Hanna Launches Horse Power Gear Apparel

Courtesy of Horse Power Gear

DEER PARK, Texas - Drag Racing Crew Chief and entrepreneur Will Hanna has recently launched his latest venture, Horse Power Gear Apparel.  Horse Power Gear will offer a full line of drag race themed apparel and offers a full range of design services for race teams, tracks and businesses.

Hanna, who has driven and still acts as a Crew Chief/Consultant in the Top Alcohol and Pro Mod categories, also runs and operates the popular internet forums InsideTopAlcohol.com and InsideCompRacing.com, cites this is an idea that been in development for several years.

“I came up with the concept several years ago,” said Hanna.  “The right opportunity just never really presented itself until this year.  We have an award winning designer working for us and state of the art equipment, so we are able to offer a really great product.  I had no desire to be part of a cut-rate cheapo deal.”

The brand recently launched three men’s T-Shirt designs along with two women’s designs.  Hats and other accessories will be available soon.

“When we brainstormed the concept, we have a pretty long list of original, kick ass slogans and designs we plan to produce,” Hanna commented.  “We have hats and more designs in the works.”

 

 

Horse Power Gear is also offering a unique opportunity for race teams, tracks and businesses that to sell their apparel on the HorsePowerGear.com website.

“I think it’s a big opportunity, especially for a sportsman racer to be able to have their shirts and apparel sold on our website,” cited Hanna.  “This is a service we offer our design customers.  We plan on marketing our brand and website pretty hard, so it creates an opportunity to sell more apparel than the average sportsman racer normally receives.  Not to mention it’s a great resource for them to make their apparel accessible to fans, friends and family all over the world.”

Horse Power Gear also offers bulk pricing plans for tracks and businesses that are interested in carrying the Horse Power Gear brand.

Check out our complete line and order online at www.HorsePowerGear.com.  International orders welcome!

Crew Chief Will Hanna Released from Foster Racing

Courtesy of Pro Race Communications

DEER PARK, Texas – After a five year run with the Foster Racing NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car, Crew Chief Will Hanna was informed yesterday the team was releasing him due to budget cut backs.  Hanna and driver/co-owner Chris Foster won the 2012 US Nationals, two Division 3 Championships (2009, 2011) and finished in the top ten nationally three times.  They also made the quickest two runs in the TAFC category this season to date at 5.476.

“I didn’t see this coming, but I understand,” said Hanna.  “Like many of the Top Alcohol teams out there, Chris and his dad John primarily fund their racing out of their pocket.  When the money gets tight, you have to make tough decisions.  It’s really impressive what we were able to accomplish with the budget we raced on.  I thank the Fosters for the opportunity they gave me to tune their car, and I wish them the best going forward.”

Hanna, 34, who has also won Championships as a tuner with Jason Cannon (2003 Division 2) and Fred Hanssen (2011 FIA European Championship) is looking forward to what the future might bring.  He has also worked with several ADRL Pro Extreme teams over the past few years.

“As the saying goes, one door closes, another opens,” stated Hanna.  “I have been blessed to have a lot of opportunities in this sport at a relatively young age.  I’d like to think my best days are still ahead of me.  I have had success with a number of teams over the years, and learned that different cars, combinations and drivers take different approaches.  I have worked with teams on a budget and teams with big budgets.  I’m looking forward to what the future brings.”

With experience racing in Europe, Hanna welcomes the opportunity to race internationally.

“I enjoyed racing in Europe, and I would be open to going back,” Hanna commented.  “I still haven’t had a chance to make it down to Australia yet; it’s definitely on my bucket list.”

 

Foster Hoping to Rebound in Charlotte

Courtesy of Foster Racing
Photo courtesy of David Smith/Pro Sportsman Association

CONCORD, N.C. – Former two-time NHRA Division 3 Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Chris Foster will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing first round loss at last month’s Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., during this weekend’s Dollar General 4-Wide Nationals at Z-Max Dragway just outside of Charlotte.

