NOPI Announces Road Corse and Oval Track Series for 2005
 

NOPI Motorsports and IPOWER DASH Series Join Forces

Updated: Wednesday, August 18, 2004
NOPI Motorsports and IPOWER DASH Series join forces creating NOPiPOWER Inc.
NOPiPOWER Inc. is a racing concept and lifestyle event formulated to entice the coveted 16-34 age demographic. NOPiPOWER is hosting ten events in 2005, the energy of which promises to be unprecedented.

(DAYTONA BEACH, FL) NOPiPOWER Fest will showcase lifestyle events with oval track and road course NASCAR style racing. The Lifestyle events, considered by fans to be “off-the-hook”, include cars shows, swimsuit competitions, burnout contests, a nighttime party with DJ’s, concerts, a foam pit, neon glow off sound off and more.

NOPI, Number One Parts Inc., is nationally recognized and has had a loyal established following since its inception over 30 years ago. Currently, NOPI has the largest new generation car show in the United States and owns the NDRA, NOPI Drag Racing Association. Each September, the Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow which features the lifestyle and drag racing events. This show, attracting 100,000 fans and 7,000 contestants throughout the weekend long festivities, has tremendous street credibility. NOPI is not only a part of a four billion dollar aftermarket industry, it is a lifestyle to the elusive 16-34 age demographic who crave style, originality, speed, sound and fun.

IPOWER, International Participants of Winning Edge Racing, purchased the DASH Series from NASCAR in October 2003. IPOWER is currently mainstreaming the series by introducing new engine programs, innovative aerodynamic body panels and wings to improve the look and performance of these racing sport coups.

NOPiPOWER Fest is a formulated exhibition of action packed entertainment that allows the fan to participate, to be seen, and to have fun. “It just makes sense,” remarked Edward Parker, President / CEO of IPOWER, “the NOPiPOWER formula brings new drivers and new fans together into the racing world. We race the cars the fans drive.” Michael Meyers of NOPI comments on the venture were, “This is the next generation of circle track racing…changing the rules, changing the landscape while creating an exciting environment and NOPiPOWER experience for the fans, racers, and sponsors never seen before in this medium.”

Edward Parker along with Michael and Mark Meyers of NOPI are jointly announcing the Inception of NOPiPOWER Inc. As a result of this union, sponsors of the NOPiPOWER events can align themselves and set trends with the most powerful demographic in the world today. Products or services affiliated with these events have the unique opportunity to be branded as a part of this culture.

To contact:

IPOWER DASH Series email Barbara Tiplady at btiplady@ipoweracing.com or call 386-672-0557.

NOPI email Michael Meyers at Michael@NOPI.com or call 404-366-4700 ext. 209

OK That's the Sponsor PRESSS RELEASE. Here's the story:

NOPI Motorsports and IPOWER DASH Series join forces creating NOPiPOWER Inc.

NOPiPOWER is hosting ten events in 2005. Speedways like LOWES Motor Speedway in Charlotte NC and Road Courses like Road Atlanta in GA. We are currently mainstreaming the series by introducing new engine programs, innovative aerodynamic body panels and wings to improve the look and performance of these racing sport coupes. Currently there are over 40 pro teams with cars like the Cavalier, Celica and Sunfire with 6 cylinder spec engines and speeds up to 160mph Looking at the RSX, RX8 and 350Z and others to add to line-up along with others to follow.

Each event will include a NOPI style car show and events. Lots of other racing will be taking place the same weekend. We're looking at a Mean Miata race, Pro Drifting exhibitions or competitions, Autocrossing, Pro Compact Drag Racing at compatible facilities and maybe a touring car type race. Planning has just begun for the 2005 season so not many details to report yet. Please tell me what you think. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

Must resist... urge... to... reply....

-doctor old fart.

if you guys go to Road Atlanta, I'm there. Throw in a parade lap during the quiet hours would be nice.

Tim

Rules? Schedule? Purse?

What are requirements to put a new team together?

Once again, the SCCA is caught with it's head in the sand.

What a concept!!! Atract the kid's by making a class with the vehicles that they like, with some of the modifications that they make to their street cars. I'd be there in a heartbeat if it was closer.

Dont want to sound too dissenting but the SCCA hasn't been caught with its head in the sand. They already have a series like this with a full television package and grids averaging 40 cars. It has full manufacturer support with many at track displays. Its called the Speed World Challenge series and is based on the original chassis/ engines that these cars come with combined with controls to even out competition.

This series is a new version of the old Daytrona Dash series and are based on tube chassis cars (baby Nextel Cup cars) with tightly controlled engines (dumbed down) and weight/ aero controls to even up the cars. It will have nothing to do with the cars on the street, heck most of the existing cars run V6's on Holleys.

I don't think that this series will be attracting many new RX8's and 350Z's as the existing series competitors will have heart attacks trying to even out power between Cavalier motors and the new RX8 rotary. The great thing about this series is combining the NOPI marketing freight train with any road course/ oval series. It will be a great way to attract new fans to circuit racing and I am all for it. Way to go NOPI!!!

By the way I'm not a huge supporter of most SCCA efforts but when they get something right I think that they should be congratulated and not slammed. They have the series that relates to the cars that we all drive. The Grand AM Cup Series uses these same cars and does a great job as well. This new series is as relevent to the cars we drive as Nextel Cup relates to the Taurus, Intrepid and Monte Carlo vehicles on the Interstates. Before slamming look into things a bit first.

Well put.

Have a Spec7 class and I'll tow to RA for it!

I know you all will have a lot of questons..... Everything is so new right now that I don't have many answers yet..... Will fill you in as things progress...

