2011 ahfs

[Mike Crutchfield]

Here is the new system that NHRA has come up with. Notice that all runs count at Nationals ,LODRS races and altitude tracks also. They did stick with averaging and not just one run to trigger HP. Please notice there is a part that addresses the combination that need HP back and how that is triggered. This is all the council knows at present but if you have any question please feel free to contact your division SRAC council member or watch for further update on the NHRA Lucas site.

Thanks

Mike Crutchfield
Division 2 S/SS SRAC COUNCIL MEMBER

Automatic Horsepower Factoring System (AHFS) explained
The AHFS is used to review and evaluate runs in Stock and Super Stock for possible horsepower adjustments. The review is conducted twice per racing season. The two reviews are compiled individually so the data is not cumulative. Runs included in the AHFS database are limited to final qualifying runs (Q data) and all elimination runs (E data) at all NHRA National and LODRS events. (At events where class eliminations are run, all runs are included in the AHFS database. Only the first round of class is part of qualifying and therefore is part of the "Q" database.) The "Q" data and "E" data files are the official data gathered by the NHRA timing system and processed through the NHRA Information Technology department. NHRA "Q" data and "E" data are the only data files used for the AHFS.

The first review period includes data from National and LODRS events 1 through 11 and the second period includes runs from events 12 through 23. The following procedure is used in reviewing run data:

Final qualifying, class eliminations, and elimination runs of 1.00 seconds or more, under the index, at NHRA National and LODRS events will trigger an automatic review. (The combination must make at least two runs of 1.00 or quicker before a review is triggered to prevent a "one time fast run" from triggering the system.) In reviewing runs of 1.00 or more under the index, the database of runs for the engine combination being reviewed are put through three screenings as listed below. The screenings will look for an overall engine family average or class/engine average faster than 0.850-second under. Runs of .350 and slower are not included in calculating the engine or class/engine averages:

•Engine family average: The overall engine average for all cars, regardless of class, running the particular engine combination being reviewed are included in this screening.
•Class/engine average where engine is run: The class/engine average of the car running the specific combination in the class that triggered the review is studied.
•Body style and transmission type: Also considered in the above two screening processes are body style of the engine combination being reviewed and transmission type. Adjustments are only in effect for the specific car model being evaluated. The body style are generally classified by the OEM auto manufacturers' definition of "platform", i.e., the Camaro and Firebird body are both based on the same platform and therefore considered the same with regard to body-style classification. In some instances, however, more than one body style will trigger a review. With regards to transmission type, if the class average triggers the review, the adjustment would be for classes with the type of transmission triggering the change. However, if an engine family average triggers the review, the adjustment would be for all transmission types.
If either the engine family average or the class/engine average are found to be faster than 0.850-second under, a change will be initiated.
To more clearly illustrate how the AHFS program affects a given combination, the following is a hypothetical evaluation in Stock class for a 305-cubic-inch, 215 factory rated horsepower, fuel-injected Camaro during a review period:

Two K/SA Camaros running this combination ran 1.214- and 1.187- second under the index, triggering a review. As per the procedure outlined above, the overall engine average is analyzed first. Upon reviewing the engine average made by the 305/215/241 FI combination, 10 runs had been recorded (2 in K/SA and 8 in L/SA) with a total engine average of .845-second under. Because the overall engine average did not hit the required 0.850 under, the combination did not warrant a horsepower adjustment based on overall engine average.

The next step, per the procedure outlined above, is a class/engine review. The class of the car that actually triggered the review was K/SA. The class review revealed that K/SA had a class/engine average for the combination in question of 1.201-second under, therefore surpassing the 0.850-second-under requirement and signaling a horsepower adjustment for all 305/215/241 FI Camaros.

An important element to note and one most often misunderstood by racers is that although a K/SA Camaro affected the change, the L/SA 305/215/241 FI Camaros that run this combination also received a horsepower adjustment. The reason is that a specific combination can run in more than one class based on NHRA rules; therefore, all cars with the specific engine combination, transmission and body style will be affected.

Once the need for an adjustment is determined, the following sliding-scale formula, based on a percentage of horsepower, is used to calculate the horsepower increase:


Under Index
Horsepower Increase
Index Change

1.000-1.099
1.25%
-.05

1.100-1.199
2.25%
-.10

1.200-1.249
3.25%
-.15
(immediate change)

1.250-1.299
4.25%
-.20 (immediate change)

1.300-1.349
5.25%
-.25 (immediate change)

1.350-1.399
6.25%
-.30 (immediate change)

1.400-1.449
7.25%
-.35 (immediate change)

1.450- 1.499
8.25%
-.40 (immediate change)

1.500- 1.549
9.25%
-.45 (immediate change)

1.550- 1.599
10.25%
-.50 (immediate change)

1.600- 1.649
11.25%
-.55 (immediate change)

1.650- 1.699
12.25%
-.60 (immediate change)

1.700- 1.749
13.25%
-.65 (immediate change)

1.750- 1.799
14.25%
-.70 (immediate change)

1.800- 1.849
15.25%
-.75 (immediate change)

1.850- 1.899
16.25%
-.80 (immediate change)

1.900- 1.949
17.25%
-.85 (immediate change)

1.950- 1.999
18.25%
-.90 (immediate change)





Adjustments are rounded up to the nearest full horsepower even if the fraction is below 0.5 horsepower. As an example, 2.15 horsepower is rounded to 3 horsepower. The quickest run, by the combination being reviewed, is used to determine the adjustment percentage.

