The rainfall in San Antonio was as fierce and rampant as the big, black mosquitoes that were hovering over me like a pack of rabid, overweight Texans vying for the last 18 lb. ribeye steak. In succession, three mosquitoes landed on my left arm, one came to rest on my right, while a huge, fat one decided it would take respite on my left cheek, and this was merely Saturday-the first day of the K&N NOPI Race Wars World Finals. I immediately felt homesick as the rain pelted my face and thoughts of catching the West Nile permeated my mind. Thankfully, Chris Rado, owner and driver of the World Electronics Celica, made me feel right at home when he and his crew invited me to their exclusive, members-only trailer, which ironically enough, smelled exactly like Long Beach, California. Before he even knew my name and the only words I told him were: "Hi, I'm from Super Street," Chris gave me a passionate hug as if I was his long-lost brother and immediately sent me off to his team's trailer for some East Coast pampering. The quick 15 minutes I spent in that trailer was more than I could handle.
Sunday was a different story, however, since the clouds opened up and the crowd came in by the hundreds. Michael and Mark Meyers, the brains behind this renowned event, really made their inaugural year a memorable one, as it all boiled down to this one day. What started as a mere drag-race event turned out to be a celebration filled with foam parties, burnout and bikini contests, and audio competitions. In eight glorious events that began in early May in Reading, Pennsylvania, the NOPI The Fast and the Furious Racing Series gave fans from across the nation a show that will not be forgotten. Records were broken at each event, and Sunday's finale was no different.
Pro Import ClassIn what was no surprise, George Ioannou won the Pro Import Class with a record breaking 6.84 run at 201.43mph. With this 6-second run, George not only made all the ladies wet their Victoria Secrets, but it also sealed his place as the National Champion for the NOPI.com Pro Import Class. George and his teammate/boss, Ara Arslanian, ran four 6-second runs that exceeded 200mph throughout the weekend. It seemed like everyone came out of their seats each time both Bullish guys staged up. The twin Solaras were like the Kobe and Shaq of the NOPI Race Wars, as they were unstoppable and won everything in sight. The only car that could have even made a dent in their successful run was RJ Simrock, but his APC-sponsored Cosworth-powered Focus just couldn't hang with the Bullish boys. Along with his National Championship, George also received a $25,000 check.
Pro Outlaw ClassWithout any pressure from the competition, Chris Rado was the only one running in this class the whole weekend, as his front-wheel drive (FWD) Celica ran consistent low 8s on Sunday. His final bye run gave him a personal best of 8.40 @ 170mph. This win earned him Third Place in the APC Pro Outlaw point standings behind the champion, Shaun Carlson, and Second-Place winner Carlos Montano. Next year, Chris plans on running two cars, with one being a rear-wheel drive and the other his familiar FWD.
Pro 4-Cylinder ClassUnlike the Pro Outlaw Class, the best of the best came out for the Toyo Tires Pro 4-Cylinder Class-from Lance Ho Lung to Kenny Tran and Lisa Kubo to Len Ayala. This class garnered the most exciting and scariest runs for the weekend. The final round pinned Kenny and Lisa against each other, with Kenny winning in a record breaking 8.61 @ 170mph run versus Lisa's 8.82 @ 166mph. Both Civics were applauded for their gallant efforts, which epitomized the thrill that is the NOPI Race Wars.