And as far as Wakeman goes much of the land used for the car show was purchased recently and is being developed, as I’m sure many seen while passing through. At this point I’m sure it’s more headache than it’s worth for David to pull the strings to make that happen, OR the town of Wakeman isn’t into allowing it anymore.

I was at the Dragway 42 event and only feet from the shooting, few know the details of it as well as I do, as for Wakeman David knew last year that the land was sold, he was planning on having it down the other streets is what he told me, the event being so late in the season put the damper on that I am assuming since it was kind of a scramble to get the event a date at all, it didn't leave much time for planning for a car show, hopefully as I said that can be sussed out for next year. As far as the Honda gangs that come to IFO coming to the shootout, they dont come, the Honda guys that do come are not in any way shape or form the same gangs (and I do mean gangs) that come to the IFO events, I have been going to the IFO and the Shootout for years now, different people completely, I dont want those people at the Shootout, last year at the Dragway 42 shooting event I had my new canopy, lawn chair including my beach towel stolen by some of those Honda people during the chaos that was going on, I have never had to worry about that at the Shootout and dont ever want to, in fact my buddy was shocked that "people just leave things laying out around here?" because he was surprised that no one would steal them, I want to keep it that way.

I’ve never been to a shootout and honestly hearing and seeing recent things about it I no longer feel a strong pull to attend like previous years. I’ll still do it eventually as a bucket list item, but yeah. It doesn’t seem like it was.

CrackedDSM said:

I’ve never been to a shootout and honestly hearing and seeing recent things about it I no longer feel a strong pull to attend like previous years. I’ll still do it eventually as a bucket list item, but yeah. It doesn’t seem like it was.

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Its a great show, I would very much recommend showing up for it no matter what.

motomattx said:

I was at the Dragway 42 event and only feet from the shooting, few know the details of it as well as I do, as for Wakeman David knew last year that the land was sold, he was planning on having it down the other streets is what he told me, the event being so late in the season put the damper on that I am assuming since it was kind of a scramble to get the event a date at all, it didn't leave much time for planning for a car show, hopefully as I said that can be sussed out for next year. As far as the Honda gangs that come to IFO coming to the shootout, they dont come, the Honda guys that do come are not in any way shape or form the same gangs (and I do mean gangs) that come to the IFO events, I have been going to the IFO and the Shootout for years now, different people completely, I dont want those people at the Shootout, last year at the Dragway 42 shooting event I had my new canopy, lawn chair including my beach towel stolen by some of those Honda people during the chaos that was going on, I have never had to worry about that at the Shootout and dont ever want to, in fact my buddy was shocked that "people just leave things laying out around here?" because he was surprised that no one would steal them, I want to keep it that way.

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Take it from someone who lives 30 minutes away in the city that neighbors Lorain, shoot when we were in high school Honda’s got stolen left and right and showed up a few streets away burnt up a couple days later. I assure you from living here I see the same known thieves and low lives and even known drug dealers walking around out at the shootout, you’re going to get that at ANY event. IFO is a different breed, but don’t think just because you’re somewhat familiar with the area that these people us locals have dealt with in the area for the last 15+ years aren’t showing up out there, they do every year. You’ll get the same type of shady characters at any event like that, and keeping one make of car out of it doesn’t resolve it. I think some of us get what you’re saying without actually saying it.

CrackedDSM said:

I’ve never been to a shootout and honestly hearing and seeing recent things about it I no longer feel a strong pull to attend like previous years. I’ll still do it eventually as a bucket list item, but yeah. It doesn’t seem like it was.

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Do not let what some people are saying about it discourage you. Its freaking amazing dude and you will love it. I geeked out on DSMs all weekend and just meeting the vendors that support us so much was enough. Yeah the weather was bad, but there is no way to plan for a hurricane throwing the cold that way. Great boost weather though.

Dusty Landrum said:

Do not let what some people are saying about it discourage you. Its freaking amazing dude and you will love it. I geeked out on DSMs all weekend and just meeting the vendors that support us so much was enough. Yeah the weather was bad, but there is no way to plan for a hurricane throwing the cold that way. Great boost weather though.

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I’m from both Florida and Colorado, so neither hurricanes or cold scares me. Lol. But y’all have me convinced. Gotta wait till the Talon is running though. Don’t wanna bother with the edge.

