NEWS PAGE

5th Annual Hardcore Motorsports Spring Open presented by Torco's CompetitionPlus.com
The traditional record setting test session returns to Virginia Motorsports Park

Event Schedule – 2005 Hardcore Motorsports Spring Open presented Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com

Thursday – March 10, 2005

Gates Open ………………………………………9 AM
Open Testing Begins……………………………10 AM
Lanes Close……………………………………….6 PM
Secure track at 8 PM

Friday – March 11, 2005

Gates Open………………………….……….…….. 8:30 AM
Open Testing Begins………..…………………….. 9:30 AM
Pro Testing Begins ………………………………….11 AM
Testing Ends …………………………………………..6 PM
Secure Track …………………………………………..9 PM

Saturday – March 12, 2005

Gates Open………………………….…………….. 8:30 AM
Lanes open ………………………………………... 9:30 AM
Pre-race ……………………………………………11:45 AM
FIRST RD. “Chicago Style Eliminations” ……….12 NOON
(Run Order - Ls1, PST, PM, OPM, AFC)
SECOND RD. “Chicago Style Eliminations”……..2:30 PM
(Run Order - Ls1, PST, PM, OPM, AFC)
FINAL RD. “Chicago Style Eliminations”…………4:30 PM
(Run Order - Ls1, PST, PM, OPM, AFC)

Sportsman time trials between rounds

Sportsman Testing Only – 6:30 – 9:30

Sunday – March 13, 2005

Gates Open………………………….…………….. 8:30 AM
Open Testing Begins……………………………..10:15 AM

No engines may be fired before 10 AM.

Torco Race Fuels to Provide On-Site Service for IHRA Professionals Teams at the Hardcore Motorsports Spring Open presented by Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com

(2-18-2005) - Torco Race Fuels, the Official Race Fuel of the IHRA and sponsor of the Pro Modified and Pro Stock classes, will be offering fuel services for professional teams during the 5th annual Hardcore Motorsports Spring Open presented by Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com.

Racing fuel and methanol will be available on a walk-up basis, but may also be pre-ordered. Please note that Torco ProNitro nitromethane will be available on a pre-ordered basis ONLY and must be ordered at least one week prior to an event.

To place an order, call 1-800-67TORCO.

Hardcore Motorsports LS-1/LT-1 Challenge to Highlight 2005 Spring Open

(2-18-2005) - This year’s version of the IHRA’s official pre-season warm-up event, the Spring Open, has a new sponsor and some exciting new features.
Now officially known as the Hardcore Motorsports Spring Open presented by Torco Race Fuels Competition Plus, the popular test session returns for a fifth consecutive season to Virginia Motorsports Park the weekend of March 10 through 13.

As in past seasons, the Spring Open will feature Torco Race Fuels Pro Modifieds, mountain-motored Torco Race Fuels Pro Stocks, Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters, Top Fuel Dragsters and Outlaw and AMS/TLR Pro Modified entries. The professional teams will test on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and participate in Chicago-Style eliminations on Saturday.
A new addition to the lineup for 2005 is the Hardcore Motorsports LS-1/LT-1 Challenge, a race which will pit some of the nation’s baddest LS-1 and LT-1-powered cars in a heads-up, Pro Street-style shootout.

The car to beat at the present time is the 2002 Pontiac Trans Am owned and raced by Spring Open title sponsor Hardcore Motorsports, and there are plenty of heavy hitters anxious to take a shot at the sleek black beauty that recently became the first street-legal LS-1-powered car into the seven-second zone with a pass of 7.94, 176.

The LS-1/LT-1 Challenge is open to Gen 2 and Gen 3 small block-powered cars that meet the published rules. Up for grabs is a trophy and $500.00 prize, winner take all. In the event that a Hardcore Motorsports team car wins, all prizes will go to the runner-up.

In addition to their history-making Trans Am, Hardcore Motorsports will have a second record-breaking Pontiac on hand in Virginia. This car, a convertible, will be fresh from its debut at the Detroit AutoRama. A previous LS-1 record holder, the car has been totally redone to show quality condition. Now stuffed full of the very best in high-performance racing hardware, the sleek blue machine will soon be pushing the boundaries of GM’s aluminum small block even further.

According to Hardcore Motorsports Marketing Director Gary Penn, “we stirred up a lot of interest in the LS-1 and LT-1 community with our seven-second performance in Florida in January, and since then there has been a lot of talk regarding our accomplishment. Apparently there are a lot of very fast LS-1 and LT-1 cars in the country, owned by people who are anxious to better our record, so we decided to call them out. We issued an open challenge to anyone who thinks they have what it takes to knock off the Hardcore Motorsports team, and the response has been very positive. We expect the action at VMP to be outstanding, and the fans should see some unbelievable racing.”

Based in Flint, Michigan, Hardcore Motorsports is comprised of a 10,000-square-foot retail showroom and a 40,000-square-foot technical center, making it Michigan’s largest full-service speed shop. The retail store at Hardcore Motorsports provides racers and auto enthusiasts with products from over 500 top manufacturers, while the technical center houses a fabrication shop, a machine shop, engine and chassis dynamometers and a general mechanical area. The technicians at Hardcore Motorsports can provide anything from bolt-on performance components to complete turn-key street and race cars.

Hardcore Motorsports LS1/LT1 Challenge Rules

• Eliminations Saturday March 12, see Spring Open schedule for specifics.

• Winner take all, Trophy and $500 to win. In the event that a Hardcore Motorsports team car wins, all prizes will go to the runner-up.

• Open to any Gen 2 and Gen 3 small block powered cars that meet the following rules:

• Factory VIN # cars, no tube chassis cars.

• Single power adder. Turbo, supercharger or NO2.

• 10.5 W max tire size, slicks only.

• Must meet NHRA safety rules for ET attained.

• Heads-up.

• .400 Pro tree.

• Lane choice to fastest qualifier or fastest prior round.

• Pro ladder, all run field.