Runs of 1.200 or more under the index will be reviewed and adjusted Tuesday following the event. Runs at National, and Divisional Events, including those at altitude factored race tracks, are included in the 1.200-second-or-more-under analysis. This is done to better react to any out-of-line indexes or under-horsepowered combinations. Therefore, at all such events, a horsepower adjustment or index reduction will be initiated Tuesday following the event. The decision to adjust horsepower or to reduce the index will be at the discretion of the NHRA Tech Department.

In addition to reviews resulting in a horsepower increase, a written request (only one request per competitor, per review period.) will trigger a review for the purpose of a decrease in horsepower factor or index adjustment. The request must include eliminator, year, model, engine size, advertised horsepower, factored horsepower, and class; to be eligible. Incomplete requests will not be reviewed.

The screenings will look for an overall engine family average less than 0.550-seconds under. Runs of 0.100-second under and slower are not included in calculating the engine average:

In addition, the combination must NOT make two runs of 0.650 or quicker for the review to continue or any run 0.850 or quicker.)

Engine family average: The overall engine average for all cars, regardless of class, running the particular engine combination being reviewed is included in this screening.

If the engine family average is found to be slower than 0.550-second under, a change will be initiated.

To more clearly illustrate how the AHFS program affects a given combination, the following is a hypothetical evaluation in Stock Eliminator for a 305 cubic-inch, 150 factory rated horsepower, carbureted Camaro during a review period:

A written request triggered a review by the committee. As per the procedure outlined above, there were NOT 2 runs 0.650-second or quicker preventing a review or ANY run 0.850-second or quicker preventing a review. The overall engine average is analyzed next. Upon reviewing the engine average made by the combination, 10 runs had been recorded (2 in I/SA and 8 in J/SA) with a total engine average of 0.535-second under. Because the overall engine average did not hit the required 0.550-second under, the combination proceeds with the evaluation.

Once the need for an adjustment is determined, the following sliding-scale formula, based on a percentage of horsepower, is used to calculate the horsepower decrease:

Under Index
Horsepower Decrease
Index Change

0.066-quicker
1.25%
+.05

0.04-0.065
2.25%
+.10


Adjustments are rounded up to the nearest full horsepower even if the fraction is below 0.5 horsepower. As an example, 2.15 horsepower is rounded to 3 horsepower. The quickest run, by the combination being reviewed, is used to determine the adjustment percentage. The decision to adjust horsepower or to increase the index will be at the discretion on the AHFS Committee.

[Toby Lang]

Originally Posted by Mike Crutchfield

Final qualifying, class eliminations, and elimination runs of 1.00 seconds or more, under the index, at NHRA National and LODRS events will trigger an automatic review.

OK, I have a few questions. It says "Final qualifying." Does this mean they will only use what it says on the final qualifying sheet? For instance, someone goes 1.05, 1.03 and 1.01 under on his 3 qualifying passes. Since the 1.05 under only shows on the final qualifying sheet, does it only count as one trigger or do the other runs count as triggers also?

Originally Posted by Mike Crutchfield

Two K/SA Camaros running this combination ran 1.214- and 1.187- second under the index, triggering a review.

Under the new rules doesn't a run of more than 1.20 under mean this combo will get hit with automatic HP? Why would you still need to review the engine average?


-Toby

[Mike Crutchfield]

Toby
This is not the final draft, it is only the one they sent the council and I am sure correction will be made to match the changes before it hits the web site. That should read two runs under 1.00 under will trigger the review. 1.20 is automatic and the sliding scale kicks in after that.
And yes ALL runs count including all class runs and all LODRS runs. The wording can be a little confusing to me also.

Thanks
Mike

[Andys dad]

What is the "immediate change" number related to?

[art leong]

More Automatic Help For Slugs
The automatic number is 1.20 Does that means a factored 1.2
Also the hit automatic hit increases by .05 seconds for every .05 seconds faster you go.
I think that sucks.

[B Aceves]

Originally Posted by Mike Crutchfield

Toby
This is not the final draft, it is only the one they sent the council and I am sure correction will be made to match the changes before it hits the web site. That should read two runs under 1.00 under will trigger the review. 1.20 is automatic and the sliding scale kicks in after that.
And yes ALL runs count including all class runs and all LODRS runs. The wording can be a little confusing to me also.

Thanks
Mike

Mike, Im sorry but why do you even post this if its not the FINAL DRAFT ! ?
Not really a good decision if you want my 2 cents.

[Toby Lang]

Originally Posted by Andys dad

What is the "immediate change" number related to?

I believe the number you're talking about is the index change for classes that don't use an HP/weight ratio.

So if a car goes 1.23 under it will get an immediate 3.25% increase in horsepower or an immediate .15 reduction in index, whichever is applicable.


-Toby

[hadtobethere]

Once the need for an adjustment is determined, the following sliding-scale formula, based on a percentage of horsepower, is used to calculate the horsepower increase:


Under Index
Horsepower Increase
Index Change

1.000-1.099
1.25%
-.05

......so what does -.85 to -.99 get?

[Ed Wright]

Looking pretty good to me. Should bring the really bogus stuff in line a lot quicker. I like both transmissions getting adjusted also. Looks like the tech dept. has put a lot of effort in it.
I may be nuts, but I'm a lot more optimistic about next year.

[Jeff Lee]

I don't get the index adjustment. The index covers all vehicle combinations (in the example K/SA) so why would it drop .05 or more?
Sorry, not understanding how that is possible...