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

Paul Candies

Long before all of the modern multi-car professional teams in drag racing there was the team of Paul Candies and Leonard Hughes. A drag racing enthusiast for many years, Candies’ team became the first two-car team to race each other in the final round at the National Hot Rod Association’s U.S. Nationals in 1976. For their accomplishments over 25 years, the team – composed of Paul Candies and Leonard Hughes – in 1999 was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Paul Candies is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Otto Candies, LLC a Louisiana-based marine transportation and offshore services company. As head of Otto Candies – a firm started in 1942 by his father, the late Otto Candies – he oversees a fleet of more than 100 vessels serving the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide. The company, with offices in Mexico and Argentina, is known as the first to transport an oil production platform from Houston to the United Kingdom drilling area in the North Sea and for its emergency response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

Elisha Boyd

Elisha Boyd was born September 11, 1941 in Walthall County, Mississippi. He was raised in a small town known for its “hot cars” during the early 60’s. An avid lover of cars since boyhood, Elisha’s first race car was a 1962 409 cubic inch Chevrolet Impala. In 1963, Diesi Pontiac of Opelousas, Louisiana, hired Elisha to drive at local tracks and in match races throughout the South. Elisha continued to race at the local tracks until 1972 when he built his first Super Stocker, a 1969 350 ci Camaro. Running in SS/LA, he then began to follow the NHRA Racing Circuit. He spent the next several years traveling and becoming more competitive. Elisha won several points meets and class eliminations. In 1974 he was runner up in the Super Stock at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida and in 1977 he won his first National Event at the Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge, LA. In the early 1980’s he began competing in Dirt Track Racing but returned to drag racing by the mid 80’s. He went on to win the 1988 Mid South Nationals, the 1989 Cajun Nationals and was runner up in the 1989 Chief Auto Parts Nationals. Elisha Boyd continued to drive into the 1990’s and then eventually passed on driving duties to his son Trevor and long time friend Smylie Little.

Elisha Boyd also received the 1990 Division Four Sportsman Wrench Award, the 1990 TCI “Rolling Thunder “ Award and was a 1991 Inductee into the Division Four NHRA Hall of Fame.

We Need Your Help

From time to time we will be posting photos that we have and know very little about. If you know anything about the photos please email us at curator@division4halloffame.com.

Who is the driver? Who owned the car? Where and when was the photo taken?

Division IV Hall of Fame Launches New Website

The south Central region of the US has a long and illustrious history of drag racers, and drag racing machinery prior to 1980. That history is reflected in the NHRA Division Four Hall of Fame, which until recently was housed in the pits at the Texas Motorplex.

The space demands of the modern National Event has taken that space, but Billy Meyer has embarked on a project to allow even more race fans to experience that history. To rejuvenate the Hall, the Motorplex is reaching out to living Hall of Fame members, and the families of those who have laid the groundwork for this sport.

If you are an NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame member, or family member, please send your current contact information to:

Glenn Menard at: menard@texasmotorplex.com or curator@division4halloffame.com, or P.O. 1439, Ennis, TX 75120; or by fax 972-878-1848.

Glenn Menard
President
Texas Motorplex

Phone: 972-878-2641 Fax: 972-878-1848

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.