Hunter Equipment Goes Racing Hunter Engineering equipment is not just the first choice of successful automobile service providers. Top racing teams choose Hunter as well. Indy Car Racing Dec 97 In Indy car racing Hunter has proven itself a winner for the Firestone Racing Team, providers of tire service to top racers. Yokahama's Precision Service Racing Group, providers of tire service for IMSA and other sports car competition chose Hunter tire changers and balancers. Firestone Racing Team chose off-the-shelf Hunter tire service equipment for their highly successful return to Indy Car racing. Dec 1997 Inside their mobile facility Yokahama Tires' Precision Service Racing Group team members use Hunter TC3500 European Design Tire Changers and DSP9500 wheel balancers at a Road Atlanta event. Dec 1997 July 1996 Hunter's DSP 9500 Wheel Balancer and TC350 Tire Changer placed first at both of the world's biggest "Indy Car" racing events, the 1996 Indianapolis 500, and the U.S. 500 at Michigan International Speedway. Hunter's TC350 and DSP 9500 have been the choice of Firestone Racing since the company returned to Indy Car racing last year. Winning cars in both races rode on tires mounted and balanced with Hunter equipment. Speed is a factor, on and off the track. Excluding qualifying and practice, each car may go through 12 to 16 tires per 500 mile race. At 240 miles per hour, tire balance is critical. Firestone Racing uses stock Hunter DSP 9500 Balancer software to keep the tires accurate to within .05 of an ounce or less. Drag Racing August 1998 Hunter engineers personally delivered Hunter/MAC Tools DSP 7700 wheel balancers to Kenny Bernstein and John Force, when the champion drag racers were in St. Louis for the NHRA Craftsman Nationals. The DSP 7700 is appearing more and more on various racing circuits. The DSP 7700's compact design and modest power requirements, combined with premium Hunter DSP balancer features, make it an ideal machine for racing teams and service shops. Funny Car Champion, John Force (right) seeks every competitive advantage including proper wheel balance to limit vibration during 300-plus mph runs. August 1998 In the pits, top fuel racing tire almost dwarf the compact DSP 7700. August 1998 Top fuel racer, Kenny Bernstein (right) with his Bud King Racing Team crew chief, Lee Beard (left), receive the DSP 7700 from Hunter engineer Mike Douglas. August 1998 Dec 1997 In drag racing, the MAC Tools sponsored John Force Racing Team (7-time NHRA Funny Car champion) will be using a Hunter/MAC Tools balancer to help manage vibration during 300-plus mph runs. Sprint Car Racing July 1998 Steve Kinser, "King of the Outlaws" recently raced in Pevely, MO at the I-55 Raceway, a high-banked, 1/3-mile oval. Kinser, considered the greatest driver in sprint car racing history, is steadily increasing his advantage as he races toward his 15th championship. Hunter Engineering designed a special Sprint Car Chassis removable hub and shaft to fit the racing axles of the front and rear wheels. The DSP7700 hub and shaft can be quickly changed for specific application balancing. This makes it excellent for auto racing, motorcycle wheels and aircraft applications. The wheel is mounted with a single nut to a special splined axle. The large sprint car tires have extremely thin sidewalls which cause a tremendous amount of vibration when spinning. The slow spin feature of the DSP7700 makes it the balancer of choice for this type of tire. "King of the Outlaws" Steve Kinser talks with crew chief leader Guy Forbrook. Steve Kinser shows off the team's compact DSP 7700. Kinser's race team uses the Hunter DSP7700 "Direct Measure Input" to achieve a fast two-plane tape weight balance.