The Invasion of the Outlaw/Pro Four-Cylinder Import Cars

by Tim Marshall

Pro Stock and Pro Modified racing has always been a big draw, not only for spectators but participants as well. However, there's something new on the scene that may impact the sport just as much. Enter Outlaw and Pro Imports.

Import racing has begun to get a foothold in the U.S. drag racing scene, certainly not on a par with Pro Stock or Pro Modified, but it's made an impression nonetheless. Seattle Int'l Raceway, the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, and Rockford Dragway and Route 66 Raceway in Ill., have all featured shows involving foreign cars, but the heaviest action has been occuring at both Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (Englishtown, N.J.) and Atco Raceway (Atco, N.J.) in the east and L.A. County Raceway (Palmdale, Calif.), Pomona Raceway (Calif.), Sacramento Raceway Park (Calif.), and Sears Point Int'l Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.)

When I was first approached about covering import racing, my first thought was 'no thanks,' but after watching the extreme numbers these racers get out of four cylinders, I'm flat impressed. A couple of examples as to why I converted are below.

At L.A.C.R., recently over 700 entries took part in a "Battle of the Imports," at a track not known for outstanding traction. Entries came from as far away as Japan and Hawaii with almost every imaginable type of import car taking part.

Team Top Fuel featured a 10-second Volkswagen, Abel Ibarra had a hot red Opel that ran in the 9.0s, and Stephen Papadakis had a tube-framed Honda compact that ran the first eights at the slick desert track. Papadakis' run was a crowd pleaser because the Honda car appears, just off this race, as the definite favorite of the import competitor on the West Coast.

Atco Raceway's Pan-American Nationals in July is the "Indy" of import car competition and the most popular item there may have been the Mazda rotary engine. "Sakura" of Puerto Rico's Rotary-powered Mitsubishi clocked an incredible 7.86/172 at Atco, which was absolutely the run of the event at last year's race.

There are several groups putting on events across the country, among them NOPI, IDRC, NHRA, NIRA and IDRA, (Frank Choy's "Battle of the Imports") Mark Meadors, son of Goodguys topkick Gary, and Street Legal magazine has their "Street Legal Jams." Petersen Publishing also backs NIRA events, too.

Lately, the American Big Three automakers have jumped into the fray as well. One standout in recent competition has been the new Ford Focus raced by Shawn Carlson of NuForms and Meguiar's wax. This is no "econo" car, either, as Carlson has reportedly put over $200,000 into the carbon-fiber charger. Another hot Focus is owned by Ben Ma, who purchased it from London, England's Wayne Saunders.

Import events consist of anything from pro cars to exhibition cars, where anything goes. The All motor category is more conservative and does not allow turbochargers, supercharged NOS or equipment of that nature.

The popular Quick 8 and Quick 16 classes allow turbochargers, but must retain a stock chassis. There are brackets in import racing, usually two and three in number, and they are the exclusive preserve of street-driven stockers. At all shows, there are car exhibitions with just about every part and publication one might need to stay abreast of the competition.

As an example of the kind of competition that a fan or racer could see at one of these events, here are the top four hitters according to Turbo magazine: Steve Papadakis ('99 tube frame Honda Civic) - 9.05/166 Kenny Tran (Texas-based '93 Honda Civic) - 9.68/144 Ed Bergenholtz ('89 Honda Civic) - 9.68/151 John Brown - 9.92, 145 (Honda).

Watch our site for a future "import" event in the coming weeks, and feel free to pitch in your thoughts and comments.

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