JJ's Arm Drop Racing at Gulfport Dragway March 10-11

[biomedtechguy]

biomedtechguy added a new event:

JJ's Arm Drop Racing at Gulfport Dragway March 10-11

For my SOUTHERN Mopar Brothers and Sisters, or anyone traveling to the Mississippi Gulf Coast...
I am late posting this, but I DEFINITELY hope I see some of you at Gulfport Dragway this afternoon and evening, or tomorrow!
I know there are "mixed feelings" about all things Street Outlaws, but my wife and I are BIG FANS, and I have to say that ALL of the folks we've met have been very nice or at least welcoming when we have seen them in person.
I'll get to the point of the post...

Read more about this event...

 

[biomedtechguy]

Well I DEFINITELY had a good day one of two at JJ's Arm Drop Races.
One of the perks of the VIP pass is a ticket for a drawing for 6 people to ride in Ole Heavy, with JJ driving. So I was the first ticket drawn.
Now I wasn't sure what that was going to be like, and about a 8 year old boy was the first ride. The announcer was saying that JJ was "going to go easy" since he had a young passenger.
Well, not so much as he hit it on the start and sent the front end into the sky and carried them for a bit, but he really knows that truck because the touchdown was well under control.
I was very impressed!
I was the 4th ride, and I attempted to video the event from my seat in Ole Heavy. I got mostly dash and floor when it went skyward, but I assure you that it was a BLAST.
I thanked JJ and in his typical manner, he said "It is my honor" meaning it was his honor to do this for me and the others who were chosen.
(mine and my wife's experience with him and MSO so far, as far back as 4 years ago on the streets of Memphis at REAL street races, no cameras, no production crew, just Memphis Street Outlaws doing the street race thing)
Here's a few videos:
My ride:

What it looks like from outside the truck:

More to come tomorrow!

 

[Nxcoupe]

Well I DEFINITELY had a good day one of two at JJ's Arm Drop Races.
One of the perks of the VIP pass is a ticket for a drawing for 6 people to ride in Ole Heavy, with JJ driving. So I was the first ticket drawn.
Now I wasn't sure what that was going to be like, and about a 8 year old boy was the first ride. The announcer was saying that JJ was "going to go easy" since he had a young passenger.
Well, not so much as he hit it on the start and sent the front end into the sky and carried them for a bit, but he really knows that truck because the touchdown was well under control.
I was very impressed!
I was the 4th ride, and I attempted to video the event from my seat in Ole Heavy. I got mostly dash and floor when it went skyward, but I assure you that it was a BLAST.
I thanked JJ and in his typical manner, he said "It is my honor" meaning it was his honor to do this for me and the others who were chosen.
(mine and my wife's experience with him and MSO so far, as far back as 4 years ago on the streets of Memphis at REAL street races, no cameras, no production crew, just Memphis Street Outlaws doing the street race thing)
Here's a few videos:
My ride:

What it looks like from outside the truck:

More to come tomorrow!

Thanks for sharing! I always liked that truck and JJ.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Thanks for sharing! I always liked that truck and JJ.

Thanks for the replies.
I'm here again, with the wife today, and we drove here in her 65 421 Tripower GTO. I took pix of Tricia, JJ's wife and my wife by the GTO, same for Precious.

I got JJ and Tricia to sign my round metal Roadrunner sign.
They have held on to more of "who they are" than let their "celebrity" status go to their heads, and they are like the "good ol' folks" they portray.
I have to convert some more videos to YouTube and cell service is bad here, so I'll do that later.

 

[biomedtechguy]

A few more pix, YouTube videos tomorrow...
Me and JJ, right before "the ride", in Ole Heavy.

My "Badge of Honor" (I like the line that says "Now I Wanna DRIVE")

The MSO lineup: mostly modern "3rd party" Hemis, and the rest are BBC.
All I'm going to add is the HEMI head design is CONSISTENTLY THE WAY to make the most power, and CHRYSLER is the ENGINEERING GENIUS of all things HEMI!

