GM Performance Parts LSX Shootout - Eliminations Postponed Until Monday

Gates Open at 9... Eliminations begin at 10.

Thanks Scott. I think the announcement was we would get a time shot at 10 and race after that. Either way.....see you there :)

I guess weather was bad?

I guess weather was bad?No, I think the weather was almost perfect actually, :nod: it was an on track accident and then some oil downs that'd held up the already busy program so they'll have to finish up Monday. :drive:

Yeah the weather was beautiful during the day but a fair amount of breakage kept delaying us. The one being the accident after the sun went down with a lot of fluid. then when it was cleaned up we got about 30 pair down the track before oil was dropped at the top end that would take over an hour and that would have set too much dew on the track to finish that night. Good call sending us out then rather than waiting for the cleanup.

Even without the last oil down and probably even the crash they never had a prayer of completing this thing on Sunday. Unfortunately we drove 11 hour out there for nothing since we had to be back today for various reasons. Didn't even make it though two rounds of competition in an entire day.

We made it through the second round of index, as I'm sure several others did also that had to leave. I'd really just like to know who's idea it was to throw the entire local bracket racing finally into the mix when there was probably already more on their plate than they could handle... Now those guys ended up rescheduled to another night anyway. Even offered them 1st round buy backs...

I'm not usually one to complain and I really want to support this event but with the numbers of cars, especially true street and the bracket racers theres really no chance things can run smoothly...they just soak up way too much time regardless of breakage. Unless something changes, we'll stay at home next year.

I feel you Joey. I love the event but the lsx guys got the back back burner. We closed our shop on Friday and Saturday to be out there and it was good for us. I still have my head installer out there racing. He left early on Thursday to get teched in so he has been there 4.5 days to run lsx index. They were also sitting in True Street from 11-6 or so he wasn't able to be in the booth much. Hell at least we had the models.

Glad we weren't able to stay Sunday to watch "eliminations".... I too hope for drastic change for next year.

Yes we left around 5:00 on Sunday and got to see a little ls stuff.So its time for the ls guys to stand there ground and find a new place to have this event. I think KCIR held the Lt power event along with the trailblazer shootout so combine all that in to one and have hell of a show and tnw NMCA can stick it.

although i didnt go, im glad i didnt. i just talked to some of my friends that got back....what a cluster**** i think after two great events and one bad one we shouldnt be all down nmca's throat give them a chance to fix it before the bashing begins because after all its there race and there sandbox

Personally I don't care where the event is, just don't pair it up with NMCA or anybody else for that matter (No offense at NMCA or anybody else, you guys were gracious enough to let the LSX event be a part of your event). I spent several hours every day watching cars I couldn't care less about oil down the track, have nitrous backfires, and numerous other crap. It was absolutely ridiculous. Do what it takes to make the LSX event separate or I won't be going back. Luckily Memphis was a pretty cool place with plenty of stuff to do so it made the trip worthwhile.

Yes we left around 5:00 on Sunday and got to see a little ls stuff.So its time for the ls guys to stand there ground and find a new place to have this event. I think KCIR held the Lt power event along with the trailblazer shootout so combine all that in to one and have hell of a show and tnw NMCA can stick it.
I would LOVE to see that! And not just cause I live 10 minutes from KCIR. I too drove down there to see the LSX shootout and didn't see it. If I wanted to see the LSX shootout, I had to stand in the pits and look at the cars. Had to leave around 4 on Sunday to be at work Monday morning and didn't see hardley anything but NMCA. I had a good time and would come back, but only if there are some BIG changes or a seperate lsx race. I really like the ls/lt race idea. KCIR also has or had the Pontiac Grand Prix (GTP's) race, the Sy/TY nats and I think a Lightning race. Don't see why doing a combo event isn't possible?

Second that. Total unorganized mess.

I wonder if it were made an option for a few large Ls dedicated boards to pay for the event, would it happen? Say, have the members donate to have the event as a independent event for next year. There are enough active members out there that understand the implications of a LS dedicated event that you could easily pay for a dedicated event next year(that is, assuming a large sponsor doesn't step up first).


I would love to keep the event at Memphis or Bowling green, but if the only way for it to be independent was to move it to KCIR, I'd make the haul to do it!

i would love to see a combined LTX/LSX Event. i would def come out for that.

whomever is in charge should talk to Tony Shepard he runs the ltx shootout pretty much. im sure he would be interested in a combined event.

Hey Gang,

I'm with you ...


I promise you that we'll have a discussion with the powers that be at NMCA about the future of where GMPP goes with the LSX shootout reeeeal soon.

