While we all know Youtube is the Shizzzznit when it comes to cool videos, we recently uncovered a historic piece on the first Fastest Street Car Shootout back in 1992. For those that may not remember how it all started, Hot Rod Magazine invited anyone that wanted to race heads-up to Memphis Motorsports Park for a run-what-you-brung event. Over 30 cars showed up to the historic event and those that came to watch the race were treated to some impressive performances by street legal machines.
Hot Rod Magazine, Flowmaster Mufflers and the NMCA sponsored the event that was the spark that ignited the street-car racing explosion. The video shows racers like nitrous tuner Steve Johnson ('81 Firebird), Rod Saboury ('57 Vette), Mike Moran ('71 Pinto) and the late Steve Grebeck (92 SAAC Mustang) competing at the event.
The race also marked the debut of Gene Deputy's twin turbo Mustang, a combination that would prove very competitive for the next 20 years. Deputy finished the race in the 4th spot with an engine that was half the cubic inches of every other motor on the Memphis Motorsports Park property. Back in those days 8 to 9 second runs were the edge of the performance barrier and all cars had to make the 20 mile cruise to prove their streetability.
1992 Fastest Street Car winner Max Carter, driving a red 1966 Nova, won the event after qualifying last with mechanical problems. Those were the days when the only thing racers were shooting for was one of 10 Fastest Street Car Shootout jackets.
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