Texas Area Drag Geezers Christmas Luncheon

"Click Here to Watch Geezer Crackle Fest Video "

Ranchhouse Restaurant & Club (Sachse)
Dec. 12 (Saturday)
The Texas area Drag Geezers held their annual Christmas Luncheon at the Ranchhouse Restaurant & Club. The weather was a little chilly, but that didn’t prevent a good crowd from visiting with some of the outstanding racers from the past. Two of Texas favorites, Bobby Langley and Vance Hunt, were there. There were also a couple of dragsters that were fired up to the delight of the crowd. If you are into drag racing history, this is an event that you don’t want to miss. For more information about the Drag Geezers and upcoming events, go to: www.atinkersmotorsupply.com

By Don Cook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

2009 Holley National Hot Rod Reunion Honoree Names

SIX RACING LEGENDS WILL BE HONORED AT 2009 HOLLEY NATIONAL HOT ROD REUNION

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. January 22, 2009 – Top drivers from every era of NHRA drag racing,
the first woman to win an NHRA division championship and the inventor of the tire-screeching
burnout make up the Honorees for the 2009 Holley National Hot Rod Reunion on June 19-21 at
Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Grand Marshal – Darrell Gwynn

Selected as one of NHRA’s all-time Top 50 Drivers, Florida’s Darrell Gwynn
won 28 national events in a short ten year career. At age 18 he was runner-up in
Pro Comp at the U.S. Nationals. He scored ten wins in Alcohol Dragster before
moving up to Top Fuel at age 23. In March, 1990 Gwynn made the quickest run
in drag racing, at the time 4.90. Just weeks later, he crashed at England’s Santa
Pod Raceway, changing his life forever. He was paralyzed from the chest down
and lost part of his left arm. Even while recovering, he changed roles to team
owner where his car scored 14 victories. He is dedicated to the cure of paralysis
and maintains a very active schedule of public speaking, technical consulting
and enjoying life with his wife and daughter.

Chuck Nelson
Chuck Nelson has been NHRA’s South Central Division Tech Director
since the position was created nearly a half century ago. Nelson’s
dedicated career began at the NHRA Nationals in Oklahoma City in 1958.
He was selected by NHRA founder Wally Parks to be just one of nine
attendees at the first official NHRA rules meeting in 1959. When he
began, the racers had to build everything themselves, and he’s seen the
tech side of the sport evolve into cars that are professionally
manufactured. Nelson says, “You learn every day because the racers keep
you on your toes. I keep trying to retire but Craig (Div. 4 Director Craig
Hutchinson) won’t let me.”

Bob Creitz
Known as an engine wizard, the inventor of the burnout and the most prominent
Top Fuel racer in Oklahoma, Bob Creitz was a member of the unofficial group of
hard-core fuel racers known as the “Greek Fleet”. Creitz’s cars have been runner up
at the ’67 Winternationals, made the first six-second pass in NHRA Nationals
history, and at the PDA meet at Orange County in 1968 won the last 64-car Top
Fuel show ever held. He won the inaugural PHR Championships in 1969 and
runner-upped at the ’72 Supernationals. He has restored his last front engine
fueler for Cacklefest events.

Vance Hunt
A name synonymous with Top Fuel racing in the southwest from 1960 to 1971 is
Vance Hunt. As an owner/tuner, the Arlington, Texas racer fielded a long series
of dragsters driven by Ed Mabry, J.L. Payne, Ted Arnold, Jerry Ellis, and Watus
Simpson. Hunt began racing in the late ’40s at “any place we could.” Fuel racing
beckoned in 1960, and with J.L. Payne driving Hunt defeated both Don Garlits
and Chris Karamesines for the Number One spot on the Drag News Mr.
Eliminator list and won the ’62 AHRA Nationals. In his final season he even
briefly raced a Mustang Funny Car. In recent years he’s remained active as a tuner
on nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters.

Jerry Baltes
Beginning his drag racing career in 1951 at Paradise Mesa near San Diego,
Jerry Baltes raced for over two decades. He worked his way up from gas
coupes, through altereds to a gas dragster, then in 1962 to Top Fuel. He made it
to number 3 on the Drag News Top Ten List, set an NHRA speed record, won
the 1964 World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova, and finished number 2 in
1964 NHRA points. After a crash ended his driving career in 1967, he fielded
the Tom and Jerry Mustang Funny Car as a member of the Coca-Cola
Cavalcade of Stars. He has recently restored his 1964 Top Fuel car for
Cacklefest events.