Thanks,
Dr. Jamie

Hey Gang,

I'm with you ...


I promise you that we'll have a discussion with the powers that be at NMCA about the future of where GMPP goes with the LSX shootout reeeeal soon.

Thanks,
Dr. Jamie

Dr Jamie,

I met you briefly this weekend, but was but was too busy talking with ERL and the DR guys on finishing up my car for next year. It was truly an honor to have GMPP there and on hand to support the LSx crowd, and it doesn't go unnoticed on us LSx guys.


Thanks for the quick post and for keeping a check on the "pulse" of the LS community!!! Now, get back to work on those 6 bolt GMPP ls heads!!! I need them for my car!!!

KCIR

but i'm a little biased lol

I enjoy watching the nmca classes almost just as much as the lsx stuff.those pro street and super street cars make me drool.But there were WAAAAAAY too many bracket cars this year.you had to sit for 2 hours for them to get done in order to see maybe an hour and a half of the heads up nmca/lsx heads up clases.i dont know if im the only one but bracket racing bores me very bad

This was my first year going to the shootout and i have to say that i was dissapointed. I felt like the LSX crowd (wich was majority by the looks of things) got screwed. There were way more NMCA cars running than LSX cars. I was falling asleep while the NMCA guys were running/breaking down the track.

I will say that the LSX cars i saw were very nice and the vendors were really helpful in answering questions.

I blame the track. NMCA and GM PP did not schedule the bracket race. It was a cluster. we left at 9:00

I have always had the feeling that the NMCA was more interested in GM as a title sponsor than they were with the LSX racers. With the exception of Scott I am not very impressed with them as an organization.

Sorry to read about all of the trouble. Being good friends with the organizers of the LTX shootout and racing at both of them... it makes me wonder why the LSX Shootout isn't held as a stand-alone event.

Understand that Memphis is not a cheap track to rent, so the event has been done in conjunction with NMCA. However, comparing the two shootouts... doing it the LTX way might be the answer. Go to a cheaper track and run the LSX event as a stand-alone. That way the LSX organizers have full say over the schedule and how the event is conducted. The LSX community is larger than the LTX diehards and I think it would still be a very sizeable event if held by itself.

Postponing eliminations until Monday had to one of the worst decisions ever. Alot of people had to be back home by Monday morning & had no choice but to leave...

Bring it to KCIR or Stl, thats the middle of the country and should draw a lot of Lsx/Ltx cars. That would be a great event.

it was a huge cluster**** this weekend the whole time. I too, felt that we were on the back burner. I still had a good time, and i'm not going to bitch to much. All I gotta say is thank god I took off today and had extra clothes. I lost this morning but it was still fun.

my car didnt hook all weekend, but how can it when every othe car oils it down. Bracket race during the event = fail. It was hard to get off the track and get back to the pits from all the people parked on the return road.

true street took 8 damn hours, AND we got lost. I actually thought that part was funny

I've been to several races as a spectator where things drag on and on due to so many bracket cars plus the occasional incident. World Ford Challenges spring to mind. The thing is, though, that a lot of the money is generated by the bracket racers, especially when they are allowed to buy back in to the 1st and sometimes 2nd rounds. Plus they bring up the car count of the event which helps to attract sponsors and spectators, not to mention it gives the average guy who may not be able to afford to run heads up the chance to race at a big event. I do think that the brackets should have their schedules altered as needed to ensure that the main classes get to run on schedule.

very disappointed here as well...

not sure why they charged extra for thursday when you were not allowed to run the car?

Friday was so hit and miss with weather and breakage that in a 12 hour span managed a whopping 4 passes.

Saturday's true street was a complete joke. There is nothing "true street" about a 3 hr cool down and several hours between the remaining passes.

Sunday was just wayyyyy too long. Made a hit at 9:30 or so and didn't hit the track again till 5.....

IMHO there was just way too much going on, the NMCA world finals would have made for a packed weekend all on its own. The two definitely should have happened at different times.

The car count was bad too....biggest LSX event of the year and there were 75-100 index cars 6 Drag Radial and 4 All-motor.

Lesson learned

Bring it to KCIR or Stl, thats the middle of the country and should draw a lot of Lsx/Ltx cars. That would be a great event.

It'll never happen in STL...Gateway raceway rental is ridiculously expensive

I don't see why it can't be a standalone with the hundred or so sponsors to our right. Didn't Thunder Racing used to do it all by themselves a few years back? I went to one of those events and loved it. Tons of heads up classes and lots of ppl showed up.

