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Back to the Future
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Nostalgia Super Stock Racing - After fifty years, gasoline and carburetor racing is as healthy as ever!
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By Steve Reasbeck Photos by Tom Molyneaux and Brian Wood |
Sometime around 1964, I was visiting relatives in a small town in Ohio . A typical teenager, I spent my time listening to the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, and generally soaking in the car culture of the time. I had purchased a magazine earlier that summer, Drag Racing, which had featured Rich Guasco's famous "Pure Hell" altered roadster on the front cover and was intrigued by this sport that had appeared to be taking the automotive world by storm. Unlike the West Coast, where nostalgia racing is dominated by fuel dragsters, roadsters, and gassers, nostalgia racing in the East and Midwest is owned by the gasoline burning, multi-carburetor-equipped brutes that dominated the Super Stock scene in drag racing's golden years. Whereas open bodied cars are limited in number, it is not uncommon to have seventy five or more NSS cars participate in events. The Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association (MANDRA) is a bit more varied, featuring several different types of nostalgia cars, from roadsters to doorslammers, and put on independent races throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Last but certainly not least, is the Midwest Nostalgia Super Stock Association, which is the nation's oldest and largest. The Midwest organization is a fixture at National Street Car Association events, and their entries far outnumber the entries in any other category of competition. All put on terrific programs, are very successful, and are in demand by promoters throughout the East and Midwest . In general, the rules governing NSS are more liberal than IHRA/NHRA class racing, thus allowing a wider variety and greater number of long time racers that do not wish to deal with the hassle and expense of adhering to strict carburetor numbers and the like. It is a much more laid back, fun venue, and attracts racers of all ages. By far, however, the most entries are in the classes A/NSS through E/NSS, running on half-second brakes a la Super Gas. There are some venues, however, that have the entries running a dial in program, similar to a regular ET bracket race. 
The cars must be full sized sedans, no newer than 1969, and must be period correct. That means full interiors, period type hood scoops, and tires that are no wider than 10.5 inches sidewall designation. They must also be big block powered, with no small blocks allowed. Accepted engines include big block and "W" motored Chevrolets, FE Fords, and Hemi and wedge Mopars. New this year is the inclusion of the cross-rammed AMX package that dominated SS/C in years past. No sheet metal intakes, no tunnel rams, and no dominator carburetors.
Under no circumstances are driver aids permitted, which means no air shifters, delay boxes, trans-brakes, and the like. Lettering must be of the style that was popular in the time period, and nitrous is totally taboo. Full interiors, headliners, dashboards, and original equipment also must be retained.
For some reason, though, despite its following, much of the mainstream drag racing media chooses to give NSS "lip service", focusing instead on the standard NHRA/IHRA fare, the flashy Unlimited Street classes, and other, more "traditional" venues. I have a difficult time understanding why. I remain convinced that the now defunct ANRA would be in business today had they embraced Nostalgia Super Stock, rather than ignoring them to fill the pits with a half dozen open-bodied cars. This lack of entries and focus on open cars led to empty seats, which led to no money, which led to a brilliant idea's unfortunate demise.
Now, get that old Dodge in the lanes. Make sure it's gassed up with good ole' 110 octane, and let's go find some of those big talking Thunderbolts……. big port Chevrolets…Super Duty Pontiacs ...now...this is livin'!
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Next door to my relative's home was a Sunoco gas station, and one Saturday morning I was awakened by this loud roar that vibrated the windows throughout the old frame house I was a guest in. I peeked outside to see an unlettered, off –white, cheap-looking Dodge sedan back out of the wash bay at the station, pull up to the gas pumps, and then get gassed up with Sunoco's famous "260". I rushed over to find one of the aluminum-nosed, cross-rammed Hemi Dodge 330 sedans that would set doorslammer racing on its ear for the next forty years, and from that day on doorslammer racing has held a magic that has never left. 
Many will be surprised to know that doorslammer racing, as we knew it then, is alive and well in today‘s drag racing scene. The cars are essentially the same as they were then, and a surprising number of original cars are involved. The rules have been liberalized some to allow later, fresher equipment, but the cars look the same, run well, and put on a terrific show. It is a venue that draws good crowds, many participants, and can be surprisingly reasonable in cost. In fact, the following it has is rather astounding, considering that many of the participants and fans were not even a twinkle in their folks' eyes at the time the cars were new. 
There are three major organizations that determine the rules and organize events in the nation's heartland. The East Coast Nostalgia Super Stock Association holds four events during the course of the year in New Jersey and Pennsylvania , and is closely tied to the very successful York US30 Reunion held each year in central Pennsylvania . They boast among their membership some of the biggest names of the past, including Jack Werst (Mr. 5&50 Plymouths), Bobby Harrop (Harrop's Flying Carpet Dodges), as well as the Dodges of Bill "Maverick" Golden, Butch Leal's "California Flash", and the Fords of long-time doorslammer racer Rich LaMont and the 422 Motorsports gang.
There is Pro Nostalgia, which is a heads-up, big-bucks class that features big sedans running in the low, low nine second bracket, and dipping into the high eights. There is another class similar to Pro, which is AA/NSS, which runs 9.50 thru 9.99. Both are pretty much unlimited in engine modification and tire size, however the cars must appear period correct. 
Carburetion is limited to packages originally offered, from the famous "box" Pontiacs , cross-ram MoPars with Holleys or AFB's, as well as single four barrel offerings from all manufactures. As long as the car's package retains its original flavor and appearance, old "raced out" pieces can be replaced with newer, more available packages. With the different classes, a Mopar racer who desires to enter the NSS frays has the option, for example, of using stock type 440 pieces in a Mopar, or if the budget allows guys can purchase a crate cross ram Indy motor for the upper NSS classes. There is room for everyone. 
Just how popular are these events? Bob McCardle, owner of the popular Beaver Springs Dragway in central Pennsylvania will tell you that his July Nostalgia Super Stock event, which is coordinated with the York US30 reunion, is the most popular on his very popular venue. Atco Dragway, which hosts the largest of the ECNSSA events, enjoys large crowds and many participants. Not everyone who races and participates is a "graybeard," either. There are several twenty-somethings doing very, very, well on this circuit, and there is appears to be no limit to the sheer number of participants. 
Check out the NSS guys when they come to drag strip near you. If you are a product of those times, the memories will be priceless. If you weren't it will give you a taste of the way it was, before drag racing was dominated by Fortune 500 companies and slick, PR-prepped drivers and crews. 