Sand Traps & Safety Nets

OBERHOFER: DON’T JUST FIX THE CARS … FIX THE TRAPS! – Competition Plus.com – July 20, 2010 

GRAHAM LIGHT DISCUSSES SAND TRAPS, NETSCompetition Plus.com – July 20, 2010

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2010 NHRA Northwest Nationals

John Force getting back in gear at NHRA Northwest NationalsSeattle Times – July 8, 2010

Updated: Pro Stock Drivers and NHRA Stage “Mexican Standoff”Competition Plus.com – July 11, 2010

Angry Pro Stock Drivers React To Seattle Incident  – Competition Plus.com – July 11, 2010 

TAD RACER MARK NIVER FATALLY INJUREDCompetition Plus.com – July 11, 2010

NHRA driver Mark Niver dies in crash at Pacific RacewaysSeattle Times – July 11, 2010

NHRA driver Mark Niver dies from severe head, neck, torso injuriesSeattle Times – July 12, 2010

Northwest Nationals ResultsNHRA – July 11, 2010

 

BOBBY BENNETT: IT’S TIME FOR ALL 1000Competition Plus.com – July 13, 2010

“…As for Pro Stock running to the 1,000 foot, the Seattle debacle wouldn’t have happened if everyone was running to the 1000, especially since the NHRA hasn’t dropped the hammer on decrepit facilities the likes of Firebird [Phoenix] and Pacific Raceways [Seattle]. I honestly don’t believe the issue at Seattle was anything less than an asphalt issue…”

My personal comment:  Decrepit?  I think that is a bit harsh, in fact it flat pisses me off!  Unless a track is lazer flat and repaved every couple of years these professionals always blame the tracks for the problems.  Is Bennett providing cover for the NHRA?  The fact is, on Friday & Saturday when the tracked was sprayed to the 1320 there was no problem in the Pro Stock class. When it wasn’t for the first round of eliminations there was a big problem! After the track prep was corrected the Pro Stock cars got down the track in fine fashion!

As to shortening the track to 1000-feet, that perhaps is going to be the reality to spare more lives.   And the fact remains that PR has one of the longest shutdown areas on the circuit and that didn’t spare the tragic loss of life of Mike Niver… – Roger Young

UPDATED: NHRA LOOKING TO MANDATE CHANGES IN TAF & TAD RANKSCompetition Plus.com – July 15, 2010

LIKE PHOENIX, SEATTLE PS QUESTIONS MAY NEVER BE ANSWEREDCompetition Plus.com – July 16, 2010 

OBERHOFER: DON’T JUST FIX THE CARS … FIX THE TRAPS! – Competition Plus.com – July 20, 2010 

GRAHAM LIGHT DISCUSSES SAND TRAPS, NETSCompetition Plus.com – July 20, 2010

Posted in Discussions, News From Div 6 and/or Local Tracks, NHRA National News, Pro Stock News | 6 Comments

Will NHRA Return to 1320?

1,000-FOOT DEBATE RAGES ON – CompetitionPlus.com – February 17, 2011

MCCULLOCH: NHRA TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING NOT BROKENCompetition Plus.com –  May 25, 2010

Proposed Fuel Pump Change Has The Nitro Pits BuzzingCompetition Plus.com – May 3, 2010

Read more:  NHRA Nitro Spec Engine

BOBBY BENNETT: IT’S TIME FOR ALL 1000Competition Plus.com – July 13, 2010

“…As for Pro Stock running to the 1,000 foot, the Seattle debacle wouldn’t have happened if everyone was running to the 1000, especially since the NHRA hasn’t dropped the hammer on decrepit facilities the likes of Firebird [Phoenix] and Pacific Raceways [Seattle]. I honestly don’t believe the issue at Seattle was anything less than an asphalt issue…”

My personal comment:  Decrepit?  I think that is a bit harsh, in fact it flat pisses me off!  Unless a track is lazer flat and repaved every couple of years these professionals always blame the tracks for the problems.  Is Bennett providing cover for the NHRA?  The fact is, on Friday & Saturday when the tracked was sprayed to the 1320 there was no problem in the Pro Stock class. When it wasn’t for the first round of eliminations there was a big problem! After the track prep was corrected the Pro Stock cars got down the track in fine fashion!

As to shortening the track to 1000-feet, that perhaps is going to be the reality to spare more lives.   And the fact remains that PR has one of the longest shutdown areas on the circuit and that didn’t spare the tragic loss of life of Mike Niver… – Roger Young 

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Where Has The Musclecar Pro Stocker Gone?