Yeah waiting 6 hrs between 1st and 2nd rds of elims was wrong. When the staging lanes were empty most of the time. With the nmca classes only havin very few cars we could of easily ran from the empty lanes, in between there classes. Thus keepin the show rolling! My 2 cents anyway, see u guys next year.

Guys,

I'll let the NMCA comment from their side, but since I've worked the event for the three years it's been going, I'll just comment a little.

We had 120 index/rumble cars, 8 drag radial and 4 all motor.

We can't plan for oil downs and breakage (almost 4 hours alone on Saturday). Sunday was a similar deal, with oil downs and then the crash that took a ton of time out. The bracket stuff has been there EVERY YEAR, and we were done by 9 p.m. last year with close to the same car counts on not only the LSX stuff but also the NMCA classes.

What's the answer? I don't know since I'm not an event organizer. But to those that say it was disorganized, I say please try and look at EVERYTHING ON BOTH SIDES before commenting. The racer sometimes only sees one side of something, and remember this comment is coming from an 18-year racer that has also worked with the NMCA for 3 years. Be careful when you throw stones, as CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM might be more helpful to keep an event of this size and attendance going.

Trust me, I read all these comments and I feel like everyone is kicking me in the nuts since I try so hard to keep everyone informed and answer each question, along with the rest of the staff (granted I'm only one guy). I appreciate everyone's patience at the event, and hope you can understand when the rational is explained.

I'll withhold the rest as I'm tired from the 5 days and need to get some sleep shortly.

Derek

this was very disorganized stayed till 9 for nothing but to be told come back nov 7, wtf all day b.s but had fun on beale st so the 9 hour ride was ok....

Guys,

I'll let the NMCA comment from their side, but since I've worked the event for the three years it's been going, I'll just comment a little.

We had 120 index/rumble cars, 8 drag radial and 4 all motor.

We can't plan for oil downs and breakage (almost 4 hours alone on Saturday). Sunday was a similar deal, with oil downs and then the crash that took a ton of time out. The bracket stuff has been there EVERY YEAR, and we were done by 9 p.m. last year with close to the same car counts on not only the LSX stuff but also the NMCA classes.

What's the answer? I don't know since I'm not an event organizer. But to those that say it was disorganized, I say please try and look at EVERYTHING ON BOTH SIDES before commenting. The racer sometimes only sees one side of something, and remember this comment is coming from an 18-year racer that has also worked with the NMCA for 3 years. Be careful when you throw stones, as CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM might be more helpful to keep an event of this size and attendance going.

Trust me, I read all these comments and I feel like everyone is kicking me in the nuts since I try so hard to keep everyone informed and answer each question, along with the rest of the staff (granted I'm only one guy). I appreciate everyone's patience at the event, and hope you can understand when the rational is explained.

I'll withhold the rest as I'm tired from the 5 days and need to get some sleep shortly.Well said, those are very valid and notable points.

I wasn't there this year and even if I would've been it wouldn't have been as a racer so I am not completely qualified to even comment on these matters. But I must add that a very BIG reason why there even is an actual 'LSX Shootout' in the first place is because of the NMCA and it's ability to host and support such an undertaking and securing the sponsorship and track time to hold such an event.
Yes there were national level LSX related events held in the past that were somewhat successful (the Bowling Green event that I'd attended 5-6 years ago comes to mind as one) and were stand alone (backed mostly by this very board I believe) but more recently there has been nothing other than this awesome event that's gone on for three years in a row now.
I understand most people's gripes and they are legitimate ones but please let's not bite the hands that feed us so to speak either, I'd hate to see this thing go away and then have any subsequent attempts to replace it fail thereafter anyway. :nono:

I arrived at 9 pm on friday left at 9 on sunday sat in the stands froze my azz off for my favorites true street, drag radial, all motor. (My girlfriend was wearing carhart brown bibs) LOL!

I have to say I was very disappointed in the schedule since I too came for The LSX Shootout

The LSX shootout this year was very similar to the reason I no longer attend a local track in my area and many others.

Big thank you to the track crew for dealing with all the failures. GREAT JOB!

Guys,

I'll let the NMCA comment from their side, but since I've worked the event for the three years it's been going, I'll just comment a little.

We had 120 index/rumble cars, 8 drag radial and 4 all motor.

We can't plan for oil downs and breakage (almost 4 hours alone on Saturday). Sunday was a similar deal, with oil downs and then the crash that took a ton of time out. The bracket stuff has been there EVERY YEAR, and we were done by 9 p.m. last year with close to the same car counts on not only the LSX stuff but also the NMCA classes.

