I just sent out an email to the final 50 who will be invited to the first ever HOT ROD/Comp Cams Pump-Gas Drags. Here's the list of cars we invited (in no particular order), plus scroll way down to the bottom to see a copy of the email they were sent.



Dan Shipley

Marthasville, MO

1991 Ford Mustang GT



Jerry Sirhan

Belleville, MI

1970 Ford Torino Cobra



Steve Hoch

?????

1968 Chevy Corvette



Mark Eggers

Clearwater, FL

1971 Datsun 240Z



Ryan Hoskins

Calgary, AB, CA

1966 Chevy Chevelle Malibu



Robert Schmitt

Oceanside, NY

1967 Chevy Chevelle SS



Don Vargo

Livonia, MI

1969 Dodge Charger



John Cunningham

Cary, IL

1968 Chevy Nova



Mike Thompson

Roscoe, IL

1986 Chevy S10



Bryan Pomeroy

Colleyville, TX

2000 Chevy Camaro SS



Taner Bosnali

Windsor, ON, CA

1996 Chevy Camaro SS



Tom Freiberg

Andover, MN

1969 Chevy Chevelle SS



Roman Littman

Windsor, ON, CA

1999 Chevy Camaro SS



David Boggs

Louisville, KY

1998 Dodge Viper GTS



Chris Mineker

?????

1969 Chevy Camaro



Kenneth Close

Munhall, PA

1934 Ford Three-Window Coupe



John Wilson

Lorena, TX

1993 Ford Mustang



Raymond Doughty

Pleasant Valley, NY

1970 Chevy Nova SS



Kenneth Tree

Madison, MS

1969 Chevy Camaro



Jeff Moll

Perryville, MO

1966 Chevy Impala



John Garner

Eden Prairie, MN

1990 Ford Mustang



Tom Welch

Ocala, FL

1997 Dodge Viper GTS



#### Tschida

Forest Lake, MN

1968 Dodge Dart



Chris Johnson

Houston, TX

1969 Chevy Camaro



Chad Rivers

Herkimer, NY

1983 Chevy Camaro



Tommy Smith

Henderson, KY

1968 Chevy Camaro



Scott Helton

Canton, GA

1977 Chevy Camaro



James Pranis

Pittsburgh, PA

1968 Dodge Charger



Tom Hunsaker

Springboro, Ohio

1969 Plymouth Barracuda



Harry Stirnemann

St. Louis, MO

1937 Chevy Coupe



David Furedy

Pittsburgh, PA

1984 Buick Regal



Barry Rabotnick

West Bloomfield, MI

1969 Ford Torino



Jason Robertson

Freeport, NY

1985 Chevy Monte Carlo SS



Sean Powers

Rockford, IL

1988 Ford Mustang



Mel Graham

Tulsa, OK

1969 Chevy Camaro



Kenneth Altum

Liberty Hill, TX

1984 Chevy Monte Carlo



Richard Kurzawa

Romeo, MI

1984 Ford Mustang



Larry & Kimmie Robb

Eagle, ID

1966 Chevy Corvette



Phillip Bridges

Savannah, TN

1995 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am



Matt Swindle

Mooresville, IN

1997 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am



Brian Clarke

New Castle, DE

1969 Chevy Nova



Paolo Castellano

Elburn, IL

1996 Dodge Viper GTS



Fred Rose

Leesville, SC

2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am



Derek Scott Striebinger

Kingsville, MD

1992 Ford Mustang



Tommy Michalkowski

Brick, NJ

1997 Chevy Corvette



Marc Hatley

Aztec, NM

1967 Chevy Camaro



Travis Hess

Martinsburg, WV

1965 Dodge Coronet



Mark Theriot

Clarkston, MI

1999 Pontiac Firebird Firehawk



Mark McCabe

West Palm Beach, FL

1966 Chevy Chevelle SS



Todd Howells

Berlin, NJ

1969 Chevy Chevelle SS



Congratulations! You are invited by the editors of HOT ROD magazine to participate in the first-ever HOT ROD Magazine/Comp Cams Pump-Gas Drags.

This email will answer many of the questions we've had so far, though not everything has been sorted out. HOT ROD will meet with Comp Cams several times in the next few months to address the final details and you will be kept informed. If you have any questions at any time, please address them to me at david.freiburger@primedia.com. I will probably not be able to answer immediately, but I will answer eventually. If you have a question that is relevant to the entire group of PGD participants (such as any rules clarification), I will respond to the entire email list.

The very first thing you need to do is reply to this email to verify that you can still be in Memphis at Comp Cams and at Memphis Motorsports Park on April 30th and May 1, 2004, for the event. If you cannot participate for any reason, let me know ASAP as a courtesy to the very long list of applicants who are next in line to race if you can't make it.

In the same email, assure us that your car will comply with the NHRA safety rules for the e.t. you will run in Memphis. There will be a tech inspection, you will not be allowed to race if your car is not in compliance, and you may not be allowed to complete the competition if the car runs faster or quicker than the e.t. for which it was teched. Be legal. You don't want to come all the way to Memphis and not be able to race.

In your email to us, tell us your T-shirt and jacket size (S, M, L, XL, XXL, or XXXL).

Also as a reminder, per the rules, "you must race the same car and engine that you originally entered," so your invitation is non-transferable.

And now here are some questions and answers:

How many entries were there? Over 350.

How fast are the cars that were selected for the final 50? We've elected not to reveal the e.t. claimed by the cars that were selected. The slowest cars on the list run mid 10s.

Did any imports make the final cut? Nope. But there's one on our list of 10 best alternates.

Why did I get invited and my friend's car didn't? The HOT ROD staff won't discuss why any particular cars were not chosen. That's because, as we stated from the outset, we chose the quickest cars that were, in our opinion, legit street cars. Opinions are very easy to argue with. We will reveal that any car that appeared to have a tube chassis or a clutchless transmission did not make the cut.