BOBBY BENNETT: WHERE HAS THE MUSCLECAR PRO STOCKER GONE? – Competition Plus.com – May 5, 2010

Posted in Discussions, Pro Stock News | 4 Comments

NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

First published on 22 Jan 10 – Updated 15 Apr 10:

Pro Board Not Consulted On NHRA’s 4-Wide NationalsCompetition Plus.com – January 22, 2010

NHRA Four-Wide Nats Brings Format ChangeCompetition Plus.com – January 21, 2010

Hmmm, seems those in Glendora have a difficult time even communicating with the Pro racers? 

Roger Young – Edwards & Young Racing

CAPPS: SAFETY HAS TO BE FIRST PRIORITY IN 4-WIDE EVENT – Competition Plus.com – February 17, 2010

McClenathan, Force, Edwards, Smith win NHRA Four-Wide NationalsNHRA – March 29, 2010

FAN REACTION TO FOUR WIDE RACING MIXEDCompetition Plus – March 29, 2010

PRO TO NHRA: WE’RE NOT RACING 4-WIDE FOR POINTS ANYMORECompetition Plus – March 31, 2010

SUSAN WADE: FOUR-WIDE RACING IS PERILOUS PAGEANTRY – Competition Plus – April 6, 2010

FOUR WIDE DIDN’T DO MUCH TO DRIVE ESPN2 RATING – Competition Plus – April 6, 2010

SUSAN WADE: THIS TIME FANS SHOULD NOT BE THE FOCUS – Competition Plus – April 9, 2010

VEGAS P.R.O MEETING WILL DETERMINE GROUP’S NEXT MOVE – Competition Plus – April 14, 2010

Posted in Discussions, NHRA National News | Tagged | 10 Comments

RECALL ALERTS!

Originally posted on 21 Mar 2009, updated on 22 April 2010 

RECALL ALERT! – IMPACT RACING PRODUCT RECALL Competition Plus.com – March 20, 2009

UPDATE: IMPACT RACING DECERTIFICATION REACHES ZMAX DRAGWAY – Competition Plus.com – March 27, 2010

UPDATE: NHRA Tech Bulletin: Impact Racing suits – NHRA – April 22, 2010

“SFI announced late last night that 3.2A/5 suits made prior to 2009 by Impact Racing have been decertified effective immediately.

“As a result, and per NHRA’s Rulebook, those products are no longer allowed for use at NHRA-sanctioned events.

“NHRA has spent the morning speaking with the division directors who will be conducting events this weekend as well as manufacturers and suppliers of certified products. There is limited inventory available, and the manufacturers and suppliers can overnight product to racers for use this weekend.

“NHRA will work on-site at planned events with racers to do everything possible to assure that racers can comply with NHRA’s Rulebook.

“For more information regarding SFI’s action against Impact Racing, log on to www.sfifoundation.com.”

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Edwards & Young 2010 Spring Update

Spring is here and both the ’57 and ’71 Chevelle are now ready to hit the strip. Over the winter we freshened the old 331 in our ’57 with new bearings, oil pump, rings, valve grind and valve springs and replaced the rods. We replaced our clutch that had a warped pressure plate after 90+ runs and clutch disc. Installed new Aldan Eagle rear coil-over shocks (our old rear shocks were “dead”) and have installed new slicks. 

The Chevelle now has a new air-shifter installed with an updated delay box and we replaced all the pushrods and one rocker arm and checked the seat pressure on the valve springs. Our goal with the Chevelle is to run just a tad bit slower by softening the leave slightly but be more consistent thru a broader range of track conditions to make the dial-in more predictable. 

Weather permitting, we’ll be able to get both cars out for testing at Pacific Raceways in April. 

Our best, 

Roger Young 

[More details & pictures] 

April 2010 update: Edwards & Young Test & Tune Report posted! 

 

  

Roger (driving), Chris & Paul Young

 

Edwards & Young 331 in our '57

 

Here’s a much stronger pass on May 8th, 2010. The old car ran great running a 10.602 @ 125.90 MPH on this pass and leaving the starting line at 8,000 rpms.  Too bad this old man was asleep on the starting line and gave the first round away! This was our quickest pass for the ’57 ever at Pacific to date, 2nd quickest pass for the ’57 in its history.  Again, this marked improvement over the video above all came from chassis adjustments we made prior to going back out. 

 
We hope to get Chris back out in his Chevelle soon, and get the proper shift points set for the new air shifter!  The future is for Chris & Paul, my days of driving the old ’57 have become a time of personal enjoyment & reflection of the days of Modified Production which are long forgotten except by a small few when the small-block Chev’s with a clutch thrilled the crowds!  It’s good to see the old Chev once again flying down the track, an anomaly from the modern race cars we see today.  
 