What's the answer? I don't know since I'm not an event organizer. But to those that say it was disorganized, I say please try and look at EVERYTHING ON BOTH SIDES before commenting. The racer sometimes only sees one side of something, and remember this comment is coming from an 18-year racer that has also worked with the NMCA for 3 years. Be careful when you throw stones, as CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM might be more helpful to keep an event of this size and attendance going.

Trust me, I read all these comments and I feel like everyone is kicking me in the nuts since I try so hard to keep everyone informed and answer each question, along with the rest of the staff (granted I'm only one guy). I appreciate everyone's patience at the event, and hope you can understand when the rational is explained.

I'll withhold the rest as I'm tired from the 5 days and need to get some sleep shortly.

Derek

Derek, i'm sure you got a lot of flak at the event from people griping, but you and everyone else worked pretty hard to keep things under control, I give yall props. Its not your fault that the track was oiled down/ crashed/ wet/cold etc. I was never at a point to where I was lost or didn't know waht was going on, yall kept up with everyone even in the down times, over and over giving updates. Go get yourself a beer and enjoy it, everyone deserves one that hustled this event. Like I said in my post above, things were crazy, BUT I still had a great time, and i'll be back for the next event, even if it goes haywire too. I also want to say the track crew did a pretty good job re-prepping the track 15,000 times, I know they were just as worn down as the rest of us.

I personally think the event is too big to go along with 2 other events at the same time. I'm sure SOMEONE can organize an all LS event, with the same classes plus more. I vote for non GM bodied cars to be able to run also, that would bring in more of a car count in all classes. I'm personally going to talk with Dallas at Bowling Green and see what it would take.

I don't see why it can't be a standalone with the hundred or so sponsors to our right. Didn't Thunder Racing used to do it all by themselves a few years back? I went to one of those events and loved it. Tons of heads up classes and lots of ppl showed up.

We did do 2 large events, the Southern Shootouts back in '03 and '04, pre Katrina. We had between 120 and 150 cars at each event. We would have probably kept the event going if it weren't for Katrina. We have had some events since then but nothing of that magnitude. I can tell you a few things from those experiences:

They are very expensive to orgainize and pull off.

It takes many, many orgainized people and tons of work.

Not every racer leaves happy although I think we did well in that department.

I believe in both years we had an average of 30 staff members on site both days to handle the events in addition to the track personnel. I'd be interested in doing this again but I'd have to see some serious interest from the racers well in advance.

I guess I'll keep my ears open on this one...

Thanks,
Shane Burgess
Co-Owner, VP Operations
Thunder Performance Group, Inc.
d/b/a Thunder Racing

i had fun at the event and will come back, (ive been every year) but things definatly need to change. I ran true street and was stuck in the lane forever with no restrooms or food. it was terrible and as quickly as we were able to get cars through they should have run us though and got us out of the way. pretty much missed being able to check out the car show or vendors at all on sat bc of it. I think a lsx/ltx event would be a good time, esp since most vendors deal with both anyway. and i think memphis, bowling green, or indy would be a good place. I broke my driveshaft in rumble qualifying so i didnt have to stick around sunday, but i would have had to leave to be home monday anyway. and i only was able to see one round of lsx cars before i had enough and headed home.

my vote is for a joint LSX/LTX event alone. i believe the ltx shootout organizers were planning on getting memphis themselves. so it cant be tooooooo too expensive to rent the track out. and i mean with the joint effort with LSX guys (much bigger) i think it would be a huge success.

For some strange reasons the LTx guys have been told either we're not fast enough (which is ludicrous) or because it's an LS only event that we're not eligible to compete....

I mean damn we get treated like we're driving friggin mustangs for gods sake..... If they keep it an LS only event then you're gonna go there and watch 8-12 cars battle it out each and every year (most likely the same cars cause they're the upper echelon LS cars)....

Add more competitive heads up classes, some 275 radial classes and some nitrous only classes and invite ALL OEM GM motored cars to compete and you'll have 16 car fields probably for damn near all the classes.... the only way to get your own event is to open up the event to more cars..... Unless you like seeing the same 8 cars have a shootout and 400 bracket racers race for 10 hours....

i honestly think a combined LSX/LTX shootout is more on the table then u think Outlaw. in a thread in the LT1 section i saw tony shephard asking for Pro Stock John's contact info after i mentioned the idea. it really is a great idea. like honestly personally the LTX shootout wasnt enough for me to make the 20+ hour trip but if they combine it will be a lot bigger, a lot more exciting, with a lot of faster cars and i know i will def make it out to it. and im sure a lot of other guys just like me would think the same way.

