2004 Pro Mag News Archive click here for 2003 archives

Note: For firmware version 7570v1 download GraphSave 1.02, for versions later than 7570v1 download GraphSave 1.04

To determine the version of the firmware follow the steps below:

• Turn the MSD 7570 product ON
• The top right hand corner of the display screen will display the version of firmware loaded on the product.

Note: This will ONLY appear for about 5 seconds. Turn the product OFF, then ON again if you fail to view the correct version of the firmware.

Click here to download GraphSave Software.

06-29-04

MSD Ignition wishes to extend its most sincere and deepest condolences to the entire Russell family on the untimely death of Darrell Russell.

04-12-04

the Pro Mag Digital Retard Interface PN 7570 and the Pro Mag Digital Multi-Stage Retard Control PN 8971 are NOW available and ready to ship.

Starting at

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE the Pro Mag Digital Retard Interface and the Pro Mag Digital Multi-Stage Retard Control will be legal for use.

04-09-04

After 34 years of family ownership, Autotronic Controls Corporation, the parent company of MSD Ignition has been sold. The lucky new owner is a company called Gryphon Investments, a premier private equity investment firm out of San Francisco, California. (www.gryphon-inv.com)
The folks at Gryphon are very excited about their investment in MSD. They feel that MSD is one of the premier names in the performance market and are excited about the future in the coming years. Dan Gresham, the new President and CEO of MSD, has over 25 years of management experience and was the CEO of Dynojet Research Inc., a successful company in the motorcycle performance aftermarket.
"Our leadership team is committed to continuing MSD's achievements in developing absolutely cutting edge products and satisfying our intensely loyal customer base," Dan said.
Operations at MSD will continue as usual, so you can expect the same great products with knowledgeable technical support. The addition of Gryphon and Dan will allow us to develop some exciting new pursuits in the performance world. These pursuits will remain the same as the past; to produce and support performance and racing products with unmatched quality and engineering excellence.

We'll see you at the races -

03-22-04

IHRA ACCEPTANCE LETTER  This letter serves as formal notice of the acceptance the MSD Pro Mag Digital Retard Control, part no. 8971, and the Graphic Editor, part number 7570 for use in IHRA competition. The products are limited to use in Top Fuel Dragster only. They will not be permitted for use Pro Modified or Alcohol Funny Car, at this time. The Pro Mag Retard and Graphic Editor will not be permitted for use in IHRA Competition until the ACDelco Nationals at Virgina Motorsports Park on May 27-30, 2004. This acceptance is based upon the current design and submitted product features. I additionally request that MSD provide the IHRA Technical Department with a list of serial numbers and respective customers to aid in the tracking and inspection process. Please be advised that any alterations must be accepted prior to utilization in IHRA competition.

03-19-04

The Pro Mag Digital Retard Interface PN 7570 and the Pro Mag Digital Multi-Stage Retard Control PN 8971 installation instructions have been added to our download section.

Also, new prices have been updated for Pro Mag repair.

03-16-04

Download GraphSave Software version 1.01 for use with PN 7570 Graphic Editor.

03-12-04

Gallery Updated with photos from Firebird International Raceway Test and Tune.

03-04-04

NHRA has accepted the new Digital Timing Retard PN 8971 and 7570 for Top Fuel and Funny Car beginning with the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., April 30-May 2.

Don't try running these products prior to this event, that will be a NO NO!!!

Products are being manufactured and should be finished very soon. Initial availability will be on our MSD RSI Trailer to Licensed NHRA Top Fuel teams attending National Events. Teams will be limited to 1 unit per car.

Products will then be available thru our distributors shortly.

Keep watching this site for the latest news and product availability.

02-18-04

February 6 thru 8 2004

Our on going testing of the new Digital Timing Retard continued in Phoenix. The functionality of the product has been trouble free and thru the process we have had some features and software upgrades thru the feedback from our test teams.

Our team consists of:

Larry Dixon's
Miller Top Fuel Dragster

Clay Millican's
102 Octane Boost Top Fuel Dragster

Gary Densham's
AAA Auto Club Funny Car

One of the most significant changes has been a software upgrade called "GraphSave". GraphSave enables the user the ability to create or edit a timing map on a PC or laptop as well as managing files and folders by events or runs.

The Programmer is still the only means of transferring files to and from the control unit. Another feature upgrade has been the addition of files storage in the programmer, which is now up to 6 files.

The teams have become comfortable to the point that we saw them editing and transferring files in the staging lanes. This should become a normal scene in the future. Crew chiefs will be reprogramming timing curves up to the last minute before a run.

To date the products have functioned as designed. Now we need to ramp up production to satisfy NHRA's requirements for acceptance for the 2004 season.

Detailed Product Overview:


You will need Acrobat Reader to view, download it here.

This is a copy of NHRA letter posted on their web site
Feb 13/2004

COPY OF NHRA LETTER The NHRA Technical department has released the following information concerning the use of MSD's newest ignition units for the Professional categories. Pro Mag Digital Retard Control (part no. 8971) and Graphic Editor (part no. 7570) The MSD Pro Mag Digital Retard Control, part no. 8971, and the MSD Graphic Editor, part no. 7570, have not been accepted for NHRA competition, thus will not be allowed at the K&N Filters Winternationals. Currently, the retard control and editor have not met final acceptance by the NHRA Technical department. For the process to be completed, MSD must present to NHRA that the product has met all criteria that was established prior to any on-track testing, and that a sufficient inventory is available to supply all Top Fuel and Funny Car teams. At that time, NHRA will again evaluate the products and make a decision on either to accept or decline the use of the products in NHRA competition and develop an implementation schedule if accepted. The NHRA Technical department has also decided that the MSD Pro Mag Digital Retard Control and Graphic Editor will not be allowed in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car for the 2004 season. The product will be reviewed again prior to 2005 for acceptance.

02-04-04

Last week we went to Houston to test the new Pro Mag Programmer on the Miller Top Fuel Dragster but Mother Nature has other plans. We managed to get in a couple launches and short times, but it was too cold to make full passes. When the team checked the Racepak data against the timing plot that they programmed, everything looked good! The following day was even colder so the test session was aborted.

A few days later we found ourselves in Las Vegas with much better weather conditions. This test session was with Jimmy Prock on Gary Densham's AAA Automobile Club Funny Car. The team ran the new control during all of their testing (five passes, four of which were in the 4-second range!). At the end, Mr. Prock said this about the new Controller and Programmer, "This thing is pretty cool".

This coming weekend we're headed for Phoenix for the final test session. The plan is to run the unit on Larry Dixon's Miller Team dragster as well as with Clay Millican with the Werner/104 Octance Boost car. Densham's team is ready for more testing as well as Gary Scelzi's Dodge/Oakly Funny Car.

We'll have more updates early next week!

01-20-04

Two more test sessions for our new Digital Retard Control and Graphic Editor are going to be taking place soon. One test will be conducted by the 2003 World Champion Miller Top Fuel Dragster!

 

Another test session will take place in Las Vegas, January 29-31 as Gary Scelzi puts the Dodge/Oakley Funny Car through its paces with Mike Neff carefully watching. Gary Densham will also testing the newest MSD advantage in his AAA Automobile Club with Mr. Jimmy Prock at the controls.

We're still waiting for a decision concerning the Alcohol classes. NHRA is holding off pending the results of the 2nd test session in Las Vegas. As soon as we here from them, we'll post 'em here.