08/31/2026
David's 33rd The Shootout recap.
This will be a long one!
I bought this car two years back from Annika Morrison Fabrications. The car came with a 2.0, stock head, HKS cams and a bunch of other mods. Last year we added a Haltech and on pump gas the car made a final pull of 460'ish whp on an ApexTurbo 5759 at 29-30 psi. At the track it ran 11.89 at 126 if I remember right. The clutch went out at the Shootout last year.
I got in line with our customers for the engine build and the engine/head etc wasn't done and ready until maybe a week before the Shootout. From there it was a shop team effort to get the car done for me. Mike built the engine, Erica installed the Megan Racing coil overs and Brandon did some wiring and installed the engine/trans. I came in and was told the car was ready to tune, so that was all I had to personally do.
The engine is a 6 bolt, sleeved, 9:1 compression, Manley Turbo Tuff's, Callies 100mm crank, TOMEI 280's and I ported the head, tried some new porting process and actually left the ports "dimpled" from the chatter marks on the carbide bit to simulate a gold ball, which is said to help airflow. It was the ugliest port job I've ever done but I wanted to see how it would do.
Car was filled with 93, boost set to 28 psi, timing substantially lower than it was on the 2.0, AFR set to 12:1. The car put down an easy 553 whp and 449 ft lbs.
I have ZERO and I mean ZERO desire to chase records again or work on a car constantly so that's why it's not being pushed hard.
I entered Max Effort at the Shootout and placed 3rd in the EVO/DSM Class, had the 2nd fastest Autocross time overall. I had tons of issues launching the car......the best pass I was able to make of 4 attempts was 12.1 and the best mph was 130.xx. Neither of these are a reflection of the car but the old ass driver who has alway put a better driver behind the wheel of our 5 speed cars to actually see what they could do. One other side note, the car was never aligned, suspension was installed straight out of the box and that was it, didn't even set ride height. The car is home now and I have a list of things I want to do to it. Main one is obviously align it! Then I'm going to meet up with my old friend Kevin Lawson and get him behind the wheel and see just how quick it will go. I've never been able to come close to his times, I want to see what the build is capable of. We did go 9.72 in the BadBish on 93 and I can see some mid/low 10's coming out of this.
Now for the Shootout as a whole. It was fantastic. It gets more laid back for me each year, my wonderful wife Renee and daughter Sydney came out and helped with T-shirt sales and it was enjoyable to talk to everyone and hear all the stories!
I don't think people who aren't truly in this community can understand The Shootout. With that said I am calling out the people who have made/making their living from DSM's/EVO's who don't show up. This is the LARGEST event of its type anywhere in the world. If you are selling parts for DSM's/EVO's and profiting from them and miss this event you are quite simply ignorant. You are passing up the biggest audience you can get anywhere. You are passing up the chance to meet the customers who are putting money in your pocket and seeing them face-to-face.
I'm also going to say this, this event is BIGGER than any single person and that includes the guy smashing these keys, ME. I could die tomorrow or just leave the community and never show up again and it won't change the event. People will still come here like they have for 34 years, hit the restaurants, see their friends, race together, laugh together and enjoy their weekend. This event is truly about the people and friendships made, it's not replaceable, there will never be another one like it and it's about everyone as a whole that makes it so great. I get thanked for "having the event" and the reality is the thanks goes to all the people who make the trip here every year to be together, so THANK YOU ALL for all these great years!
I'm already looking forward to all the changes this coming year will mean for myself, the shop and the Shootout.
Thank you all for coming and reading my post!
-David
