AHFS details

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by boster58

Jack , the sport nationals don't count as a National event. It's treated like a open event for AFHS. Also I think Bobby Warren runs a LT4 in his car


Bo Kenney

Bo - the NHRA does not recognize the LT4 combination in F- bodies ..............

[Dave Layer]

Bo

In previos years they DID COUNT Sports Nationals runs in the AHFS system. It was always explained to me that they are National Events w/national points, w/o grading points and 1.15 was the trigger not 1.40. I recieved an 8 HP gift in 2007 1st 1.15+ hit at Indy, 2nd hit 1.130+ @ Columbus Sports. Remember it well.

Apparently that was another 2009 AHFS change that they forgot to announce until after the fact.

Dave

[Mike Crutchfield]

Does anyone have a copy of the rule found on the NHRA website from one year ago before the more resent change in wording? Please let me know.

Mike Crutchfield
800-531-0855

[Jeff Teuton]

Bo, you must have taken speed typing, or you got somebody to do it. You ain't that good. I think the Sportsnationals were in the data until 2009. I think the earned hp adjustments should be rescinded until the end of the year and have 4 triggers to review. Let's face it, NHRA is like a lot of companies, a little short on time and help right now. By Nov 15, we could have all these issues resolved and a true adjustment to the system. I don't see any reason to change the requested adjustments.

[Frank Bialas]

JEFF, you have mail

[Bryan Worner]

Mike, I received a reply from an e mail I sent regarding the horsepower on the LT1!!! It stated that all three runs counted that triggered the review were from the same race!!!! This is NOT how the AHFS has worked in previous years!!!! I will forward that e mail to you and Jeff!! I will also forward this on to Evan Smith, since he is the div. 1 rep!!

This is not right and something needs done, since this will obviously effect me in an upcoming national event that has class elims!!! I'm sure, looking at the combos that were given horsepower, that there are many others in the same boat as me and I hope they voice their displeasures of taking one up the old wazoo!!!

[Bobby Brannon]

It is possible to trigger 3 times at 1 race if it was 3 diffent cars. I asked that question this morning to a Tech offical.

[Jeff Teuton]

It's always been ok for 3 different cars to trigger at any event. However only one per car perevent. Think 3 1s' Brannon.... 1car1driver1event. I need a blackboard.

[Wade_Owens]

Originally Posted by Jeff Teuton

I need a blackboard.

I'd try a cold one first, I'm told it helps teachers "cope",

Wade

[RPinoski1]

Looks like we have been "BAMBOOZLED"

Reread the Major changes #'s 1 and 2 it does say all runs are counted.......not the best runs like we all thought.

And they asked for our input......!!!!!!!!!!


Taken from the 2007 NHRA archives.....


Automatic Horsepower Factoring System (AHFS) changes for 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/10/2007


The NHRA Tech Department has revised, for racers' review, the AHFS factoring system for the Stock and Super Stock eliminator categories for the 2008 season. Two major changes proposed for 2008 are:

1. At national events where class eliminations are run, all runs of class will be included in the AHFS database.

2. Engine family and class/engine averages will be based on the number of runs for any particular combination using a sliding scale. This format will help alleviate the inequity that has existed for combinations that have limited numbers of competitors.

Racers are asked to review the proposed 2008 AHFS format for 2008 and submit their input to racerinput@nhra.com All racers are asked to please include their current permanent number and category for verification of current status.

AHFS 2008

The AHFS is used to review and evaluate runs in Stock and Super Stock for possible horsepower or index 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 NHRA national events only, with the exception of altitude adjusted tracks. At National events where class eliminations are run, all rounds of class are included in the AHFS 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 events 1 through 12 and the second period includes runs from events 13 through 24. The following procedure is used in reviewing run data:

Final qualifying and elimination runs of 1.15 seconds or more, under the index, at NHRA national events, with the exception of altitude adjusted tracks, will trigger an automatic review. Only the quickest run of each event is recorded for each competitor. (The engine family combination must make at least two runs of 1.15 or quicker before a review is triggered to prevent a "one time fast run" from triggering the system.) In reviewing runs of 1.15 or more under the index, the database of runs for the engine family 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 equal to or faster than the numbers shown below, based on the number of runs in the database. Runs of .50 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 equal to or faster than the numbers shown below, based on the number of runs in the database, a change will be initiated.

Runs reviewed
Engine family average or Class/Engine average

1- 5
1.00

6 – 10
0.95

11 – 15
0.90

16 – 20
0.85

21 – more
0.80


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 by the committee. 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 (two in K/SA and eight in L/SA) with a total engine average of .945-second under. Because the overall engine average did not hit the required 0.95 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 1.00-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

1.150 – 1.299
1.25%
-.05

1.300 – 1.399
2.25%
-.10

1.400-or greater
3.25%
-.15
(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 1.40 or more under the index will be reviewed and adjusted as soon as such runs were made. Runs at divisional events and National Opens are included in the 1.40 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 3.25 percent horsepower adjustment or index reduction will be initiated immediately. The decision to adjust horsepower or to reduce the index will be at the discretion of the NHRA Tech Department.