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Holley’s Intergalactic Ford Fest and NMRA’s World Finals: The Burnout Contest


Holley’s Intergalactic Ford Fest and NMRA’s World Finals: The Burnout Contest

After the cones were picked up and right about the time the sun started to make it’s final descent to the horizon, the delinquents started to appear. With the promise of no repercussions for driving as hard as their ride would allow, a full-fledged motley crew of gearheads lined up near the autocross pits, preparing for what was about to unfold. Entering the ring first was Cleetus McFarland and the Project Neighbor Crown Victoria, and from the moment Chad started speaking into the microphone until the last wisps of smoke cleared out, the crowd was transfixed to the action in the center. Cleetus cut loose in the Shelby-ized Interceptor, but he wasn’t in the competition at all. Cleetus and Cars was the sponsor for the burnout pit, and the master of ceremonies himself was only out there to throw down the gauntlet. He didn’t just explain how much tire smoke he wanted to see…he demonstrated it.

Among the contestants: two Holley employees, one testing out a new intake setup; two drifters; the kind of 5.0 Fox that you’d likely see in a high-school parking lot or outside of a biker’s bar, one of Vaughn Gittin, Jr.’s former drift machines, an absolute Frankenstein of a build, and most surprisingly, a Grand Champion competitor. Why is that surprising? Because the Grand Champions have to autocross, complete the 3S challenge, run the road course, make a drag pass, and they cannot change their tires the entirety of the competition. So hazing them off in a burnout contest with the 3S challenge still to go? Not such a good idea, we think, but the driver of the big Ford had no issues cutting loose.

Tires were killed, a rear end gave up the ghost, and the Power Stroke-powered Hilux monster wound up peeing coolant everywhere by the time it was done. It’s a big, open area to play in, and the competitors filled it to the brim with smoke.

Have you missed any of the Ford Fest coverage? Click here to check out more photos!


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