Spring Break Shootout '06: Be There

The dates have been set: March 4-5. Time for the 11th Annual Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords/Pro50.com Spring Break Shootout. Those who've attended in the past know it is nothing short of the greatest heads-up Mustang race of the year. These same people will also tell you that it's the sickest Mustang party of the season, a bash that would make Bacchus himself blush.

(For those who don't know, Bacchus was the Roman god of wine, from which the word bacchanal comes. Think drunken feast and/or orgy and you're close to the demented goings-on at Spring Break Shootout. Bacchus was also famous for having the first Roman chariot in the nines.)

Every year, Blue Oval-philes from around the globe--quite literally, as we've had attendees from as far away as England and Australia--gather en masse at Orlando Speedworld Dragway in Florida for the Fun Ford Weekend season opener. And why not? What better way to chase away the winter blues than a pilgrimage to the Sunshine State for the best in Ford racing?

If you somehow missed last year's Pro50.com Spring Break Shootout or the coverage in the June '05 issue, it was one for the ages. The all-run, 27-car field was comprised of some of the meanest registered and insured street cars we've ever laid eyes on. The fender-to-fender action was relentless, but the gloves actually came off in qualifying. Gina Munden's 8.51/163 topped the ladder, but she had the company of five other Stangs qualified in the 8s. There were 10 cars qualified in the 9s and another three in the 10s. Munden nearly went post to post, but she lost on a holeshot in the finals, 8.56 to 8.53, to Jason Ardron.

Think you've got what it takes to run with these stallions?

Once again Pro50.com, maker of the Power Tower shifter for all '79-up Mustangs (not to mention rear gears), has committed to supplying the full $2,500 payout, the entirety of which will go to the racers. The rules are simple: Your '79-newer Mustang or Ford must be registered and insured for street use (and you need the documentation to back it up), any powerplant and combination of power adders goes, and the max tire size is 10.5 inches. Oh, there are a couple of curveballs thrown in (see complete rules below), but for the most part it's run whatcha brung, MM&FF-style. Note that while the rules are few, they will be strictly enforced. Excuses and notes from Mommy are not acceptable; all bribes will be considered, but don't insult us with lowball offers.

Naturally, no Spring Break Shootout would be complete without a Welcome To Florida gathering at the local Hooters. For the new millennium, that's meant Friday night at the Hooters of Waterford Lakes in Orlando. What gracious hosts they are, inviting you back year after year despite your attempts at repaving their parking lot entirely with smoldering tire rubber. See you there.

Reserved for any FFW approved 1979 or later, rear wheel drive FoMoCo passenger cars. Heads up, no break out, .400 Pro 'Tree eliminations. Burn outs across starting line prohibited. All-run field, minimum of one (1) qualifying pass mandatory. Class designation SPR followed by FFW number.

REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: 1

CYLINDER HEADS
Any generally available Ford or aftermarket Windsor style, Cleveland style, Big Block or Modular Motor cylinder heads accepted. Any 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder heads permitted. No restrictions on modifications.

CYLINDER BLOCK
Any Ford or Ford style aftermarket cylinder block accepted, including 4, 6 or 8-cylinder blocks. Any internal components or modifications permitted.

INDUCTION SYSTEM
Any intake system permitted.

CAMSHAFT
Any camshaft and lifter combination permitted.

EXHAUST SYSTEM
Headers permitted, must exit under the chassis and at least to within 12" of the rear end housing. This includes turbocharged vehicles. Mufflers required.

ENGINE SETBACK
Permitted. Must not touch stock unmodified firewall.

FUEL / FUEL CHECK
Gasoline will be the only fuel permitted.

FUEL SYSTEM
Properly mounted fuel cell permitted.

RADIATOR
Front mounted radiator required. Aftermarket electric water pump and fan permitted.

NITROUS OXIDE
Permitted on any engine. Multi-stage systems permitted. Must be properly installed according to manufacturers recommendations.

SUPERCHARGERS / TURBOCHARGERS
Single or dual units permitted on any engine.

DRIVE TRAIN: 2

CLUTCH
Clutch release must be manually operated by the driver's foot.

REAR END
Heavy duty replacement unit permitted.

TRANSMISSION, AUTOMATIC
Any original or aftermarket transmission permitted. Minimum of two (2) forward speeds and reverse gear mandatory. Any modifications including trans brake permitted. Air or electronic shifters prohibited. Shift mechanism must be driver operated. Neutral safety switch mandatory.

TRANSMISSION, MANUAL
Any original or aftermarket transmission permitted. Reverse gear mandatory. Air or electronic shifters prohibited. Shift mechanism must be driver operated.

BRAKES & SUSPENSION: 3

BRAKES
Operational brakes required on all four wheels.

STEERING
Aftermarket steering in the conventional location permitted.

SUSPENSION, FRONT
Aftermarket shocks, struts, spindles and springs permitted. Coil-over front struts permitted. Tubular K-member and tubular A-arms permitted, must attach to OEM locations.