  

15 May 2010 – Pacific Raceways – ’71 Chevelle 

I’m very happy to report we feel like we made excellent progress this evening. The air shifter is working properly and life is good again! Chris did a excellent job in the first round leaving the starting line with an outstanding .010 light and running a 10.491 @ 122.22 MPH [on the brakes] on a 10.47 dial-in to take the win light. On to the 2nd round where we lost breaking out with a 10.424 on a 10.44 dial-in. Again Chris did his job and left on our competition but our opponent ran a 8.863 on a 8.86 dial-in to take the win light. There’s great races here in Super Pro! 

Top Sportsman cars were also out this evening at Pacific. Here’s a video Paul took of Barry Hobson (far lane) & Joe Loch [near lane] on a qualifying hit. Hobson runs a 705 Sonny Leonard engine in his GrandAm. Loch runs a 800+ Sonny Leonard wedge in his Cavalier – both normally aspirated.  

 

  

 

Posted in Edwards & Young Updates | 3 Comments

What Happened At Firebird?

Will We Ever Really Know What Happened At Firebird?Competition Plus.com – March 10, 2010

Edwards & Young comment: If the facts are never uncovered and not publicly disclosed, what’s to prevent this from happening again at tracks across the nation? – Roger Young

Related:

SO WHAT MAKES VHT INAPPROPRIATE? – Competition Plus.com – 10 Mar 2010

PRO STOCK TEAMS ADJUST TO NEW RULES BEFORE GATORS Competition Plus.com – 6 Mar 2010

LIGHT: CHANGES TO PRO STOCK NOT BASED SOLELY ON PHX – Competition Plus.com – 10 Mar 2010

Posted in Discussions, Links To Feature Stories, Pro Stock News | Tagged , | 1 Comment

NHRA Hazmat Training Now Required!

 
“…All competitors are required to complete an online training program by logging into their accounts at www.nhraeventreg.com.  Those who fail to complete the training in advance will be prohibited from completing the registration process on site and will be subject first to on-site training…”
 
 

Other changes:

PRO STOCK TEAMS ADJUST TO NEW RULES BEFORE GATORS Competition Plus.com – 6 Mar 2010

LIGHT: CHANGES TO PRO STOCK NOT BASED SOLELY ON PHX Competition Plus.com – 10 Mar 2010

Posted in Discussions, NHRA National News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Most Memorable Race

I figured due to the tragic accident during the latest NHRA National Event now would be a good time to reminisce about the most memorable race of your short/long racing career. 

Me personally, it was during the Sportsman Nats @ Pacific Raceway in 2008 beating the 8 second dragster with the Pontiac with a killer light and running the number.  I managed to make it to the 3rd round until red lighting by a narrow margin but it was definitely fun! – Paul Young, Edwards & Young Racing

 

Final round: (W) Tom Brown far lane, '66 Chev II, (R/U) Chris Young near lane, '71 Chevelle

Final round runner-up launch, Mission 2001

Posted in Discussions | 4 Comments

Spectator Killed at Phoenix…

Updated 24 Mar 10:

Injured NHRA Arizona Nationals Spectator DiesCompetition Plus.com – February 21, 2010

Arizona Dragster Crash Kills Spectatorkpho.com – Feb 21, 2010 – Video

Statement from NHRA:

“A woman who was struck by a tire earlier today at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital this evening. The tire became detached from Antron Brown’s dragster following an incident during the first round of eliminations. Brown was not injured.

“NHRA is investigating the incident. The entire NHRA community is deeply saddened by today’s incident and sends its thoughts and prayers to the woman’s family and friends.”

Source: http://www.nhra.com/story/2010/2/21/2010-phoenix-sunday/

DSR ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING SUNDAY’S ACCIDENT – Competition Plus.com – 22 Feb 10

The Disaster Nationals By Jeff Burk

“…As far as I can find there isn’t another instance in history of professional drag racing where a wheel and tire assembly have gone into the pits causing injury or death. As far as why the wheel came off, that is being investigated but the general consensus among the racecar builders I’ve talked to is that it was a random failure and not the start of a trend…”

Edwards & Young comment: Random failure? If that is the “consensus” look forward to future such “failures” which our sport can ill afford! 

Phoenix Accident Raises Questions, Creates SpeculationCompetition Plus.com – February 26, 2010

NHRA ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF PHOENIX WHEEL INVESTIGATIONCompetition Plus.com – March 23, 2010

 

Posted in Discussions | 5 Comments

Winternationals NHRA Photo Gallery

Winternationals Golden 50 display – NHRA – Feb 2010

Some great old rides pictured here!   Which is your favorite?  Here’s mine, but what do you expect from an old man!

Stone, Cook & Woods Willys courtesy of NHRA

Roger Young – Edwards & Young Racing

Force returns to winner’s circle; Dixon, Edwards also snare opening winsNHRA – February 14, 2010

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