Amy Faulk
Experienced in Stock, Super Stock and Competition eliminator categories, Amy
Faulk was the first woman to win a national event in Alcohol Dragster and the
first woman to win an NHRA division championship. In 1979 Faulk won the
Super Stock national championship and in 1980 was elected to Car Craft
Magazine’s All-Star team. In addition to her racing career, Amy has held
management roles in the automotive aftermarket and currently serves as the
chief administrative officer of Hypertech. She has served on the
SEMA Board of Directors, was named SEMA’s Person of the Year in 1996, and is a member of
the SEMA Hall of Fame.

About the 7th Annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion
The 7th annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion, June 19-21 at Beech Bend Raceway in
Bowling Green, Ky., is a 3-day festival of speed, hot rods and American automotive enthusiasm.
Produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of
Southern California and located in Pomona, Calif., the Reunion is part of the museum’s “living
history” philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history
in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture.
Unique among motorsports events, the Reunion honors some of the top names in hot
Rodding from the past and features a fabulous array of fast drag cars, hot rods, street rods and cool customs.

Media contact: Monique Valadez, 909-622-3389 office, 909-287-6029 cell, mvaladez@nhra.com

http://www.dragracingonline.com/agent1320/2009/1320-xi_3-68.html

The NHRA SRAC is seeking input from active Comp competitors regarding a possible change to the current altitude correction factoring system

The NHRA Sportsman Rules Committee is seeking input from active Competition Eliminator competitors regarding a possible change to the current altitude correction factoring system.

The SRAC Competition Committee had requested NHRA review the altitude correction factoring format used in Competition eliminator. The current altitude factoring system dates back to the early 60’s and was based on tables in aircraft engine manuals that described power loss of engines at altitude. The system has been modified a couple of times since, but never took into account changing engine and driveline combinations to adapt to various track elevations.

Following an extensive review and analysis of runs at altitude factored tracks during the 2007 and 2008 seasons a new Altitude Performance Ratio is being evaluated for implementation. Factors such as engine/cylinder head port sizes/valve sizes, barometer and moisture content will continue to have different effects on the performance of different class combinations.

Racers may submit their comments to rpark@nhra.com by February 9, 2009. Your name and Comp Eliminator Competition Number is required to be included with your comments.

Below is a “draft” of proposed changes to the factoring system: This review is intended only for Competition Eliminator.

Track (elevation)	Factor	Performance Ratio Calculation
Denver (5800’)		1.0633 x Sea Level Index – .06 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0633 +1) x .5 x Sea Level Index -.03 seconds
Fallon (4000’)		1.0404 x Sea Level Index – .04 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0404 +1) x .5 x Sea Level Index -.02 seconds
Acton (3700’)		1.0367 x Sea Level Index – .04 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0367 +1) x .5 x Sea Level Index -.02 seconds
Tucson (3000’)		1.0281 x Sea Level Index – .04 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0281 +1) x .5 x Sea Level Index -.02 seconds
Boise (2700’)		1.0245 x Sea Level Index – .03 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0245 +1) x .5 x Sea Level Index -.02 seconds
Las Vegas (2100’)		1.0173 x Sea Level Index – .03 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0173 +1) x .52 x Sea Level Index -.02 seconds
Great Bend (1900’)		1.0149 x Sea Level Index – .03 seconds
	Half-factor	(1.0149 +1) x .5 x Sea Level Index -.02 seconds

Supercharged, turbocharged, or nitrous-oxide Comp Eliminator vehicles (i.e. AA/A, AA/AM, AA/AT, BB/A, BB/AM, BB/AT, CC/A, CC/AT, DD/AT, AA/AF, BB/AF, H/D, and I/D) use half factor.

2008 Champions Banquet Winners

2008 NHRA South Central Division Champions Banquet
Award Winners

Driver of the Year		Wrench of the Year
Aaron Tatum	TAD	Joe Monden	TAD
Steve Harker	TAFC	Janelle Harker	TAFC
Scott Benham	COMP	Brian Self	COMP
Jerry Emmons	SS	Harvey Emmons Jr.	SS
Jarrod Granier	STOCK	Charlie Ford	STOCK
Travis Prudhomme	SC	Rick Prudhomme	SUPERS
Rustin Mayse	SG	Clayton Hagan	TS
Greg Parson	SST	Britt Cummings	TD
Keith Raftery	TS	Craig Treble	BIKE
Monroe Guest	TD
Craig Treble	BIKE