SUSPENSION, REAR
Springs must be in the stock OEM location. Coil-over rear shocks prohibited, unless used in conjunction with springs mounted in stock OEM location. Heavy duty upper and lower rear trailing arms permitted, must attach to the OEM chassis attachment points. Ladder bars or aftermarket 4-links prohibited. Aftermarket rear anti sway bar permitted.

WHEELIE BARS
Permitted. Non-metallic wheels only. Must be correctly adjusted to control wheel stands.

FRAME: 4

BALLAST
Permitted. Must be properly mounted.

BUMPERS
Stock or composite duplicates mandatory front and rear. Must be original size and shape. Approved front air dam or aftermarket lower valance (Saleen, etc.) permitted. Rear bumper may be notched or clearanced for wheelie bar installation.

FRAME
Stock OEM front and rear sub frames required. Sub frame connectors permitted. PARACHUTE
Required for vehicles exceeding 150 MPH, must be properly installed according to manufacturer's recommendations.

WHEELBASE
Stock OEM wheelbase required.

TIRES & WHEELS: 5

TIRES & WHEELS
Racing tires and wheels permitted, front and rear. Maximum measured tread width of rear tire not exceed 10.5 inches (as noted on tire and measured), regardless of wear. "W" series tires prohibited. Tires must fit in stock, unaltered rear wheel wells.

INTERIOR: 6

UPHOLSTERY
Must have full interior, including upholstered door panels. Lightweight racing seats (two required) permitted. Interior gutting prohibited, must have a clean, neat appearance. Production dashboard required. Carpeting required, must cover floor in rear if back seat is deleted.

BODY: 7

BODY
Must be FFW approved FoMoCo passenger car body. Steel production body required. Lightweight components restricted to hood and trunk or deck lid. Must maintain original height, width, length and contour. Non approved alterations or customizing to gain an advantage is prohibited. Vehicles must be completely painted. Primered vehicles or un-painted hoods prohibited.

FENDERS
Front and rear fender opening must be the same as stock. Minor modifications permitted to rear fender opening for tire clearance. Inner rear fender wells may not be enlarged or modified from OEM stock. Mini-tubs prohibited.

DOORS
OEM doors must be functional and operable from inside and outside. Must maintain OEM external door handles.

FIREWALL / ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Stock OEM firewall required and must completely seal the engine compartment from the driver's compartment. OEM front strut towers, radiator bulkhead and inner fender well side panels must be maintained.

FLOOR
Stock OEM steel floor required.

GRILLE
Must be stock production grille for body used and may not be closed off.

HOOD / SCOOP
Cowl induction hood permitted, limited to six (6) inches at highest point. Cowl hood may not extend to the windshield, must leave room for operable windshield wipers (two (2) required). Forward facing air scoop permitted on flat hood, limited to six (6) inches at highest point. A minimum of four fasteners recommended on the leading edge of hood.

SPOILERS
Aftermarket rear spoiler attaching to rear of trunk lid or hatch permitted.

STREET EQUIPMENT
Stock OEM sealed beam headlights, taillights, turn signals and horn mandatory and must be operational. Windshield wiper motor required, must be operational. Windshield wiper arms and blades must be attached during tech inspection, may be removed during qualifying and eliminations.

WINDSHIELD / WINDOWS
Stock production windshield and windows mandatory. Lightweight replacement windows (Lexan, etc.) prohibited. Windshield and door windows must be clear or no darker than factory OEM tint.

ELECTRICAL: 8

BATTERY
Maximum of two batteries permitted, may be relocated to trunk area.

DEAY BOXES / DEVICES
Any starting line aid other than line lock or two-step type device prohibited.

COMPUTER / DATA RECORDER
Any EFI engine management systems permitted. Any laptop computer in vehicle during competition must be securely fastened to vehicle.

SUPPORT GROUP: 9

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM
Fire extinguisher or fire suppression system strongly recommended.

TOW VEHICLES
Prohibited. Vehicle must be driven to the staging lanes, to the scales, and back to the pits.

DRIVER: 10

CREDENTIALS
Current valid state drivers license required, and if applicable, a valid competition license and chassis certification required, must meet NHRA requirements. All vehicles must be fully licensed for street use and have proof of valid insurance and registration. No dealer or temporary tags permitted. A Muscle Mustang & Fast Fords license plate will be provided and must be affixed to the front of the vehicle. It will be the drivers responsibility to provide a proper front license plate bracket or mount and bolts. Front license plate must be mounted so as to not fall off during competition. No other magazine license plates permitted, front or rear.

DRIVER
Must be on left side of vehicle in conventional location. All applicable safety equipment required.

SANCTIONING BODY RULEBOOKS
All participants must be familiar with and abide by all rules, regulations and procedures defined in the Official NHRA Rulebook, and also any and all applicable SFI Specs, which are made part of the class rules. PROCEDURES
Weather and time permitting, there will be three qualifying sessions permitted. The quickest time will be the official qualifying time. Racers will be paired according to the NHRA Sportsman Ladder. Driver with the quicker ET in the previous round during eliminations will have lane choice, must be established between the drivers prior to going into the burn-out box. During qualifying and eliminations, all vehicles must report directly to the scales. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

WEIGHTS / DISPLACEMENTS: 12

All minimum weights include driver, measured at the conclusion of a run.