Considerations for SSHS 10, 2010?

[1MTNCAT]

It came to mind on the ride home and since that the one thing missing from this event are the heavyweight Ford/Mercury/Chevy 2 door Mid size cars like the Monte Carlo SS’s and the Thunderbird/Cougar MN12 platform.

I believe the event initially had started out as a 3800 lbs weight limit, one of the reasons I had decided to make the trip a few years back. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to attend. However there were a good many Thunderbirds, Cougars and others at the event that year if my memory serves me correctly.

Since the inception of the minimum 4000# weight restriction, it has basically pushed these vehicles from the event. A fully optioned car within this group along with driver would rarely be able to meet the minimum weight requirements. I’m sure that would be the same situation on the Chevy side with the Monte Carlo’s, etc.

I’m wondering if the committee would consider coming up with something for a 3800 lbs class for these cars or consider dropping the weight limit to 3800 lbs across the board.

Looking at the numbers in the Pro Street class, and the Big Dawg shootout Class, there is a possibility that this could inject some needed car counts in these classes. I know of at least 10-15 cars that could possibly occupy those classes if the weight limits were dropped just 200 lbs.

Please don’t take what I’m saying as criticism of the event. That is not my purpose of mentioning it. I’m just stating that there are more big heavyweight cars out there, not quite at the 4000K weight restriction limit that would be fun to watch run. With that said, that would also include being able to run my car at the event in competition. Even in current race trim it would be hard pressed to meet weight but I could get it there. For others it would be easier.

I understand that we don’t want to get into the pony car stuff (Mustang/Camaro’s etc) although there are those now that would also fit into this category, but that’s not what this particular shootout is about. They have plenty of venues in which to run their cars specifically for them. This is about big heavy American coupes and sedans laying smack down on the track, pure and simple.

Comments concerning this will certainly be appreciated.

[SC Cheesehead]

Add a couple sandbags and voilia! No problem meeting the minimum weight.

FWIW, I like the idea of a 4,000 lb. limit, after all, it IS a heavyweight shootout.

[1MTNCAT]

Add a couple sandbags and voilia! No problem meeting the minimum weight.

FWIW, I like the idea of a 4,000 lb. limit, after all, it IS a heavyweight shootout.

I appreciate your feedback but adding sandbags is not a real option here. When you are talking 200# even trying to legally add that much ballast is questionable here.

[merc]

Move it to Cecil County Raceway in Maryland in late October. The numbers would double.

[martyo]

I appreciate your feedback but adding sandbags is not a real option here. When you are talking 200# even trying to legally add that much ballast is questionable here.

I believe that all you can add in the way of unsecured ballast is 100 pounds.

[martyo]

Move it to Cecil County Raceway in Maryland in late October. The numbers would double.

Then it would be the SSHS.

[merc]

Then it would be the SSHS.

Northern Super Heavyweight Shootout 10

[Joe Walsh]

I like;

MASHS

Mid-Atlantic Super Heavyweight Shootout

or the most appropriate;

MASSHS

Mid-Atlantic Super Shootout for Heavyweight Sedans

[1MTNCAT]

I believe that all you can add in the way of unsecured ballast is 100 pounds.

I believe that to be correct Marty. That is why I said LEGALLY in my post. You just don't throw 100# or more of anything in the car, particularly unsecured to make weight. That's the point.

The idea at Cecil is good too. Great sticky track in Cool weather at nearly Sea level. A lot of these boys might be suprised what their cars would run there.

Might be too cold for the Southern folks tho LOL!

[Pops]

Atlanta is more of a central location for people to meet.

Plus the contract is already signed if my guess is correct!

[Joe Walsh]

I believe that to be correct Marty. That is why I said LEGALLY in my post. You just don't throw 100# or more of anything in the car, particularly unsecured to make weight.

Would a fat chick strapped in the trunk count as 'LEGAL'???

j/k...j/k!

BTW: Put her over the right tire for best traction.

[prchrman]

Commerce is SSHS and vice versa. Started by the SS guys (thanks a million to all the General faithful for this) and now being helped along by the MM guys. I having been going to it as long as anyone on this site and IMNSHO moving it is not an option.

[Pops]

Commerce is SSHS and vice versa. Started by the SS guys (thanks a million to all the General faithful for this) and now being helped along by the MM guys. I having been going to it as long as anyone on this site and IMNSHO moving it is not an option.

