Like many who attended last year's LSX Shootout, and who also plan to attend this year, I felt the event was extremely well run and offered three very competitive and interesting heads-up classes. However, I keep thinking there needs to be a heads-up class for the common man with a more modest budget. LS motors have proven so reliable that even 7 or 8-second cars can compete in True Street, which was perhaps the common man's only hope as the budget for a competitive Drag Radial or All-Motor race car sky rockets out of control with custom fabricated turbo kits or high dollar solid roller combos becoming a necessity to just stay in the game. Here are a few proposals I came up with for heads-up classes that would keep things affordable, yet fast enough to still make it entertaining to watch.
Stock Cube, Naturally Aspirated
-Factory LS1 (including iron truck blocks), LS6, LS2 or LS3/L92 block only
-Any aftermarket cathedral port heads or factory LS1, LS6, LS2 or LS3/L92 head
-Any hydraulic roller cam
-Factory, factory style, or mass-produced carb style intakes only (no fabricated sheet metal intakes)
-Stock style suspension
-Any factory style rear
-29.5x10.5 inch maximum tire size (all compounds, treads, etc)
-T56, 4L60E, 4L80E, TH350, TH400 or 2004R transmissions only
-Factory PCM
-Weight breaks for cam-only and cubic inches
Real Street Car
-Factory LS1 (including iron truck blocks), LS6, LS2 or LS3/L92 blocks only, any cubic inch
-Any aftermarket cathedral port heads or factory LS1, LS6 or LS3/L92 head
-Any hydraulic roller cam
-Any readily available, mass-produced power adder which can be purchased via mail order (no custom turbo or blower kits)
-Factory or factory style intake manifolds only (no carb style or fabricated sheet metal intakes)
-Factory PCM
-Stock style suspension
-Any factory style rear
-T56, 4L60E, 4L80E, TH350, TH400 or 2004R transmissions only
-DOT legal Drag radials with DOT legal tread depth
-No tubs or mini-tubs, must fit in stock wheelwells (though rolling the fenders and some trimming is acceptable if within reason)
-Pump gas only
-Valid registration and insurance
-Removal of back set and A/C only weight reduction allowed, must have front and rear bumpers as well as full interior, power steering and brakes
-Lightweight factory style hoods and racing seats also allowed
King of the Gas
-Nitrous only power adder allowed
-Factory blocks only, any cubic inch
-Any cam and heads (except canted valve, C5R or LS7 heads)
-Factory, factory style, or mass-produced carb style intakes only (no sheet metal intakes)
-Factory PCM
-Stock style suspension
-Any factory style rear
-Any factory style transmission (including Powerglide, TH400, 4L80E, etc)
-29.5x10.5-inch max tire size (any compound, treads, etc)
-Weight breaks for single stage and cubic inches