Drag-and-Drive Competitors Take 2 of 3 Class Titles at SIR’s Fastest Streetcar Shootout, the Mackey Family Dominates at Julesburg Dragstrip, and Elff’s Stick Shift Supra Cracks the 7-Second Barrier
During the year, we will see thousands drag-and-drive rides being employed at multiple racing venues outside the drag-and-drive event community.
For the second time in a month, multiple people we recognize from drag-and-drives made their mark at local tracks, big events, and even test-and-tune sessions to post personal best times.
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Our first event to report on takes us north of the United States border, to Saskatchewan International Raceway in Canada for the Fastest Streetcar Shootout. After Saturday rains pushed the action to Sunday, winners were crowned in three categories.
Two-time Sick Week winner Richard Guido, and multi-time Canadian stick shift class winner Chris Hein were amongst those in attendance for the Stick Shift class, and after early rounds were completed, Hein found himself lining up with Guido in the semifinal round.
Hein had qualified number one in class, and used a 5.21 to dismiss Guido’s 6.28 lap, then sealed the deal in the final round with a consistent 5.20 run.
“We ran a new eighth-mile personal best of 5.13 at 144 mph during Friday testing,” said Hein. “I know with some more time on the Black Magic Clutch, we will get deep into those 1.2x 60 foots, and a couple more pounds of boost out the back, and I’ll have a 4.99 stick car.”
Sheldon Root, who we’ve witnessed battle for the Rowdy Radial title twice at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, bolted a pair of 275 drag radials on his 1962 Acadian and rolled to a win in the 275 Small Tire class.
“We put on the 275s, and were able to qualify number one and come home with the big cheque,” said Sheldon. “We ran a bunch of 4.60s, with the best being 4.62 at 168 mph.” Sheldon also scored fastest ET overall and highest MPH overall, earning the 275 Small Tire class winner some bragging rights.
Russ Flaman, who has previously won Big Tire ‘streetcar-style’ classes in Canada, scored the Outlaw Big Tire win with his 1969 Pontiac GTO.
Moving back to the US side, the Mackey family was scoring round wins with not just one, but three different vehicles in the same class. We’ve seen the Mackey family on Sick Week and Rocky Mountain Race Week, and they descended on Julesburg Dragstrip for some bracket racing action.
With all four members of the family on track, the quarterfinal round found father Bryon, and kids Austin and Laney making up three of the six entries. Austin and Bryon survived to the final round of the Hot Rod class, where Bryon claimed the title. “It was a close race, but my wagon and I came away with the win,” said Bryon.
The stick shift community has been in the spotlight a lot in the last couple years, and with nine of the top ten in the 6-second range according to the Stick Shift Elite, cars and trucks continue to make waves with H-pattern manual transmissions.
2024 Sick Week Freaks class winner Damon Elff, who also mixed it up in the Stick Shift class at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, has been searching for a low 8-second time slip in his 1995 Toyota Supra, but at a private track rental at Muncie Dragway, Damon cracked off a 7.94 at 177 mph, his first 7-second run.
Damon hopes to compete next at the World Cup Finals at Maryland International Raceway in November, followed by the Southeast Street N Yeet drag-and-drive event a few weeks later.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, SIR’s Fastest Streetcar Shootout and Bryon Mackey.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com