The Foster Racing/DragRaceHose.com Mustang ran career numbers in Gainesville and hopes to build on them in Charlotte, a track known for record performances.  Prior to Gainesville, Foster had been 5.54 (at Charlotte last year), and ripped off runs of 5.52, 5.50 and 5.52 in qualifying to place him second in qualifying, just .004 off the pole.  The team lead by Will Hanna is cautiously optimistic heading into Charlotte.

“We let one get away from us in Gainesville,” said Foster.  “We had a good running car and the car just made a freak hard move to the right, right off the line.  Then it had the front end up and got out in the marbles before I had a chance to get it corrected.  It was just a freak deal.

“We look at Charlotte last year as another race we let get away from us,” Foster continued.  “Will and the guys have the car running on a string right now.  After losing in the first round in Gainesville, we all can’t wait to get back to the track to try to redeem ourselves.  You get excited as it is going to race in Charlotte.  It’s a fast track.  Hopefully we can make a good showing for DragRaceHose.com, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, NRE X-1 Heads, Hoosier Tires, McNiece Racing, Motorsports Unlimited, RBS Superchargers, Manton Rockerarms, Red Line Oil, and Ace Clutches.”

Qualifying begins on Friday with two sessions for the alcohol cars, followed by one final session Saturday morning.  Eliminations begin Saturday afternoon with round one and final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

Follow the Foster Racing team on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FosterRacingTAFC.

Former FIA Champ Hanssen Set to Make US Debut in Pomona

Courtesy of Pro Race Communications
Photo courtesy of Norwegians Racing

 

DEER PARK, Texas – Former FIA European Champion Fred Hanssen’s dream of competing in the USA is getting closer to reality as his Norwegians Racing team is set to make their NHRA debut at the upcoming O’Reilly Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 14-17. After winning the 2011 FIA Top Methanol Dragster Championship, the team took a year off to ship the car and equipment to the US in preparation to compete in 2013 and possibly beyond.

Hanssen, who operates his commercial fishing business in Afjord, Norway, is excited to be close to realizing his dream.

“To race in the US and against some of the best in the world has always been the dream,” said Hanssen. “Hopefully this year we can learn how to compete on the US tracks and against the ‘big guys.’ We plan on racing at select events this season, but our goal is to run a full schedule in 2014.”

While Hanssen has yet to compete at an NHRA event, his Crew Chief Will Hanna and his car have many races under their belt. Hanna, of Deer Park, Texas, tuned the car prior to Hanssen buying the car from owner Howard Main and driver Darvin Martinets in 2007-2008. Hanna was hired on to stay with the team as the car moved to European competition in 2009.

“It’s been a while since this car has run at a NHRA track,” stated Hanna. “We have made some changes to the car since then and the track prep at a national event has really advanced. We are going to test in Vegas the week before Pomona, so hopefully that will get us prepared. We have our work cut out for us; there are going to be some really good teams in Pomona.”

Hanssen and Hanna have enjoyed quite a bit of success together in Europe. In his first official run in competition, he reset the European speed record with a run over 266 mph. Hanssen broke through to score two wins and a runner-up to win the 2011 European Championship. He has been as quick as 5.30 at 269 mph in his blown alcohol dragster.

“We have been 5.30 twice in Europe,” commented Hanssen. “We definitely want to find the 5.20’s, but that’s not so easy. That is what it will take to win in the US.”

Much of Hanssen’s European crew will make the trip to Pomona as well. Per Skjoelberg, Ingvald Fredasvik and Arne Petter Rabben will be joined by Americans J.B. Hudson (Assistant Crew Chief) and Chad Baker.

“When we were going for the Championship in Europe, it was fun, but there was a lot of pressure,” Hanssen explained. “There will be pressure in Pomona, but we are going to have a lot of fun doing it. This is going to be a dream come true for us.”

