NEW RULES FOR SUPERCHARGED AND NITROUS PRO MODS

IHRA has just posted new rules for IHRA Pro Modifieds as of 4/29/04, which DRO assumes will be effective at the IHRA national event at Virginia Motorsports Park May 28-

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30. The supercharged racers got hit with a 20 percent reduction in overdrive from 25 percent overdrive to a now max of 20 percent. On the other hand the nitrous cars got a "boost" from the rules when the MSD 7531 "Traction Control" ignition was made legal for the nitrous equipped cars.

A dejected Jim Oddy told the Agent that "every time they make one of these overdrive changes it costs us about $100,000 just to get back what we lost." That dollar figure was seconded by engine builder Mike Janis. Let's hope the new rules will finally make everyone happy. Nahhh, not a chance! See DRO Editor Jeff Burk's take on the changes in News & Analysis. [4-29-2004]

'BIG BANG' SCHEDULED AT HERBERT'S

The crowd will be gathering again on May 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the 14th edition of Doug Herbert's Performance Parts open house/super sale. It's the biggest thing to hit Cherryville, North Carolina since, well, last year's event.

"There were an estimated 7,000 people who came to last year's open house," said Herbert. "That even surprised the mayor because we doubled the size of Cherryville for one day.

Doug Herbert in a different cockpit than we usually see him. In this vehicle, the wings are for lift.

"We'll have dragsters and funny cars, circle-track cars and Sportsman drag racing cars to look at," added Herbert, who will not only display his Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster, but plans to have a customer sit in the car when the crew fires up the 6,500 horsepower engine. "We have thousands of dollars in door prizes to give away, including two tickets to an NHRA national event."

The main event is something Herbert calls the "Big Bang" car.

"We put a brick on the gas pedal of a car and keep it there until the engine blows up," he said. "The customers really like it. Why? Because this is the United States and we can do crazy stuff like this."

Herbert's Performance Parts is located at 2405 Lincolnton Highway, Cherryville, NC. Phone 704-435-0095 for information or directions. (Ron Lewis photo) [4-29-2004]