The Shootout is so much fun, I wish I could say I have been to more of them. I know I have missed out on the best ones, but I am part of the generation to keep this thing going for as many more years to come as we can.

I met several people this year that are just starting out their DSM journey, either right out of high school - or always wanted one and finally did.

Sure these cars go fast, and they are so much fun to build to make go fast, but there is a reality that there are much better options for folks that want to be rewarded for making theirs the fastest of them all. FL2K, TX2K, IFO, they have realistic payouts to warrant spending the money to make a truly fast car. We didn't see the quickest DSMs in the world this year because of that fact.

This is a bold statement / question I realize, but what if we changed the focus from making them fast, into making them fast, but still reliable on the street?
I am considering attending the Hot Rod Power Tour with mine because I like that concept a lot - to drive as a group from one location to another. Even though I won't exactly fit in, we did overlap with their tour last year and there was some intermingling going on that was fun, my dad and I were so close to just following them to the next stop.

I don't race (yet), but I am proud to have a DSM that is fun on the street (300 AWHP) and yet still very reliable and allows me to drive her whenever. My favorite part about the Shootout is when we drive as a group places and do things together wherever it may be, whether it is the Poker Run, to go grab food, to wash them or whatever...driving around as a group is fun to me. I enjoy taking photos and videos of the races, but I actually don't love watching them unless I know the racer. And I am the same when it comes to almost any hobby of mine, I would prefer actually doing it than watching it.

I know some of you have attended the HRPT, if you can chime in what you liked about it - didn't like about it?
Also, does anybody else think I could be onto something to help keep this event going or am I still drunk?

DiSeM said:

The Shootout is so much fun, I wish I could say I have been to more of them. I know I have missed out on the best ones, but I am part of the generation to keep this thing going for as many more years to come as we can.

I met several people this year that are just starting out their DSM journey, either right out of high school - or always wanted one and finally did.

Sure these cars go fast, and they are so much fun to build to make go fast, but there is a reality that there are much better options for folks that want to be rewarded for making theirs the fastest of them all. FL2K, TX2K, IFO, they have realistic payouts to warrant spending the money to make a truly fast car. We didn't see the quickest DSMs in the world this year because of that fact.

This is a bold statement / question I realize, but what if we changed the focus from making them fast, into making them fast, but still reliable on the street?
I am considering attending the Hot Rod Power Tour with mine because I like that concept a lot - to drive as a group from one location to another. Even though I won't exactly fit in, we did overlap with their tour last year and there was some intermingling going on that was fun, my dad and I were so close to just following them to the next stop.

I don't race (yet), but I am proud to have a DSM that is fun on the street (300 AWHP) and yet still very reliable and allows me to drive her whenever. My favorite part about the Shootout is when we drive as a group places and do things together wherever it may be, whether it is the Poker Run, to go grab food, to wash them or whatever...driving around as a group is fun to me. I enjoy taking photos and videos of the races, but I actually don't love watching them unless I know the racer. And I am the same when it comes to almost any hobby of mine, I would prefer actually doing it than watching it.

I know some of you have attended the HRPT, if you can chime in what you liked about it - didn't like about it?
Also, does anybody else think I could be onto something to help keep this event going or am I still drunk?

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You’re not drunk. That used to be the focus of this scene was going fast with class. Now it’s like ratchet sh*tboxes is the “in” thing and I’m so over it and ready for it to die. Been watching Jafros shootout videos and honestly 99% of the DSMs barely running high 10’s(not even mentioning those that just broke outright…) and even high 11’s looked and sounded like pure and utter ass because of their retarded side exit/hood exit exhaust. And since when do these cars need to be fully gutted tin cans, with carbon fiber everything just to run 10.90’s? Guys used to do that with 20Gs and stock blocks full interior back in the day. I swear it’s like modern dsm owners want to be Honda guys. These cars always sounded and looked so different and beastly than a Honda. It’s also one of the big reasons I hate Evos. They sound like Hondas.

Meh. Like all fads it’ll eventually die, but in the meantime I’m counting the days until it does. I dream of a shootout or even just an event where every dsm is clean, full interior, full exhaust, and done right. Not “the next ratchet YouTube bro” reincarnated.