TAN

Newburgh Almost All The Way Back From Crash

Courtesy of Todd Veney/Pro Sportsman Association

After a devastating crash two years ago at the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago, where he slammed hard into the wall but escaped uninjured, Alcohol Funny Car veteran Kevin Newburgh is finally making his way back into competition. For Newburgh, a working man from a small town in the heart of the Midwest, the prototypical "little guy," you don't just come back overnight. It cost him half a year's salary to rebuild.

"It really cleaned me out," says Newburgh, a 43-year-old mechanic at Pillar's Repair in his hometown of Rock Falls, Ill. "I do this all out of my pocket, and it can be pretty rough sometimes. I had to get a new body and have the chassis front-halved."

On that fateful run, Newburgh crossed the centerline, corrected, and the next thing he knew, he was into the wall and the body was flying off the car. "I got out of the groove but thought I had it all straightened out," he says. "I clipped a cone and cranked the wheel hard, and the car just took off like a bullet, shot across the track in the opposite direction, and smacked the wall sideways. The body was ruined and the chassis really got bent up."

Newburgh entered a couple of races last season and will complete his return with a few outings late this year with a drastically different combination: a Lencodrive. "I've been kicking the idea around for a while now," he says. "I was a little hesitant about making the initial investment, but for what I'm trying to do and the way I have to race, it should be advantageous."

When there's no clutch, there's a lot less between-round maintenance and a huge portion of the consumable-parts budget is gone, too. It also requires fewer personnel. "I don't have a lot of help, so it should make a big difference for a team like mine," says Newburgh, who races with his ex-father-in-law, Jerry Heckler (for whom the car, "The Heckler," is named). "We're still friends, and he really helps out a lot, both financially and at the racetrack."

Newburgh also will be assisted by two-time Division 3 Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Chris Foster and Foster's crew chief, Will Hanna, who has both tuning and driving experience with the automatic-transmission/torque converter setup. Their roles have been reversed for much of this season; Newburgh often is part of the huge all-volunteer crew on Foster's car.

"Going to the races to help Chris is about as enjoyable as racing my own car," says Newburgh, who handles the bottom-end work on Foster's car. "I love the competition side of racing, and I like just being around everybody. For me, racing is more than driving the car."

Newburgh ran for years on the UDRA circuit, with IHRA until they discontinued Alcohol Funny Car and a lot of other categories, and, for the last several years, in NHRA competition. "I like running NHRA races," says the former UDRA Rookie of the Year. "Everybody's got the same complaints they've always had – the payouts are horrible – but I still love racing. What I'm really looking forward to is just getting this car back out there, getting it running right, and using a couple of races here toward the end of the season to get a decent tune-up for next year. Hopefully, next year I can do a full schedule."

Pro Sportsman Association Is Official

Courtesy of Will Hanna

We are pleased to announce that the Pro Sportsman Association is now an official entity.  The Pro Sportsman Association has filed as a nonprofit corporation.  Much like a group of dairy farmers who form an association to run ads like the ‘got milk?’ commercials, we are seeking to increase our fan base and subsequently race track demand for our classes by improved and increased promotion.

The PSA will operate within the scope of their mission statement: “The Pro Sportsman Association is a non-profit organization formed to build the value and ‘brand’ of Top Alcohol racing.  We are an organization primarily funded by the membership dues of racers, racing businesses and fans who have a vested interest in seeing Top Alcohol racing reach the proverbial ‘next level.’  We plan to reach our objectives through the hiring of a dedicated PR and Marketing team.  Our objective is to increase the support, participation and profitability of NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol racing.  We intend to specifically target increased media exposure in both local and national markets.  By building our value to both the tracks and NHRA, we hope to not only maintain but increase the number of events that feature our classes as front gate draws.  By building the awareness of our classes through media and other promotions, we hope to build our fan following in the long term.  We also hope our efforts lead to more new teams entering the Top Alcohol classes.  The PSA will not get involved in performance based rules issues. We do not intend to become our own racing series aside from NHRA. The scope of the organization is to be a promotional tool for the Top Alcohol classes, not a mediation board between NHRA and the racers.”

