Southwest Heritage Racing Association Brings Back the Best

Nostalgia drag racing associations are continuing to organize as racers and enthusiasts look to recreate the golden age of drag racing, organizing their own special brand of period-correct cars, components, and classes. The Southwest Heritage Racing Association (SHRA) calls home base the Texas southwest and surrounding environs taking in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Under the umbrella of Nostalgia Super Stock and following mostly NMCA rules, the SHRA's Old School index racers are in their third year of racing, currently with 12 members.

We talked with SHRA member Tony Smith to get a window into the workings of the Super Stock group. He says they want to keep the cars as much like the way they raced in the Super Stock classes of the 1960s, but NHRA certified to either 8.50et with a cage or 10.00et with a roll bar. Where they deviate from NMCA is flowing more carb, and some other very minor adaptations. No trans brakes, throttle stops, or programmable MSD boxes are allowed, and a two-step for manual transmissions can only be used for staging.

The A-G/NSS Nostalgia Super Stock classes encompass 1/8th-mile 6.41et to 8.33et. The "Factory Experimental" A-C/FX class elapsed times range from 5.76et to 6.25et in the 1/8th mile. Engines must have been available when the car was new, and only big blocks need apply. 1959 to 1967 full-size bodies and NMCA-specified mid-size cars are crux of what's competing. Though open to most makes including Pontiac, AMC and Oldsmobile, for some reason a majority of the cars are Mopars. We counted seven at this year's Denton, Texas, gathering over the 2017 4th of July weekend. In all they race three times a year at Denton, but have seven events in total within Texas, and one in Noble, Oklahoma, all running 1/8th-mile sprints.

10-1/2-inch wide slicks are the only size allowed, which evens out the more radical back-half cars, though the majority of cars are set up conventionally with leaf spring rears and automatics. Rear ends are either Dana 60 or Ford 9-inch. Smith says most in the group run mufflers because they are street cars, but also to be able to listen for lifter ticks or other indications that something is not right. With open headers you run the risk of major damage you would otherwise be audibly warned.

This is a tight knit group where racing combined with fun is the number one agenda. Off of the track they work together, but racing always has an undercurrent. A bounty is set for the person with the lowest e.t, from the previous meet, though Smith is quick to note, "Yeah, it's real serious—usually $10 per person." When asked about the high percentage of Mopars, he says, "There's a strong group of Mopar enthusiasts in Texas, and we seem to have found each other through the NSS. And there's a few more that aren't here, and others under construction, so we are hoping to continue to grow in the future with more than just Mopars."

We love this type of OG index Super Stock-style racing, and look forward to hearing more from other organizations.

Here's a quick rundown of those who participated in Denton over the 4th:

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury. James Durham, Tyler, Texas. 440-type 499ci Plymouth with automatic.

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1965 Plymouth. Garry Durham, Tyler, Texas. 440-type 511ci Plymouth with automatic.

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1967 Barracuda. Gary Powers, Chandler, Texas. 440ci Plymouth and automatic.

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1967 Dart. Vic "Aussie" Corlett, Palestine, Texas. 440-type 493ci Dodge with automatic.

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1968 Barracuda. David Ardoin Jr., Richmond, Texas. 496ci with 4-speed Jerico transmission. Bonefante clutch with a friction disc. David dumps the clutch at 5700rpm, shifts at 7600rpm, and runs 6.20s in the 1/8th mile.

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1964 Plymouth Savoy. Ronnie Smith, Athens, Texas. 5.8 Barton crate Hemi with automatic.

See all 34 photos

See all 34 photos 1965 Dodge lightweight clone, Kent Morris, Ardmore, Texas. 472 crate Hemi with automatic.