If I show up, will I be in the magazine? We've promised that every car to pass tech will get a photo in HOT ROD.

Who is the fuel supplier? We're proud to finally announce that Rockett Brands will provide the official gasoline of the Pump-Gas Drags. Rockett Brands is comprised of the same team who formerly operated 76 Products race gas division, and we especially thank Tim Wusz of Rockett Brands for the support.

Can nitrous bottles be changed between dragstrip passes? No. The rules state "With the exception of adjusting tire pressure, vehicles may not be worked on at the track," and, "Cars must race as they were driven to the track."

Can EFI cars change the tuneup at the track? No, for the same reasons given above.

Will there be a fuel check at the end of the race? Yes.

Is there a rain date? Yes--May 2 and 3.

What if I show up at Comp with some gas in the tank because I drove the car there instead of trailered it? We will have provisions to siphon it out at Comp. It will be your responsibility to ensure that the system is drained sufficiently that you pass the fuel check (i.e., there is nothing but the pure spec fuel entering the engine).

How do I get around once you impound the car Friday night? How can I let my family into the track in a separate car? Will there be spectators? Where are the local hotels? Can I camp at Comp? We are discussing these logistics and will update you by 2/6.

Again, congratulations on being among an elite group to participate in what will certainly be one of the most fun and controversial events of 2004 and beyond. We welcome your questions and comments and beg your understanding as we respond as quickly as we can. If you get the chance, please give your thanks and your business to Comp Cams and Rockett Brands for making this event possible.

Reminder: email us now to verify that you can come, to tell us that you'll be NHRA legal, and to give us your shirt size.

Let's race!

David Freiburger

Editor In Chief

HOT ROD Magazine

HOT ROD TV

Congrats to Ryan for being selected graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/hurray.gif If any car belonged at the competition, it was yours.

Good luck in May. I understand your in for a long tow :eek: .

Also a graemlins/thumbsup.gif to good friend Scott Helton and his Camaro. graemlins/beers.gif

Atta Boy Ryan!!!!! I call SHOTGUN!!

beaumontbob,

Get some time off work - we're going to memphis - and I need someone to hold the pee bottle on the 36+ hour drive to Memphis.

graemlins/beers.gif

Ryan

Awesome Ryan! This is going to be the most brutal race event I can't wait to see the coverage.

Mark Eggers

Clearwater, FL

1971 Datsun 240Z


No Imports :confused:

Betcha that doesn't have a Datsun engine in it.

Ryan, you're going schlep to Memphis, arent you!? Man, its a once-in-a-lifetime deal! Anyway, CONGRATS!

Congrats Ryan graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Are any of the other Chevelles from this site ?

Now I want to know who all is going, Ryan will have the largest fan base there. :D

Hey Gene,
If you'll drive to Patton, PA. I'll drive the rest of the way to Memphis.

To my good buddy Matt Swindle.....


graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Right on Ryan, I know you wanted it bad. Now make us proud!!!

Bob

thanks for the support everyone - I'll try my best not to let down any supporters - no DNF or 50th place.

graemlins/beers.gif

Hey Ryan Congratulations.......That's great graemlins/thumbsup.gif
I just marked my calendar ....... there must be a biz reason ;) I need to be in Memphis that weekend , calling my travel agent now ..... I'll be there , would not miss the chance to see that CDN built Chevelle run with the " big dogs"

If anyone knows best place to stay, let me know and also I assume so as not to miss any racing I should arrive Thursday April 29 and return anytime on Sunday May 2 ...

I haven't made arrangements yet but when I do I'll let you know where I'm staying/arriving etc. Plan to get there for thurs am for test and tune.

Test and Tune Thurs AM .....Thanks I'll phone my agent back .....I have found a supplier with a plant in the area that I need to tour ;)

Congrats Ryan, Go get em graemlins/hurray.gif


Jerry

Don Vargo is a local guy, he's got a BIG block Chevy in a Dodge Charger! :cool:

Congradulations to Ryan and everyone else that made the list. Mid 10s being the slowest car there, there goes the trophy for best 11 second car tongue.gif

Ryan, any idea how much nitrous your gonna use, if any?

If that Datsun has a turbo intercooled sbc engine in it or something, then I expect to see that being near the top due it its low weight. Also, watch out for the turbo mustangs and regal. I'm suprised to see so many vipers too. I hope that 97 Corvette has a LPE TT427. I know they can run high 8s/low 9s smile.gif Should be cool.

I think that Z car has a 415 stroker sbc with a NX plate system. He was spraying a 300 shoot on it. If its the same car it was running 9.3's. It cranked out like 697rwhp on the rear wheel dyno!

congrats to Ryan...

I realize Comp Cams is putting this on, but I find it ironic that Hot Rod doesn't attempt to put on something like this (or really anything much) in their own "backyard"...

Absolutely no cars from the west coast (Idaho and New Mexico the furthest west...).

Congratulations Ryan!!!!

graemlins/beers.gif

Hey Ryan, I dont mind helping out to get there, but having my hands anywhere near your nads is not my idea of a good time.... :eek: True the trip will be long and boring, but we should be able to think something up for fun... Cant wait to ge there... Dont forget what we talked about over supper, what ever you need let me know graemlins/beers.gif

G

I speculated about the other guys when the list was posted but bottom line - everybody will bring suprises. Can't wait - it'll be fun to be a part of the first one.


454 - how much nitrous? A LOT! And might bring another 2 stages if the first one doesn't stick.

graemlins/clonk.gif

I think the winning car will go 7s and it won't be me! Maybe i'll get to watch from the other lane a second behind.

good luck!