The initial board of directors has been established as follows:

President: Will Hanna

Vice President of Business Membership: Noel Manton

Vice President of Racer/Fan Membership: Marty Thacker

Treasurer: Ray Drew

Secretary: Mark Billington

All board members are serving free of charge and the PSA will hold an election of board members by their membership June 1.

“I’d like to thank my fellow board members for the time and effort they have put into this becoming official so quickly,” said Hanna.  “The race season is quickly approaching.  We have a lot of good things already in the works for the alcohol racers, but we need to get membership dues in as quick as possible.  There are a number of admin costs we need to tackle as a new company along with generating operating capital to achieve our objectives.  What we are trying to do is relatively unprecedented in the drag racing world, but we believe we can achieve unprecedented results for the alcohol classes.  The more membership support we have, the greater rewards we will be able to achieve.

“I feel very confident we will reach our goal of 100 members,” Hanna continued.  “Judging from the feedback we all have gotten from fellow racers and businesses, I firmly believe we will exceed that goal.  There are roughly 100 teams in each class, and probably more than 100 businesses out there that are actively engaged in alcohol racing.  If we can get 35 teams from each class and 30 businesses, we will meet our goal.”

The PSA is close to finalizing terms with a well known figure in the sport to handle the promotional duties of the association.

The PSA is offering racers and businesses an introductory offer to save $100 on membership dues for 2012.  If a member joins before March 1, dues will be $595.  After March 1, dues will be $695.  The PSA will also offer a two-payment option with the first payment due Feb. 15 of $400, and final payment of $295 plus a $5 late filing fee by June 1. 

The PSA asks members to send checks made out to the Pro Sportsman Association to:

PSA New Membership

8619 W Lynx Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53225

Please include Name, Address, Phone, Email, Class and number or business name and type.

The PSA plans to be able to accept credit cards and paypal in the very near future.  Email Treasurer Ray Drew at rdrew@wi.rr.com and he will contact you as soon as we are able to process those payments.

The PSA hopes to have their website, www.prosportsmanassociation.com up and running within the next few weeks.  We are also in the process of finalizing a fan/crew membership level.

Any questions can be sent to Will Hanna at will.hanna@insidetopalcohol.com

Foster wins second Division 3 Championship

Courtesy of Will Hanna/Pro Race Communications

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- While there were definitely some up's and down's along the way, Chris Foster and the Foster Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team were able to score their second NHRA Division 3 Championship in 2011. A strong scorecard of three wins and two runner-ups were able to place the team 9th in national points standings, their second top-ten finish in NHRA competition.

In contrast to their 2009 Championship where they won by winning their last race of the year in late October to clinch the championship, Foster and his Will Hanna led team wrapped up the title in August this season.

The team debuted a new 2011 Mustang body on their Brad Hadman chassis and started the year with a win at the Division 4 event in Houston. After their strong debut, the team struggled to find traction at the Division 3 opener in Indianapolis, smoking the tires on each run in qualifying and failing to make the show. The team bounced back by reaching the final of their next three Division 3 events. They posted a runner-up finish at the Joliet event, won the Norwalk event, and another runner-up at the Columbus event. The team clinched the championship with a semifinal finish in Bowling Green, but traveled to the final Division 4 event in Houston due to sponsor commitment, and book-ended the year with another win.

"This year really was a team effort," said Foster, the Davenport, Iowa, native. "There were a couple of races where Will had to be in Europe and was tuning the car over the phone. I normally focus on servicing the car between rounds and Will concentrates on the tune-up. We had to shuffle some responsibilities around so I could be his eyes and ears, going over computer data, reading plugs, bearings and things. We all stepped up and got the job done again.