CrackedDSM said:

You’re not drunk. That used to be the focus of this scene was going fast with class. Now it’s like ratchet sh*tboxes is the “in” thing and I’m so over it and ready for it to die. Been watching Jafros shootout videos and honestly 99% of the DSMs barely running high 10’s(not even mentioning those that just broke outright…) and even high 11’s looked and sounded like pure and utter ass because of their retarded side exit/hood exit exhaust. And since when do these cars need to be fully gutted tin cans, with carbon fiber everything just to run 10.90’s? Guys used to do that with 20Gs and stock blocks full interior back in the day. I swear it’s like modern dsm owners want to be Honda guys. These cars always sounded and looked so different and beastly than a Honda. It’s also one of the big reasons I hate Evos. They sound like Hondas.

Meh. Like all fads it’ll eventually die, but in the meantime I’m counting the days until it does. I dream of a shootout or even just an event where every dsm is clean, full interior, full exhaust, and done right. Not “the next ratchet YouTube bro” reincarnated.

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Bingo! I won’t hate on anyones style and I had a good time, but you have a valid point. The event will never turn into a drag and drive type deal and reliable, mainly because no matter what every year you’ll get the guys who just slammed a car together 2-3 days before thinking they’re going to come run off a 10 and be some kind of hero and be part of it, and ultimately they’re the guy that ends up staying in it when something goes horribly wrong and oils the whole damn track down, they drag it home and it goes untouched until right before the next shootout. Shootout cars I call them.

On a side note I had to laugh a bit about the exhaust comment. I don’t care how anyone routes their exhaust not my car so not my concern, however a few local buddies were giving me a hard time about going from a bumper exit back to a full exhaust with a muffler at the 2019 shootout after I had gotten my car painted (all in good fun), then I went faster than them so it was ironic (again, all in good fun, we don’t get off on the “I’m faster than you” mentality).

I’ll also second don’t let the negative comments defer you from making it out to one of these events. Every year no matter how it goes there’s always a list of complaints from people, can’t avoid it. No matter what’s welcomed into the event it’s clear we’ll always have our presence there with a lot of good like minded people you only get to run into once a year. Being you’ve spent some time in Colorado the type of weather we had this year would’ve been nothing like you said.

ist dwa said:

Ludacris you can't recreate it or hold on, it's just time doing its thing, let it go, don't be that 25 year old still stopping by the frat house for a party!

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Not trying to. You can't recreate something like that, not with the age of these cars. What I am trying to do is show support for some type of annual event that will be notable and enjoyable for those who still want to attend. Something to celebrate the heritage of these cars that will continue to inspire new builds and more passion. Whether it be a mixed event or whatever.

CrackedDSM said:

I’ve never been to a shootout and honestly hearing and seeing recent things about it I no longer feel a strong pull to attend like previous years. I’ll still do it eventually as a bucket list item, but yeah. It doesn’t seem like it was.

Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be what it was for you to enjoy it, to chat with others who you've been interacting with online for years. To put names with the faces. To see some great cars in person and share stories. To see some of those cars go down the track. It's an experience. Whether or not it it's the same type of experience of some of the events from the past is irrelevant. Those were the glory years and they're not coming back. But it can still be an enjoyable event for most DSMers that make it.

Ive made so many friends at the shootout, and im a state away and even get a chance to hang with them, at there houses there, and i chat with them on a almost regular basis, I love the shootout , anf all the great times, i now camp out at the track with friends its a yearly reunion for me besideds the cars.

I was at the shootout this year. I started going in the early 2010's. It still was great to see many familiar faces. I ended up tuning a few cars at the hotel seems i do every year. Sadly the car we had ready for it broke and we did not get it ready in time, we still came to help support the community.

CrackedDSM said:

I’ve never been to a shootout and honestly hearing and seeing recent things about it I no longer feel a strong pull to attend like previous years. I’ll still do it eventually as a bucket list item, but yeah. It doesn’t seem like it was.

Click to expand...

This mindset is the only thing that will kill this event. As long as people keep attending, it will keep being put on. Make a point and go to one or go every year. I've attended a dozen of them between 2005 and 2022 and I've never once had a bad time. Nevermind what you're hearing - just attend.