At this point in life I agree with you! The track is a good venue for the race. The help is also used to the crowd that shows. They do a good job!:)

[merc]

Commerce is SSHS and vice versa. Started by the SS guys (thanks a million to all the General faithful for this) and now being helped along by the MM guys. I having been going to it as long as anyone on this site and IMNSHO moving it is not an option.

The SS guys started this event in Gainesville FL.

[merc]

Atlanta is more of a central location for people to meet.

Plus the contract is already signed if my guess is correct!

That may be true but I was just thinking out loud. A large group of racers show up a Maryland International Raceway regularly. The new bad boys on the block are coming from the Mopar camp. They are starting to show up in numbers in our area. Not everyone is willing to make the 900 mile journey year after year and I am not talking about myself.

[Pops]

I understand Mark. Location will always be a big discussion.

[DEFYANT]

That may be true but I was just thinking out loud. A large group of racers show up a Maryland International Raceway on a regularly. The new bad boys on the block are coming from the Mopar camp. They are starting to show up in numbers in our area. Not everyone is willing to make the 900 mile journey year after year and I am not talking about myself.

+1 Good ideas. Cecil would be awesome. I'm in the area and can help with details if this was to get off the ground...

-1 on lowering the weight limit. The cars mentioned above would be a "middle weight" class. A fun event regardless. There is no shortage of 4000 pound cars showing up. Less cars = more runs.

[DOOM]

Agreed heavyweight should be 4,000 pounds & up.

As far as location, Cecil would be great! But if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Seems like the majority likes Georgia.

But bristol would be sweet too! :burnout:

[Mach1Marauder]

I believe that all you can add in the way of unsecured ballast is 100 pounds.

Unsecured ballast is a misnomer. It still must be secured in a NHRA approved "Weight Box" and the weigh box must be properly secured.


6.Ballast A weight box will be permitted. Only 100 pounds of removable ballast will be allowed, including box (two-box maximum with 50 pounds each). The box must be attached to the frame or crossmember with a minimum of two ½ inch bolts and may not be attached to a roll bar or roll cage. See NHRA General Regulations 4:2 for additional mounting details.

[MM03MOK]

There's no reason why a second annual Heavyweight Shootout could not be created. GASSIT has created a great model and format. The collective helping hands would need to focus on gathering the funds to Make It So, such as sponsorships, to cover expenses. From our Membership here, we have great resources that worked behind the scenes at a number of SSHS event. I'm sure they wouldn't mind offering advice and guidance. Honestly, from my own experience in organizing events, it comes down to the dedicated few that will follow through on all the tasks necessary to make it happen. Get a few core people from a couple of panther/Impala/MOPAR websites that will see it through the end, and you're in good shape.

[martyo]

Unsecured ballast is a misnomer. It still must be secured in a NHRA approved "Weight Box" and the weigh box must be properly secured.


I know this. I suppose I should have been more detailed for those that don't.

Thanks for pointing it out!

[FordNut]

There's no reason why a second annual Heavyweight Shootout could not be created. GASSIT has created a great model and format. The collective helping hands would need to focus on gathering the funds to Make It So, such as sponsorships, to cover expenses. From our Membership here, we have great resources that worked behind the scenes at a number of SSHS event. I'm sure they wouldn't mind offering advice and guidance. Honestly, from my own experience in organizing events, it comes down to the dedicated few that will follow through on all the tasks necessary to make it happen. Get a few core people from a couple of panther/Impala/MOPAR websites that will see it through the end, and you're in good shape.

Thank you.

One of the toughest tasks involved in putting on an event like this is getting enough volunteers to run the event. We're fortunate that the folks at GASSIT are still willing to do a good part of the work, but most of those guys are local to the ATL so they're not likely to go put on an event somewhere else.

[1MTNCAT]

I know this. I suppose I should have been more detailed for those that don't.

Thanks for pointing it out!

Me too! I hadn't actually ckecked to see what the NHRA rules were on that. Never considered it before actually.

Mark, Maybe we could look into running a NSHS (Northern Super Heavyweight Shootout) up here at Cecil County, Md in Oct or Nov with somewhat similiar rules to the Southern one. Try to schedule them a couple weeks apart. Since we are geographically within a couple hours of the Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Richmond Va Metro area's we might be able to pull a good many cars. Maybe you could put a feeler out to see who may be interested on the other forums.

I'll see if I can get any information from the track while I'm up there running this weekend.

[prchrman]

But if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Seems like the majority likes Georgia.