"Needless to say this was a great year for the team," Foster continued. "We finished second in Division 4 last year. While that's not a terrible year, once you win the Championship; you're not satisfied with anything else. We bounced back big time this year. We figured out our problems last year towards the end of the year and started going in the right direction. We started the year out with a win in Houston. Just like in a football game, we scored first and put the pressure on the rest of the field."

As good as the year was Hanna feels changes made at the final race of the season will give Foster a more consisten race car in 2012.

"We had the car going in the right direction towards the end of last season," stated Hanna. "As we developed the combination, it was just more and more of an animal early in the run. If we hit it right and got it hooked up or got on a good starting line, it would fly down low. As the tracks got warmer, we struggled at times to find the right set up to get it off the line without smoking the tires.

"Once we had the championship clinched, we tried a few new things at the last race of the year," explained Hanna. "Without going into great detail, we are very excited about hitting the track again next year."

Foster and team will be displaying the car in the Goodridge Hoses & Fittings booth at the upcoming International Motorsports Industry Show in Indianapolis, Dec. 8-10. The NHRA Division 3 Awards Banquet will cap off the weekend that Saturday night.

"We're honored that Goodridge invited us to display our car at such a big event," said Foster. "It's a nice way to end a great season. I'm really proud of what we achieved as a team this year; I had a great crew behind me all year. My dad John, my step-dad Dwight Baxter, Will, David McDermott, JB Hudson, Kevin Newburgh, Chad Baker, Rick Hanna and Bruce Meyer all performed flawlessly, no matter what the situation was. I also had a great group of sponsors behind us this season in Goodridge Hose and Fittings, DragRaceHose.com, Motorsports Unlimited, Noonan Race Engineering X-1 Cylinder Heads, RBS Superchargers, Morel Lifters, Manton Rockerarms, Red Line Oil, Victory Valves, Ace Clutch Discs, Flatout Gaskets, InsideTopAlcohol.com, GRP Connecting Rods, Hoosier Racing Tires and Track Tamer Engines. Racing at this level wouldn't be possible without their support."

While it's been over a month since their last race and there is still a couple of months left before their first outing, Foster is quick to point out the word 'offseason' is a misnomer.

"We have been very busy since the last race," cited Foster. "Between getting parts on the car recertified and getting the car shined up for the show, it's been a busy few weeks. Once we're done with the show and we can tear the car down to a bare chassis, there will be plenty more work to do. There's never much of a break over the winter. Usually you work until late on the night before you're heading out for the first race.

Find out more about Foster Racing's group of marketing partners at these website below:

Goodridge.net - Push the Limits with Goodridge Hoses & Fittings
DragRaceHose.com - Sportsman drag racer Will Hanna's DragRaceHose.com is your one stop shop for all your hose and fittings needs "Crimpin' ain't Easy"

NoonanRaceEngineering.com.au - Find out more about the cylinder head champions like Chris Foster and Frankie Taylor use - the X-1.

RBSSuperchargers.com - Check out RBS' complete line of new and used supercharger, fuel injection and blower drive accessories.

MantonRockerarms.com - Stiffer valve train and improved geometry equals more horsepower.

RedLineOil.com - Champions like Chris Foster rely on Red Line Oil. Find out more about their complete line of synthetic lubricants for your racing and street applications.

TitaniumValve.com - Performance and reliability in the valvetrain are a must to win championships, that's why Chris Foster relies on Victory Valves.

GRPConRods.com Find out more about GRP's complete line of high-quality aluminum rods.

Ace-Mfg.com - For performance and consistency, turn to Ace Clutch Discs.

HoosierRacingTire.com - Champions like Chris Foster trust Hoosier Racing Tires to get their horsepower to the ground!

Flatoutgroup.com - Foster Racing trust Flatout Gaskets for all of their engine sealing needs!

TrackTamerEngines.com - Foster Racing trusts "The Professor" Larry Goldbeck of Track Tamer Engines for all of their automotive machining needs.

Courtesy of Robert Grice, Extreme Photography