 

[biomedtechguy]

The "crew" was filming the ride alongs.
It was GREAT!
After going airborne with JJ in Ole Heavy

 

[Budnicks]

you did get a 'Nice video of the dashboard'

thanks for sharing Biomed/Steve

 

[Budnicks]

The "crew" was filming the ride alongs.
It was GREAT!
After going airborne with JJ in Ole Heavy

Once in a lifetime stuff
thanks for sharing
hope you got some good tips from JJ too

must have been fun

 

[DoomRunner]

Awesome stuff. Missed it due to being out of town.

 

[biomedtechguy]

It was a good time. I would have liked to see more entries in the "daily driver" class, and their rules made it somewhat of a level competition but really it's not that hard to adhere to the rules and have a car that is clearly faster than most.
The small tire class was WAY faster, and again a fairly wide spread between the slowest and fastest in the category.
I just went because I like the MSO crew, and it was a nice break for me to get out to the track. Even though I haven't raced or run my Roadrunner or the GTO in too long for me to be happy about it, there were track employees who made it a point to say hello and ask about both cars, and a number of people I also know who showed up for the event.

 

[biomedtechguy]

you did get a 'Nice video of the dashboard'

thanks for sharing Biomed/Steve

Lol..That's funny..Even though I knew the front end was going to go airborne, and I was looking out of the windshield at the night sky, my video skills during the wheelie were definitely sub-par.

 

[65Fury440]

JJ is truly a decent guy. He comes off as a loudmouth on TV, but IRL he is just as nice as can be.

 

[biomedtechguy]

JJ is truly a decent guy. He comes off as a loudmouth on TV, but IRL he is just as nice as can be.

I read up on his past life. He made some bad life choices, that landed him in prison, but he has emerged a much better man for it.
I have had my picture taken with a number of the Street Outlaws people, and I have been treated well by all of them, some better than others, but I am going to say again: The MSO gang are real people, and JJ is a good guy.

 

[Nxcoupe]

I read up on his past life. He made some bad life choices, that landed him in prison, but he has emerged a much better man for it.
I have had my picture taken with a number of the Street Outlaws people, and I have been treated well by all of them, some better than others, but I am going to say again: The MSO gang are real people, and JJ is a good guy.

I have to agree for the most part. In November if 15, my wife told me she had a week of vacation she needed to burn and asked me what I would like to do. I told her I'd like to go to OKC and see who we could meet and maybe find where they race on the show. She said that sounded like fun, so we jumed in the car and took off. We met a good deal if them but fatefully, we arrived the Tuesday after Chief's wreck, that past Sunday. We met Doc first at his shop, then went to Midwest Street Cars, then to Varley's place, then Asian and Farmtruck's, and lastly to Dave's place where Chuch stopped by. It was the best 2 days a guy could have! Since then I've met everyone else except for Shane. I have not met Shawn, as he seems like a ********. He walked away from us but chief took time to pose with my wife for a pic. He seems like a pretty decent dude. Friendliest by far was Dominator, a great guy, and a Mopar guy at heart. Chuck and Dave were very personable and engaging as well. I'll start a thread and post pics sometime.
I'd like to meet JJ, always liked him, especially now that he's calmed down on the show.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Friendliest by far was Dominator, a great guy, and a Mopar guy at heart.

Joe Woods aka "Dominator" IS one of the nicest guys of the group I've met, and I'll add seems to be one of the most "stressed" I believe because of a lot less financial backing and crew support than some other teams.
I admire him for being able, maybe without much choice, in using his daughters and wife to "crew" for him.
He works VERY hard at being competitive, in particular in the "No Prep Kings" races, where many teams seem to have overcome their biggest obstacles to the fastest ETs, that being an "unprepped" surface. IT'S STILL A RACE TRACK, so unlike a REAL street, especially a street that hasn't seen much or any racing action, even an unprepped track has rubber down.
From my perspective, a REAL street is the Great Equalizer in that the lack of traction helps nullify the drivers/teams that have the most money. Other than chassis and other traction aids, the power that BIG MONEY can buy vs those with less backing isn't usable on the street like an unprepped track.
Joe did REALLY well at the "Daily Driver" race series that just finished running on TV, and how can a Mopar fan not love a Gen 2 HEMI powered old hotrod with a touch of N²O?

 

[Rick62]

If JJ is involved, I'm not interested.

 

[JPrusinows]

Just awesome! About sums it up!