:burnout:

^^^^^this^^^^^

[Blown3.8]

Its definatly not broke. Just trying to get more cars there. A little history on the event, it did start out as a 3800lb minimum weight. And since it went to 4k the birdies stopped comming.

Its a well maintained event and Atlanta is a good place for it. It would be nice to have a few more cars in the quicker classes.

Who knows it may be the economy thats keepin some people away, but i would think the fast boys should still have some money to make the show.

I don't think it would be a good idea to have a northern shootout so close in time to the southern one. Maybe spring would be better.

[1MTNCAT]

You have a point there Chris!

A spring meet in say late March or April might work great. That would certainly spread the timing between the two events and give folks the opportunity to do both if they chose to.

I'll try to speak to the track folks this weekend. Maybe they could provide me with some good information on proceeding with this. We could possibly move forward from that point.

That would be two events I'd have to help get ready over the course of a year but I think it can be done. Something to think about anyway.

[Glockafella]

We need to start a Northern Uber HeavyWeight Shootout

[jflave]

Its definatly not broke. Just trying to get more cars there. A little history on the event, it did start out as a 3800lb minimum weight. And since it went to 4k the birdies stopped comming.

Its a well maintained event and Atlanta is a good place for it. It would be nice to have a few more cars in the quicker classes.

Who knows it may be the economy thats keepin some people away, but i would think the fast boys should still have some money to make the show.

I don't think it would be a good idea to have a northern shootout so close in time to the southern one. Maybe spring would be better.
Spring,Cecil, good idea Chris, I think it would draw alot of cars.

[Paul T. Casey]

There's no reason why a second annual Heavyweight Shootout could not be created. GASSIT has created a great model and format. The collective helping hands would need to focus on gathering the funds to Make It So, such as sponsorships, to cover expenses. From our Membership here, we have great resources that worked behind the scenes at a number of SSHS event. I'm sure they wouldn't mind offering advice and guidance. Honestly, from my own experience in organizing events, it comes down to the dedicated few that will follow through on all the tasks necessary to make it happen. Get a few core people from a couple of panther/Impala/MOPAR websites that will see it through the end, and you're in good shape.


The Impala guys already do at least 1 meet up north in the summer. Believe it's at Epping, with a few stops in between. They're a great bunch of folks, but beware that they are proud Bow Tie wearers and will tear you down pretty quick if you try to harass them. I'll try to find out some details, and politely ask if they mind if we tag along. Perhaps it's the fact that there are more of them, but they do seem to do a whole bunch more than we do.

[RatSSled]

There's no reason why a second annual Heavyweight Shootout could not be created. GASSIT has created a great model and format. The collective helping hands would need to focus on gathering the funds to Make It So, such as sponsorships, to cover expenses. From our Membership here, we have great resources that worked behind the scenes at a number of SSHS event. I'm sure they wouldn't mind offering advice and guidance. Honestly, from my own experience in organizing events, it comes down to the dedicated few that will follow through on all the tasks necessary to make it happen. Get a few core people from a couple of panther/Impala/MOPAR websites that will see it through the end, and you're in good shape.

There is a post at ISSF about a NSHS in Michigan during the week of the Woodward Dream Cruise (3rd week in August?). A bunch of us have already expressed interest and I'm sure it would be a big draw from guys all over the Midwest and Northeast. GASSIT does it their way, but it's not the only way. I suspect it didn't start out in Gainsville as a full track rental and such. So, if it were more of a heads up with Index racing, then we could possibly get a few lanes during a regular session at one of the tracks in the area.

That said, I'd love to see an NSHS up here at either Cecil, Atco or Island. BTW, Tony at Island dragway really really likes us in the ECIRS. We can get a race there almost any time with little notice and they take very good care of us. So getting a track up here should not be a problem.


The Impala guys already do at least 1 meet up north in the summer. Believe it's at Epping, with a few stops in between. They're a great bunch of folks, but beware that they are proud Bow Tie wearers and will tear you down pretty quick if you try to harass them. I'll try to find out some details, and politely ask if they mind if we tag along. Perhaps it's the fact that there are more of them, but they do seem to do a whole bunch more than we do.
It's called the ECIRS, Paul. It's a racing series for late model Impalas and Caprices. Some of us would love to have MMs and LXs at at least one event. Others don't like the idea, so it's never gotten off the ground. One option we've been discussing is to have a fun race without series points. Not sure if that will happen, but if it does it may be the first race at E-town in March. http://sites.google.com/a/ecirs.org/old/