NTRA Manufacturers Championship Qualifying

Hosting a proxy race is always an interesting experience. It begins when the packages arrive; some packaging is more, ah, "creative" than others.

Bluegnuoy has obviously taken recycling to heart, making use of those leftover TP rolls.



And PCEng has found a "Kool" way to package his slot cars. Surgeon General's Warning: Smoking Funny Cars may be hazardous to your health."



Here's the Lions Drag Strip pit area. The final car count: 25 NF/C, 16 NP/S.



The real Racemaster, my wife Franca. "Honey, how would you like to glue, oh, 500 little plastic people to grandstand seats this morning?" A good woman is hard to find, especially one who indulges her husband's hobbies.

We stationed cub reporter Ted Tappet at the Lions Drag Strip pit gate to get photos of the rigs as they arrived. Here's TGM2054's handsome Cuda NF/C.



All the way from Texas, the Mustangs of the Slotfather and Angry Jeff. Not sure what Jeff's so angry about, it looks like he's got a fine horse to ride.



A pair of silver Camaros pull in behind two classic Chevy pickups – Nosubfor3's first-generation Z28 and Wood's slick Gen II Camaro.



Next to roll through the gate are Scottman2007's Monza NP/S and his Fast Company Firebird NF/C.



PCEng brought a pair of Cudas – Big John Mazmanian's sweet candy apple red NF/C and a blue HemiCuda.



Here comes trouble – the Ohio Mafia has arrived. If the times reported in testing by 440gtx's might Mopars are to be believed, it's going to be a massacre in NP/S.



What's this? Nosubfor3 in a Pontiac! Well, at least he brought the Goodwrench hauler.



Looks like the Metallica guys made it back from the Blue Fox in time for qualifying with Cturner1215's entry. Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll – what's not to like about a heavy metal band that races NF/C? Not sure how clean-cut Bruce Larson feels about sharing pit space driving Nosubfor3's patriotic Camaro.



Ken Schrader in a Kodiak Camaro Funny Car? We'll have to ask Bluegnuoy about that.



A pair of Jungle Jim Chevy II's shared a ride – Bondoman2K's in front and Ninjatek's riding shotgun.



The Eagle has landed – Eagleracing, that is. A pair of gorgeous Camaros from Texas.



Two cars that are seldom seen in NF/C – TGM2054's orange Omni and Joe65SkylarkGS's Buick.



Bluegnuoy shows up a with a matching set of Chevys – Coors Vega for NF/C and a first-generation F-body for NP/S.



This one's a stunner! Falcon's Blue Max Mustang is definitely a contender for Best Appearing award.



That's all for tonight. Time to figure out the manufacturer teams and set up the elimination ladder for NP/S. Saturday's action at Lions Drag Strip will feature NF/C Open Competition and Nostalgia Pro Stock eliminations.

Great looking cars folks. Great looking photos as well. Guess I get to call UPS on tuesday to ask where my package got to!! Good luck to all of you.

Awsome pictures Rick,and fun as usual,Glad to hear the metallica boys made in time. Cant wait for see this event unfold.

The credit for the Blue Max goes to Hairy Canary. He did the body and the paint. The most beautiful car / paint job I have seen. Thank You Rick !!!
Bob