CrackedDSM said:

You’re not drunk. That used to be the focus of this scene was going fast with class. Now it’s like ratchet sh*tboxes is the “in” thing and I’m so over it and ready for it to die. Been watching Jafros shootout videos and honestly 99% of the DSMs barely running high 10’s(not even mentioning those that just broke outright…) and even high 11’s looked and sounded like pure and utter ass because of their retarded side exit/hood exit exhaust. And since when do these cars need to be fully gutted tin cans, with carbon fiber everything just to run 10.90’s? Guys used to do that with 20Gs and stock blocks full interior back in the day. I swear it’s like modern dsm owners want to be Honda guys. These cars always sounded and looked so different and beastly than a Honda. It’s also one of the big reasons I hate Evos. They sound like Hondas.

Meh. Like all fads it’ll eventually die, but in the meantime I’m counting the days until it does. I dream of a shootout or even just an event where every dsm is clean, full interior, full exhaust, and done right. Not “the next ratchet YouTube bro” reincarnated.

Click to expand...

It's not as bad as you think. Most of the dedicated race cars (tin cans) are very well done. Many of them are practically works of art that get zero justice from images online (think Aaron Gregory, Mike Wohler, Devin Schultz, Richard Ong). Far from ratchet even if they're dedicated race cars. The parking lot is packed with great examples of cleanly built 300-500 HP street cars - They may not all be racing, but they're there. There's some cars like Ben Poortenga's that has incredibly low mileage and are practically flawless as if it rolled off the assembly line last year. Or cars like Steven Roque's that is cleanly modded like it was sent from a time machine from 2003 - clean, full interior, full exhaust, and runs 9's. My point is that there's some gold to be seen there. They may not all be gold, but don't let that ruin your day. Everyone there is an enthusiast and there to have a great time regardless of the current state of their DSM.

Dusty Landrum said:

Do not let what some people are saying about it discourage you. Its freaking amazing dude and you will love it. I geeked out on DSMs all weekend and just meeting the vendors that support us so much was enough. Yeah the weather was bad, but there is no way to plan for a hurricane throwing the cold that way. Great boost weather though.

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Great meeting you there as well, man!

For the most part it could be a parking lot meeting with half a dozen other enthusiasts and it would be worth going to for me. In some regards the shootout is actually getting better. There's less of the flaky give up easy car bro's and more of the og diehards. Do I wish every class was stacked with awesome dsm's yes, but honestly a lot smaller events are struggling to fill classes as well, so it's not just us.

The shootout is what you make it, and crying that it's dying won't help. Seem's that most complaining don't even go....

99gst_racer said:

This mindset is the only thing that will kill this event. As long as people keep attending, it will keep being put on. Make a point and go to one or go every year. I've attended a dozen of them between 2005 and 2022 and I've never once had a bad time. Nevermind what you're hearing - just attend.

It's not as bad as you think. Most of the dedicated race cars (tin cans) are very well done. Many of them are practically works of art that get zero justice from images online (think Aaron Gregory, Mike Wohler, Devin Schultz, Richard Ong). Far from ratchet even if they're dedicated race cars. The parking lot is packed with great examples of cleanly built 300-500 HP street cars - They may not all be racing, but they're there. There's some cars like Ben Poortenga's that has incredibly low mileage and are practically flawless as if it rolled off the assembly line last year. Or cars like Steven Roque's that is cleanly modded like it was sent from a time machine from 2003 - clean, full interior, full exhaust, and runs 9's. My point is that there's some gold to be seen there. They may not all be gold, but don't let that ruin your day. Everyone there is an enthusiast and there to have a great time regardless of the current state of their DSM.

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Definitely not lumping everyone in the same category, but you cannot deny there were a few that were..shall we say..not exactly mint or works of art. And I’m not gonna shy away and blow smoke up anyones rear end, I just don’t like side exhausts and tin can race cars. I just don’t. That’s not a scene problem though, that’s personal preference. Even with classic cars and etc, I like the full interior/full exhaust ones better. Again, that’s just me though. I don’t think that just because something is purpose built, that it’s suddenly ratty. I can appreciate quality in anything even if I don’t quite like it.

With that said ratty is ratty period. Most of them are the gutted tin can wannabe race cars but I’ve seen a few full interior “nice appearing” cars be straight piles of s**t too. Ratty is ratty, if that makes sense. Ratty doesn’t mean stripped/purpose built.

I definitely still would like to attend with my dsm. I’m just not gonna bother going without one. But that 16 hour eta the older I get, the more I dread it. Is it weird though I think the seats in my DSM would be more comfortable for a road trip than my edge? Feels weird to say. Ride quality is definitely superior in the edge but eh.