Track of the Year – Texas Raceway
Track Manager of the Year – Isaac Ebrom
Most Improved Track – Texas Motorplex
Sponsor of the Year – Lucas Oil
ET Driver of the Year – Bart Nelson
Rookie of the Year – Shelby Latino
Good Guy Award – Lloyd Parfait
Crawford Benham Award – Olan and Judy Gotcher
Be a Member Be a Winner – Texas Raceway
National Dragster Contributor – Alfonso Acevedo

First annual Spring Stampede Preseason Test Session Feb. 27- Mar. 1 at Houston Raceway Park presented by WWW.DRAGRACEHOSE.COM

Baytown, TX- Officials for Houston Raceway Park today announced the first annual Spring Stampede Preseason Test Session presented by DragRaceHose.com which will take place Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 2009, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Organizers expect race teams in the NHRA, IHRA, and the ADRL sanctions to participate in this preseason test to tune their hot rods for the 2009 season.

Houston Raceway Park benefits from incredible atmospheric conditions because of its proximity to Trinity Bay, which feeds the facility cool air.

“During this off season we are going to grind our concrete launch pad to ensure we have the smoothest racing surface possible. The track will be in tip-top shape for the ground pounding 8,000 horsepower machines that need ideal track conditions,” said track GM Seth Angel. “We know that the ADRL will open its 2009 season here March 6-7, the NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals are set for March 27-29th, and this test session will allow everyone a chance to fine-tune their set-ups both for our race and the upcoming season.”

Houston Raceway Park is also scheduled to host two NHRA South Central Division events, May 15-17th and July 24-25th.

Sportsman racer Will Hanna, owner of DragRaceHose.com and webmaster for the popular sportsman websites InsideTopAlcohol.com, InsideCompRacing.com and InsideFastBrackets.com, has worked closely with the track to organize the event.

“With the schedule falling the way it does next year, this is a perfect combination of schedule, venue and conditions,” stated Hanna. “Usually the Division 4 schedule kicks off in late February or early March, but they have pushed that back this year, so it will make it easier for the local teams to get ready to test. It’s the week after the Phoenix NHRA national, so the Pro teams will be on their way from Phoenix to Gainesville, Fla. So it’s right on the way for them. Not to mention, its right before the ADRL season opener here at this track.

“Having experience myself with high horsepower cars, it’s very difficult to find the right conditions to test and actually learn something,” Hanna continued. “Without having a decent amount of high horsepower cars going down the track, it’s hard to duplicate race day type conditions. That won’t be our problem with this event. There will be plenty of cars and great conditions. I’m proud to have my company, DragRaceHose.com’s name associated with it.”

Top Fuel Dragster and Nitro Funny Car Teams:
No charge—all teams must pre-register prior to Monday, February 23, 2009. Please contact Seth Angel at (281) 383-7223 or e-mail: seth@houstonraceway.com for additional information.

Professional and Semi-Professional Teams:
Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike, Pro Mod, ADRL Professional Categories: Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, & Pro Extreme Motorcycle Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Pro Street, Outlaw 10.5. Cost to test is $150 if you pre-register, $200 after deadline (includes car and driver plus two crew) and is valid for entire weekend.

Pre-Registration Deadline: Monday, February 16, 2009

Sportsman Teams:
Open to any Lucas Oil Sportsman team or any NHRA E.T. category. Cost to test is $100 if you pre-register, $150 after deadline (includes car and driver plus one crew) for a weekend run card or $75 for a single day of testing.

Teams can also contact Will Hanna at (979) 415-4959 or email will.hanna@insidetopalcohol.com.

Pre-Registration Deadline: Monday, February 16, 2009

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009
Credential sales and pit parking – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 27-Sunday, Mar. 1, 2009
Credential sales and tech inspection – 7 a.m.
Sportsman and E.T. time trials – 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Professional and Semi-Professional time trials – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Houston Raceway Park is located off Interstate 10 East in Baytown. Fans should take the Hwy. 146 exit (No. 797) and turn right. Proceed to the first stop light, which is FM 565, and turn left. Houston Raceway Park is three miles down on the left. For additional information click to: www.houstonraceway.com

Will Hanna’s www.DragRaceHose.com is an official distributor of ultra high-quality Goodridge Hoses and Fittings, the name top racers in all motorsports disciplines trust. Goodridge is also a paying contingency sponsor in NHRA and IHRA, so log on to add your name to the list of racers winning with Goodridge.