I recently attended the NHRA Sport Compact Fall Nationals at Englishtown Raceway Park, New Jersey last sunday (Oct 5) and was walking around the pits. I saw a trailer with Hahn Racecraft on the side and wasn't sure if it was them or just a team using Hahn products. Turns out it was Hahn. He brought the 11 second eclipse and a Pontiac Sunfire to do some testing on up and coming kits.

The Hahn Racecraft cars had a bummer weekend but for the short 60ft or so that the eclipse ran it looked like it pulls real hard. After his first pass, I went back to the pits and talked to him to find out what happend. They installed a twin disk clutch and was trying out the new setup which obviously they won't be running again (His exact quote was "We test and break sh@t so you don't have to") as it just doesn't hold the 550 hp they are producing. It was a shame as I was looking forward to an Eclipse doing an 11 second pass. The sunfire also suffered some woes on the track but I didn't ask what happened to that one. I was just amazed to actually talk to the guys at Hahn and see the same exact kit you buy from them on their cars. Even the Cartech fuel unit was still being used - I was shocked as I didn't even install that unit.


I was talking to one of the Hahn guys (It might have been Bill) and he said that the stage III fuel systems should be out this week. He said that was his main focus once he got back to the shop. I didn't get much detail about it but hopefully he will update here soon. It's definitely cool that he takes the time to talk to you at the event and is personable. He's not one of the guys that is too important to take some time out and socialize.


The most interesting car I saw was for all you 1st generation guys. It was an AWD Eagle Talon (with four drag slicks - looked mean) making over 800 hp and did 8.7 at 160 mph. The car hauled major ass and produced three consistent runs at about the same time and speed. The guy definitely knew what he was doing (makes his own custom transmissions). He has a web page with a video download. Check it out and you'll see what I mean - http://www.shepracing.com/


The only other interesting cars I saw where the drag SRT4 from Mopar (which only made one good run at about 11 seconds, the other times it broke and the final break locked the wheels at the starting line forcing it to be towed) and the hometown team of Street Glow. They had two cars with an inline 6 cylinder (turbo and nitrous) that consistently ran high 7 second runs at 200 mph. That was pretty impressive.


P.S. Moderators, feel free to move this post to the pits. I posted it here as I thought some of the Hahn turbo owners may be interested as well as some 1g owners.


--Kurt

Are you sure it was the 11.05 sec RS they had with them? I was under the impression it had the 3-speed ATX and new fuel system... twin disk clutch and Cartech FPR?!? huh? :wary

Yes, it was the 11 sec eclipse. He said he brought it only because it was running so strong at home with no problems. I also believe it also had the same manual transmission that we all run (the housing looked just like mine) however, the internals may be a bit different. It definitely looked like a standard 5 speed (including the gear shifter in the car). Too bad it had to have problems that day.

--Kurt

That must have been cool to see. Also the guy you mention is John Shepherd. A pioneer for DSM's. To many racers, he's a legend. Fast cars indeed. Must have been a good weekend. :thumbsup


http://www.cardomain.com/id/jasvbts2k2
"The ONLY Honda I'd mod would be ASIMO"

fookouttahur! i wanted to go but i didnt have my car. :-( i would love to see hahn's RS. whoa, it must have been a nice day. and ya, john shepard has one of the fastest DSMs! crazy fast

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Are you sure it was the 11.05 sec RS they had with them? I was under the impression it had the 3-speed ATX and new fuel system... twin disk clutch and Cartech FPR?!? huh? :wary

The Neon was the three speed. That drivetrain now resides on the HRC shop. The RS is a 5 speed.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Smooth idle? We don't need no stinking smooth idle.

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The RS is a 5 speed.

a 3.55 Neon SOHC 5 speed, but still a 5 speed ;-)

I spoke with John Shepard briefly at the track as his was busy repairing his car. After his third 8 second run, he had some top end damage. I watched him take the valve cover off and was pulling metal from the head. I believe he said that he broke a rocker arm and was probably done for the day. For as fast as his car was, I was surprised to see no major sponsers all over the side of his car. He does have some small sponsers like ACT clutch and a performance head shop in his hometown. This made it even more impressive that he was beating some of the big time sponsered guys.

It was neat to talk to Hahn. I only wish that his cars ran better as this was the first time I saw him at a track in New Jersey. He said he was more interested in running the Pontiac Sunfire as he is working a possible deal with the GM folks. Unfortunately, the run I saw for that car wasn't good.


--Kurt

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I spoke with John Shepard briefly at the track as his was busy repairing his car. After his third 8 second run, he had some top end damage. I watched him take the valve cover off and was pulling metal from the head. I believe he said that he broke a rocker arm and was probably done for the day. For as fast as his car was, I was surprised to see no major sponsers all over the side of his car. He does have some small sponsers like ACT clutch and a performance head shop in his hometown. This made it even more impressive that he was beating some of the big time sponsered guys.It was neat to talk to Hahn. I only wish that his cars ran better as this was the first time I saw him at a track in New Jersey. He said he was more interested in running the Pontiac Sunfire as he is working a possible deal with the GM folks. Unfortunately, the run I saw for that car wasn't good.--Kurt

yeah shepards car is sweet and he can drive the shit out of it too...

most of the AWD pro drivers use 4 slicks on there cars