CrackedDSM said:

Definitely not lumping everyone in the same category, but you cannot deny there were a few that were..shall we say..not exactly mint or works of art. And I’m not gonna shy away and blow smoke up anyones rear end, I just don’t like side exhausts and tin can race cars. I just don’t. That’s not a scene problem though, that’s personal preference. Even with classic cars and etc, I like the full interior/full exhaust ones better. Again, that’s just me though. I don’t think that just because something is purpose built, that it’s suddenly ratty. I can appreciate quality in anything even if I don’t quite like it.

With that said ratty is ratty period. Most of them are the gutted tin can wannabe race cars but I’ve seen a few full interior “nice appearing” cars be straight piles of s**t too. Ratty is ratty, if that makes sense. Ratty doesn’t mean stripped/purpose built.

I definitely still would like to attend with my dsm. I’m just not gonna bother going without one. But that 16 hour eta the older I get, the more I dread it. Is it weird though I think the seats in my DSM would be more comfortable for a road trip than my edge? Feels weird to say. Ride quality is definitely superior in the edge but eh.

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are you familiar with the pot/kettle deal? before you get snooty with the cars at the shootout maybe you should have one that runs yourself. Being critical of guys who actually make the trek, whilst not making it yourself doesn't exactly help the situation.... Like straight up for real, you've never been, you likely won't ever be, why do you have anything to say about it.

If i go again I’m going to trying to bring 6-7 cars out from California and the reason for going … the community the experience of doing this….
The ice cream for 1$ is legit !

Time to save up ….

awdmonster1904 said:

If i go again I’m going to trying to bring 6-7 cars out from California and the reason for going … the community the experience of doing this….
The ice cream for 1$ is legit !

Time to save up ….

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Was that you me and my brother talked to at the gas station saturday night? We were in the fairmont.

Great news: Dsport is now exploring options for live streaming The Shootout for 2023. While I love the idea, I really hope this doesn't encourage a smaller spectator attendance.

99gst_racer said:

Great news: Dsport is now exploring options for live streaming The Shootout for 2023. While I love the idea, I really hope this doesn't encourage a smaller spectator attendance.

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I doubt it. The people who would be considering the trip know that live streaming isn't going to replicate the experience.

Ludachris said:

I doubt it. The people who would be considering the trip know that live streaming isn't going to replicate the experience.

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but people who have never been won't know what they are missing. For me racing is a small part. It's comming to town friday and theres a couple talons parked at tacobell or whatever, waking up at the hotel in the morning and there is XXX of them outside. It's kind of like a trip back to the late 90's or somthing when these cars were everywhere, and driving around like normal!

bastarddsm said:

but people who have never been won't know what they are missing. For me racing is a small part. It's comming to town friday and theres a couple talons parked at tacobell or whatever, waking up at the hotel in the morning and there is XXX of them outside. It's kind of like a trip back to the late 90's or somthing when these cars were everywhere, and driving around like normal!

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I always really appreciated this too. 15 years ago, you knew the one or two other DSMers in the area and saw them on the road regularly. These days, I can go 6+ months without seeing one on the road. And then you get to Milan/Norwalk during the Shootout and you see a few drive by every few minutes and every business in the area has a handful parked in the lot. I really love that about the Shootout.

bastarddsm said:

but people who have never been won't know what they are missing. For me racing is a small part. It's comming to town friday and theres a couple talons parked at tacobell or whatever, waking up at the hotel in the morning and there is XXX of them outside. It's kind of like a trip back to the late 90's or somthing when these cars were everywhere, and driving around like normal!

Click to expand...

We'll have to work with Dsport to get them to promote this in their messaging for the event. There's way more to the experience than just the event itself and the racing. It's like a pilgrimage, and it's unlike anything a DSM enthusiast will encounter.

I already let them know I registered a domain for the event to help tell the story for it, with the goal of sharing these types of insights. Hoping to get Dave involved in helping write the content for it. It's all in the messaging.

99gst_racer said:

I always really appreciated this too. 15 years ago, you knew the one or two other DSMers in the area and saw them on the road regularly. These days, I can go 6+ months without seeing one on the road. And then you get to Milan/Norwalk during the Shootout and you see a few drive by every few minutes and every business in the area has a handful parked in the lot. I really love that about the Shootout.

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I miss factory MOD for the same reasons. It was like a mini shootout.