2007 NHRA NATIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE
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Robert Hight
Hillary Will
Bob Vandergriff
Dave Connolly
Ed Iskenderian
Cory McClenathan
Robert Hight
Jim Yates
Tony Bartone
Hillary Will
Whit Bazemore
Byron Hines
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Story & Photos by Jim Kelso
This is exactly what happened to Michael Giannone. His engine was scattered and his day of racing fun was over. When he pulled his motor apart, he found the cause of this meltdown was a broken aluminum connecting rod.
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Drag
racers love the sound of a high revving motor making loads of horsepower!
There’s nothing better than being laid back in the seat grabbing gears
heading for the finish line. And there’s nothing worse than your thrill ride
coming to an abrupt end with a big bang! 
Wondering
why this happened he checked with the manufacturer and was told he’d
probably installed it incorrectly. Not satisfied with this answer Michael
decided to check the rod himself. Working in the Aerospace industry it just
so happened that there was a machine available at work that could check the
integrity of metal, evaluate stress and determine why a part broke. As
Michael had suspected there was a structural failure with the rod, which had
caused the demise of his high-dollar racing engine. 
This
experience was the motivation for Michael’s decision to build a better set
of connecting rods. With research for better alloys and cap design in mind,
MGP RODS was born. Originally based in Denver, Colorado, MGP made the move
to the warmer climate of Phoenix, Arizona and is currently housed in a
6,000-foot building with plans to double that, soon. Utilizing some of the
finest Mori Seiki CNC milling machines and Sunnen hones, MGP produces some
the best quality aluminum connecting rods on the market. 
What
sets MGP apart from the competition is the use of a special blend of
materials to make a stronger more durable aluminum alloy. Every set of rods
are custom made to the customer’s specifications, so there is no stock on
hand. Each rod is manufactured to the highest tolerances by a skilled
machinist and is finished with a burnishing process not polished to add to
the integrity of the rod. 
Who
uses MGP aluminum rods? you ask. How about Warren Johnson, a guy who was
six-time NHRA World Pro Stock champion and winner of 92 National events, who
else you say, well Greg Anderson, two-time NHRA World Pro Stock Champion and
record holder of practically every record in NHRA Pro Stock racing, also
uses MGP rods. As a matter of fact most NHRA Pro Stock racers use MGP
connecting rods as well as top racers in Pro Mod and Comp Eliminator too. 
What
makes these rods better than others is the use of the highest quality alloys
combined with precision machining by expert machinists. New material
technology has enabled MGP to build rods that are far more durable, while
maintaining light weight characteristics. This is important since today’s
big-inch racing engines are creating more cylinder pressure and higher
engine speeds than ever before. The piston business has changed over recent
years with manufacturers making pistons with larger diameter pins, so it’s
important that a rods design can pressure feed oil to the small end of the
rod. But what’s really unique to MGP is their Integrated Locking Serrations
or ILS, on the caps, which has a patent pending. 
Cap
walk in the housing bore has been a big problem with aluminum rods, but
MGP’s ILS system eliminates any chance of walk. Another innovative idea by
MGP is their special hat washer which keeps the bolt hole from deforming
when the rod bolts are torqued. Aluminum tends to cold flow or move as force
is applied, so these special hat washers keep the big end of the rod in
perfect alignment. Michael Giannone’s designs come from knowledge in the
aerospace industry and listening to wisdom of customers, especially Warren
Johnson whose input has helped design connecting rods that are extremely
reliable and durable. 
The
Sportsman market is fast finding out about the benefits of aluminum rods
over steel. Once believed that aluminum rods had to be serviced or replaced
on a regular basis, these newer aluminum alloy rods can, according to
Michael Giannone, last 500 runs or better. This claim has been backed up by
former NHRA World champions and top super class racers Mike Ferderer and
Sheldon Gecker. Plus the light-weight of aluminum is easier on the engine’s
other components and will RPM faster than their steel counterparts. MGP
delivers a set of rods in 3to 5 working days at a cost of $1100, a price
well worth the extra quality you receive. For more information on products
and services check out: 
