a billet aluminum compressor wheel that alows a smaller hub and more blade area that weighs less and is actually stronger than the old cast pieces because the billet is a much denser material. Further weight gains are realized with a racing purpose-built cating for the turbine housing that drops about 20 pounds from the old models.

ADRL FACES IN THE CROWD

Dec 07, 07 | 12:41 am

Top to Bottom: ADRL Pro Nitrous star Thomas "Tom Slick" Myers gets cozy with wife Rebecca at the Flowmaster booth. Nitrous Pro Mod Legend Charles Carpenter is flanked by his son, Michael (right) and crewmember Kelly Bluebaugh. Carpenter, a two-time ADRL Pro Nitrous winner in 2007 and known for racing the "Worlds Fastest '55 Chevy," is in the process of having a new '55 built and said he will be fitted for it next week. Designed specifically for ADRL eighth-mile action and expected to weigh in at less than 2,400 pounds, Carpenter expects his first new ride in 10 years to be a strong contender in '08. Finally, ADRL official Bubba Corzine and wife Leetha, who also works for the sanctioning body and runs Texas Raceway in Kennedale, TX, with her husband, are all smiles as they take in the PRI sights. Good to see Bubba up and around and looking well after a health scare last month. "So far, so good," he says.

NEW SONNY'S ENGINE

Dec 07, 07 | 12:30 am

Sonny Leonard has this 864 cubic-inch, Chevy-based, semi-hemi-headed monster on display. New for 2008, it comes with three stages of nitrous installed and goes out the door complete and dyno tested for just under $90K. Like they say, speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?

MARTIN MAKING A MOVE?

Dec 07, 07 | 12:23 am

Is Harold Martin (right) shopping? The standout fuel-injected, nitrous Pro Mod racer was spotted chatting with Ken Jones in the ProCharger booth.

IHRA FACES IN THE CROWD

Dec 07, 07 | 12:12 am

Three-time IHRA Alcohol Funny Car champ Rob Atchison (left) is taking in the PRI action from the booth of his primary sponsor, Erickson Tie-Down and Tow Straps. Meanwhile, Scotty Cannon was in the Torco booth, coming off a two-win season in IHRA Top Fuel, but primed and pumped about returning to the Pro Mod ranks as teammate to his son and 2007 IHRA Pro Mod champ, Scott. As an aside, Scott dismissed Internet rumors that he and his dad would be part of a four-car team next season--with anyone.

ADRL TO REVEAL BIG NEWS

Dec 07, 07 | 12:08 am

Kenny Nowling, president of the American Drag Racing League, promises a big splash when the tarp is pulled off this car at 2 p.m. on Friday. Stay tuned!

ORSCA FACES IN THE CROWD

Dec 07, 07 | 12:03 am

Newly crowned ORSCA Limited Street champ Darrin Hoyle (left) was spotted with wife Emily cruising the PRI aisles, as was Randy Conner, crew chief for former ORSCA Outlaw 10.5 champion Jack Barfield, with his wife, Paula.

FORCE'S FORD NITRO MOTOR

Dec 06, 07 | 11:58 pm

The Ford-based Boss 500 nitro motor developed by John Force Racing is on display in the Ford booth at the PRI show. Rookie Mike Neff is scheduled to start the '08 season with the new powerplant in place.

BURK BLASTS THE COMPETITION

Dec 06, 07 | 11:41 pm

DRO publisher and large editor Jeff Burk (center) accepts congratulations from Phil Trover of All Star Vacation Homes after defeating a redlighting Rick Vogelin (left) in the Top Eliminator final of the inaugural PRI Invitational HO Drag Championship. Burk outlasted a tough field, beating his brother, Richard, and bracket racing specialist Jok Nicholson in the preliminary rounds on Trover's built-to-scale 1/8-mile slot car strip, complete with staging lights, individually timed lanes, win lights and scoreboards accurate to 10-thousandths of a second. Trover's Walt Disney World Area HO Raceway and drag racing memorabilia-filled game room has to be seen to be believed. (Ian Tocher photos)

PRI PREVIEW

Dec 06, 07 | 11:19 am

It’s the end of the year and that means it’s time to look forward to next year. This year’s PRI Show (Dec. 6-8) is where to see new products and make announcements for 2008. So, stay tuned as DRO Senior Editor, Ian Tocher, gives you a look at the goings-on at the show each day.

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