I sent both contacts an email... do you have any idea what kind of class structure there will be? Trying to find out if there's a place for a well-modded 1st gen or one with an engine swap. ;)

I would definatley be interested in doing some road course acton and drift. Of course will need to know what it takes to enter and rules for the car etc.

NOPIMAN, a quick question which many have asked already, but not on this forum. What does it take to make a "team," so to speak? Will there be instances where there will be a free lap/parade lap as Mr. Benton asked? I ask this, as many of us have cars that are modded for our own personal likes, which disqualifies us from SCCA competitions, etc., and would like a chance to hit the track and have a little bit of fun. Sort of like how Japan has MANY open track days where the general public can go to a circuit (like the Apex cup at Tsukuba, drive/drift days at local tracks).

I personally would love some sort of sanctioned event, where I can take my car and just drive the hell out of it on a road course (again, refferencing the Japanese drift/drive days where you see EK civics and Skylines on the same track). If there already is something like that out there, someone PLEASE let me know! A bunch of friends and myself love the idea of track racing, but most of their cars don't qualify for the SCCA stuff (20B swaps, LS-1 swaps, widebody with 13'' wheels, etc).

I know time attack has hit the states, and is what im looking for, but its west coast only. Im here on the absolute east coast, so im sorta stuck. . . . . as well as not having any notice of when the events are.

These are the kind of cars I would like to see for a new race series. Oh, and I live only 25mins. south of Road Atlanta....this would be sweet!

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MXk1NDE%3D.jpg

I will describe what i think would work well for guidelines in my next post.

I love the idea of having a fairly restricted class of road racing for import enthusiasts.

If I had the privelidge to make the rules it would go as follows.

Tires and wheels:

A list of budget brand DOT road race tires (ie. azenis, kuhmo, nitto)

18" max rim dia, 7, 8, 9 or 10 inch rim width depending on car weight, so say 9 inch for an FD3S 10 for a 350z or supra. 8 for evo or sti because of AWD.

No forged wheels

Brakes:

Stock rotor diameter F. and R., stock master cylinder, stock rotor contact area material.

braided lines allowed, M. cylinder brace allowed, brake ducts allowed of approved materials (non-flammable)

any pads and fluid


Suspension:

Stock mounting locations of arms and shocks/springs. Stock LCA's and UCA's in front and tubular toe and lat-links allowed in rear.

Pillowball and camber plates allowed.

Adjustable springs and shocks, but no remote resevouirs for shocks.

Adjustable swaybars in stock mount locations.

No electronic adj. suspensions.

Weld -in or bolt-on upper strut bars. Maximum of 3 bolt-on under car tie-bars allowed.

Body and aero:

CF hood, decklid, skirts, rear diffuser, and front splitter allowed. Canards allowed on front bumper only.

Aftermarket Fiberglass or FRP bumper, front fenders, side skirts, or rear bumper allowed.

Aluminum or composite under tray allowed to back of front wheel wells.

Working front, rear, and side marker lights required. DOT legal.


Interior:

Stock dash, center console, door panels, and guage cluster required. Must retain stock heater system and ducts. Stock foot pedals and steering column required. Stock seat location required. Passenger seat required. Four-point rollbar required (bolt-in or weld-in, and must meet dia. and thickness requirements) mild-steel or chromo.

car remove carpet and all other panels, but must retain climate and hazard controls.

Drive train:

Dog gear or sequential trannys not allowed. Short shifters allowed and a twin plate clutch is the limit. 6spd swaps allowed by same make of manufacturer (like rx-8 trans in FD ;-).

Stock driveshaft or aluminum upgrade.

Stock rear diff case and mounting points. One aftermarket locate bar or solid (non metal) bushing kit allowed. Any non adjustable LSD is allowed, 2-way, 1.5-way, or 1-way.

Stock cv-axles required. Shaft change optional on higher displacement/weight cars.


Engine:

BASICALLY..... between 270-400 horsepower depending on weight of the vehicle. N/A class diff. than F/I classes.

(ie.rx-7 n/a, rx-8, 350z,300z n/a, supra n/a, S2000 in different class than rx-7t and tt, supra tt, evo, sti, 300z turbo)

Stock turbo exhaust manifolds required, no tubular turbo manifolds. Ball bearing cartrides allowed in turbos and slightly bigger compressor and tubine wheels allowed. Turbo cars will be restricted.

BASICALLY:

Mild bolt-ons: intake, pulleys, ignitions, exhaust allowed on turbo cars.

Cams, springs, intake manifolds, headers, exhaust, pulleys, ignitions on n/a.

Stand alone and piggy-backs allowed, as well as engine-only datalogging including wideband O2.

And of course you would have to run lower classes with touring cars like civics, miatas, sentras, celicas etc. and a litlle tiny-bit less mods maybe.

I'd like to see at least one all-out class. Yeah, low-mod classes are great, but generally pretty boring to watch except for wrecks. There's something about really expensive, over-engineered cars that just gives me wood to watch (and drive).

Any idea when we'll see rules? Or will they be released in March with the first race in early April? I'd really hate to not be able to run the inagural year because people like to do everything last minute...

Weeks ago, I sent NOPI an email asking about rules and some more info..... no reply yet. Maybe I am cynical, but I think this is just yet another wannabe road racer start up hopeful, with not much chance of surviving and making it to big entry fields.

I have been following road racing for 28 years now, and startup announcements come, and then they go.

Same here. You'd think they'd be eager to reply to somebody willing to spend money on their series??Just like racetracks here in Texas... I'll believe it when I take the green flag! ;)

www.chinmotorsports.com Great track day program, lotsa fun, good people, and some badass cars show up.