High-Tek Headers!

By: Bruce Biegler September 11, 2006

Within their never-ending quest for performance improvements for both the Eaton Cutler Hammer Pro Mod team as well as valued ERD customers, Carl Spiering Motorsports has undertaken some interesting experiments during recent events.

One of those initiatives for the team is a current test mode for a revolutionary set of exhaust headers which are prototype creations from Kelly Campbell at TEK. The headers are of an interesting configuration with a collector system which resembles a Super Comp dragster or Pro Stock car application but have seldom if ever been seen on a supercharged Pro Modified car.

“Kelly and I got together and decided we could do some R&D together,” Carl revealed. “They (TEK) are trying to develop a collector header for this class -- something which has only been seen before in the Pro Street because of the required muffler. Our plans are however to run them without a muffler. It’s really a very modern header style with a whole bunch of technology which Kelly learned from his vast experience in both NHRA Pro Stock and IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock.”

“We are going to give it a go for a few races and see where it leads us,” he added.

The new headers have shown some serious promise. Carl qualified #3 at both of the last two IHRA races using them, running 6.152 secs (at Norwalk) and 6.133 secs at Epping, NH.

The headers are just one of many innovative behind-the-scene projects which Spiering Motorsports and ERD are involved with. That type of R&D is a necessary and continuing aspect for the team.

“As rules and class performances change and improve you have to adapt,” Carl continued. “Competition in Pro Modified is so fierce that you have to be constantly looking for new angles. When we are not at the race track Terry Vince and I keep working hard -- that’s important to keeping our momentum going.”

(Bruce Biegler photos)