1969 AMX Engine
Rhyne Competition Engines prides itself on being a rather diverse shop capable of working on performance, marine and off-road engines, so when a customer brought in an AMC AMX engine, Mike McKinney was excited to dive into the project.
Melling Performance Parts Returns as 2017 Associate Sponsor of Erica Enders
Melling Performance has renewed its partnership with two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders for the full 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule as a major associate sponsor.
Introducing the 2016 Performance Engine Builder of the Year…
Larry Pritchett, owner of Mid-South Racing Engines in Clarkrange, TN, was named the 2016 Performance Engine Builder of the Year, sponsored by Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Pistons and Engine Builder magazine. This is the fifth year for the Performance Engine Builder of the Year Award in conjunction with Federal-Mogul Motorparts.
Stop by the Melling Performance Booth at PRI
Melling Performance cordially invites PRI attendees to stop by its Booth #1105 at the 2016 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. Melling will have a full staff on hand to introduce new products and answer your technical questions.
Champion Racing Oil Announces 2017 ‘Elite Racer’ Program
Champion Racing Oil has announced the details for its 2017 “ELITE RACER” Program, providing support for participants in almost every recognized sanctioned racing event in North America and Canada.
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Announces Jr. Dragster Series
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow has announced the addition of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Junior Dragster Series. In 2017, Hot Rodders will partner with Protect the Harvest Midwest Jr. Super Series, which is run by Dave Beimfohr, and is currently scheduled to have nine events next year.
Sunnen’s Engine Charity Sweepstakes to Award a Nick Ferri-Built Racing Engine
Sunnen Products Company and PRI continue a 28-year partnership to present the Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes at PRI 2016, December 8-10 in Indianapolis. Sunnen sponsors the Sweepstakes, which to date has donated over $500,000 to various charities around the country.
Royal Purple to Commemorate 30th Anniversary at SEMA 2016
Royal Purple has announced it will commemorate its 30th anniversary at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas, November 1-4. The Royal Purple booth will feature various custom builds, celebrity autograph signings and an unveiling of a custom Ringbrothers 1969 Camaro build.
Lost Art of Head Porting
If I had my current shop rate paid to me in a lump sum for every hour I spent porting and flowing heads and intakes in the ’70s and ’80s, I could build a new race car. In ’76 when I started running Pro Stock, my wife Linda got me a SuperFlow 110 for Christmas so I could flow my own heads.
Racing Icon, SEMA Hall of Fame Member Art Chrisman Passed Away
SEMA Hall of Fame drag racer, hot rodder and land-speed racer Art Chrisman passed away July 12 at the age of 86 after a years-long struggle with cancer. Chrisman’s achievements in a race car landed him the 29th spot on the NHRA’s list of Top 50 Drivers of All Time.
Pro Stock Quandary
I think a book should be written about Pro Stock drag racing. Pro Stock has existed in a quandary of constant rule changes for 47 years. I was fortunate enough to have participated in Pro Stock for about 15 of those years and have more than enough stories to fill a book!
Understanding the Evolution of Cylinder Head Seat and Guide Machines
Do you remember the many generations of three-angle seat cutters and what we used to get by with? Grinding seats is still needed, but just 10 years ago we were grinding 80 percent of the seats. Though we still grind when necessary, today we cut 90 percent of the seats in the heads.
Patterson Elite Performance to Build Racing Engine for Sunnen’s Engine Charity Sweepstakes at PRI 2016
Nick Ferri, co-owner of Patterson Elite Performance and builder of engines behind 57 national NHRA Pro Stock victories, has volunteered to create a custom-tuned Mopar 6.4L Gen lll Hemi racing engine for this year’s Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes, to be held at the PRI show in December.
Drag Racing Legends to be Honored in June 19th Ceremony
Local Ohio drag racing legends Art and Walt Arfons, Otis “Otie” Smith, and “Akron” Arlen Vanke will be the subjects of an Ohio Historical Marker plaque dedication on Father’s Day, June 19th, at the Akron Fulton Airport to honor their contributions and innovations in the drag racing industry.
Mr. Race Oil to Become Sponsor and Official Lubricant Supplier to White Alligator Racing Team
MR.RACE OIL has announced that it has become an associate sponsor and official lubricants supplier to NHRA Pro Stock Motorcyclist Jerry Savoie and his White Alligator Racing Team. In addition to providing racing oil and lubricants for the WAR Team, MR. RACE OIL will provide technical lubricant analysis and support.
SAM and Lingenfelter Create $10,000 COPO Shootout at 2016 Holley LS Fest
In 2016, Holley’s 7th annual LS Fest will descend on historic Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky for a weekend of GM LS-powered drag racing, drifting, autocross, and more. This year, the drag racing portion of the event will get a shot in the arm thanks to the School of Automotive Machinists and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.
Fastener Intricacies
At first blush, using fasteners properly seems like a straightforward task: tighten them to spec and all is well. But in reality, there are many nuances in the selection and application of fasteners that can make the difference between a well-built engine and a candidate for self-destruction.
Leah Pritchett and Quaker State Join Bob Vandergriff Racing for 2016
Bob Vandergriff Racing will once again field a two-car Top Fuel Dragster team in 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Dave Connolly will be driving the C&J Energy Services dragster with new teammate, Leah Pritchett, driving a dragster backed by Quaker State motor oil.
Oiling Systems for Grassroots Racing
Priority one when choosing an oiling system for any type of racing (grassroots or professional) is to establish what the rules allow and prohibit. Somebody has to read the rule book. Whether that’s you or your customer it doesn’t matter. The oiling system has to fit within the framework of the rule book. Period.
Super Class Act: Super Comp Engines and Drivers are a Different Breed
The three Super Classes are the only ones allowed a throttle stop. In the beginning of the Super Class fixed index racing history, racers had to set up the car and physically control their driving in order to run as close to the index as possible. When the throttle stop entered the picture, things changed drastically.