Yeah I cannot fly the flag because the first year my car wasn't finished and hurt the tranny attempting to make it to the LTx shootout and military obligations cut me off for year #2..... but if it's close and combined with an LS/LT shootout (even if they don't actually race each other) i'd be sooooooo down to go.... it woudl increase car counts and make it exciting for everyone....

i hope it's as close to possibly happening as we think... i'm crossin my fingers...

and 400 bracket racers race for 10 hours....

WHAT! that was the highlight of the event! :angel: I havent said much about it but Im right there with everyone. somethings got to give, the NMCA guys are awesome and do an amazing job and please understand that all this bitching is not directed toward them. the event was just to large plain and simple. there was WAY to many cars for the allotted time.

Yeah I cannot fly the flag because the first year my car wasn't finished and hurt the tranny attempting to make it to the LTx shootout and military obligations cut me off for year #2..... but if it's close and combined with an LS/LT shootout (even if they don't actually race each other) i'd be sooooooo down to go.... it woudl increase car counts and make it exciting for everyone....

i hope it's as close to possibly happening as we think... i'm crossin my fingers...

i've always had this idea, i just figured it would never fly with the LSX crowd but maybe this is the perfect oppurtunity for me to open my mouth lol.

i know im not a heavy hitter. but my ideas are big! i just wish i had loads of $$ and time and skills lol. i'd be right up there with ya man running 8's!

but i hope this is considered. if they need event help i would def volunteer to work during the event.

Two Ways to make it a great success.

1. Add LTx to the event. This should easily bring the car count to about ~160

2. Add a class for LSx/LTx conversions on NON GM vehicle. that should very easily bring it to over 180.

And of course break out some 275 drag radial action and a true Outlaw class :)

Question to Thunder Racing, What kind of car counts did you guys need to break even when you held the events? Ive got to believe that next year with the 5th gens becoming more available (and SOMEBODY making a 8.8 or 9" conversion) that we should see a hell of alot more....

WHAT! that was the highlight of the event! :angel: I havent said much about it but Im right there with everyone. somethings got to give, the NMCA guys are awesome and do an amazing job and please understand that all this bitching is not directed toward them. the event was just to large plain and simple. there was WAY to many cars for the allotted time.

Agreed. I don't think that the event was un-organized, just way too much going on. The local bracket cars being there was just rediculous. I'm sure they make for an all afternoon/evening event all on there on. Schedule them when theres time for them and let the NMCA do their thing. Instead, the bracket racers get rescheduled which makes them unhappy and the guys that all travelled 5, 10, or 15 hours have to make arrangements for another day or go home early.

And, I guess LSx cars got a free pass for the true street again this year? This will probably make someone mad, but how about making them pay for it if they wanna run it. That would bring more money in and cut down the field to a more manageble level... just my 2 cents.

Two Ways to make it a great success.

1. Add LTx to the event. This should easily bring the car count to about ~160

2. Add a class for LSx/LTx conversions on NON GM vehicle. that should very easily bring it to over 180.

And of course break out some 275 drag radial action and a true Outlaw class :)

Question to Thunder Racing, What kind of car counts did you guys need to break even when you held the events? Ive got to believe that next year with the 5th gens becoming more available (and SOMEBODY making a 8.8 or 9" conversion) that we should see a hell of alot more....

Depending on other sponsors chipping in to sponsor various classes, 120 -150 car turnout would be key in today's economy.

Shane

next year needs to happen without the bracket racing. they had a NO box class and a box class, and they also held a "foot brake" race along with all this separate from the points race. thats three classes of bracket racing that would take 2 days alone to run.

I am a bracket racer, but I didn't come to a NMCA world final and LSx shootout to watch bracket racing.

I love the NMCA classes, Pro stock with their sub 420 in NA motors running mid 8 second passes, to extreme street almost running in the 7's with a nitrous/tire/no wheelie bar limit. pure badass if you ask me.

I like to keep the LSX shootout and the NMCA world finals together, JUST NO BRACKET BULLSHIT.

as far as more heads up classes. brain storm guys.

We need to do a stock bottom end heads up class. give weight mins, weight breaks cubic inch limits with weights etc etc. something can be done. Some/a lot of us are still ripping on factory stuff lol hell even a stock bottom end power adder class would be fun.

Maybe I'll make a thread with some idea's in the near future. then everyone can put their input in.

even though I broke out on monday in the 3rd round(and I was pretty pissed) I still had a lot of fun, and I'll be there again next year for sure!

I like the stock bottom end heads up class... Gives us poor weekend warriors a chance to run a heads up race.

I seriously doubt there's room to add multiple classes with a already full schedule at the NMCA. There's just not enough time/room on the schedule to make room for that.