OK--you guys will be the first to hear this one. HOT ROD is throwing the first-ever Pump Gas Drags in 2004, and we think it's the least limiting, most legit street-car shootout yet. No trailers allowed! Complete rules will be posted at hotrod.com in a few weeks, and they will be printed in the January issue of the magazine. So don't take this as official, but here's the gist of it:
- Race will probably be sometime in May in Memphis
- All years, makes, and models are allowed. No dragsters or flopper bodies, and only '34-and-older may be fenderless.
- No limits on weight or cubic inch or heads or induction
- Must be street legal, registered, insured
- Full interiors required
- Entire event must be run on one set of four DOT-legal tires of your choice
- Here's the catch: All cars must be presented for tech with empty gas tanks. HOT ROD will supply 15 gallons of 93-octane unleaded pump gas. No other fuel source or additives are allowed, and we will tech the fuel after the race.
- All competitors will meet at Comp Cams for tech and will be impounded for the night. In the morning, the cars must follow the Comp Cams lead van at least 30 miles to the track and may not drop behind the chase van for any reason. No trailers are allowed to follow the cars and no trailers or support vehicles will be allowed at the track. All the people and equipment you need must be in the car.
- At the track, there's 30 minutes of cool-down. Each car will make three passes down the track, and at the end of the day, the car with the quickest average e.t. wins.
- There will also be awards for Most Legit 11-second car, 10-second car, and so on.
- It's free to enter, but HOT ROD and Comp Cams will select only 50 cars to participate, like an invitational. Entry forms will be in the January HOT ROD, and must be submitted along with photos of the car, the engine, and the interior. Proof of e.t. is also suggested. Entries will be due around the end of the year and cars will be announced around the end of January.
- Every car that passes tech will get a photo in HOT ROD.

Once again, understand that these are not the official rules, and they are not complete. But close enough for you to start thinking about it. Enter as many good Mopars as you can and I promise to make sure they have a good showing. Bring it!

DF