Images Courtesy: NMRA

Last year, TREMEC Transmissions sponsored the inaugural Stick Shift Shootout at their Bradenton, Florida event, won by Jeff Smith in his gorgeous 2004 TREMEC-equipped Competition Orange Cobra with an 11.30 average. The event is back for a second year in 2014, is held during the NMRA’s season-opening 20th Annual Spring Break Shootout event over the weekend of March 6-9, 2014. 

The rules are simple – 

• Street-type manual transmissions only
• May include race-oriented modifications like face-plating or pro-shifting
• Must be hand operated via a single shift handle
• Transmissions with multiple levers or air/electronic/hydraulic actuation not permitted

During the True Street event, the top eight stick-shift finishers out of over 100 expected entrants will receive a special shootout plaque to recognize their skill at banging gears, and the top two competitors will have a chance to race each other in a head-to-head slugfest two-of-three race.

The winner goes home with a brand-new TREMEC Magnum XL six-speed transmission system valued at $3,500. The system fits all S197 Mustangs, will handle up to 700 horsepower, and comes with an SFI-certified bellhousing. That’s a pretty stout prize for a day of fun at the dragstrip.

Last year, Smith took home the big prize after turning in an 11.30 average during the True Street portion of the event, matching up with TJ Fox, who carried an 11.40 average into the best-of-three head-to-head event. His event-winning pass was a 10.91 at 131 MPH from the VMP Superchargers 2.3L TVS-equipped Cobra.

Think you have what it takes to beat him, and the rest of the manual transmission-equipped competitors? Head on down to Bradenton Motorsports Park in just a few weeks and try your luck!