Meltdown #10
July 17-18, 2026
Pre-Registration & Criteria Information
The Vintage Drag Racing Foundation (501c3) strives to preserve the historic nature of drag racing events like Meltdown 10 and The Fall Out. We ask that participants endeavor to make their ride of choice look and feel like things were in the mid 1960’s and earlier. We get asked why a lot, and the simplest way to explain it is you cannot go to a Civil War enactment and expect to participate with a replica M1A or M16 and digital camo. The most accurate and tasteful vehicles will be selected first. Visual appearance is the top criteria. Fastest ain’t baddest when it comes to selecting the field. Whether it’s an 8 second Gasser or a 15 second ride, it needs to look the part.
Brandon, Paul, Smokey, and the rest of the Meltdown Crew look forward to seeing all our race family soon. In the meantime, get your ride done, the bugs worked out, don’t break anything major before July, and God bless you, your family, and the USA!
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Pre-Registration
We are currently full at 500 race cars
Pre-registration is required for this event and it opens January 1, 2026 at 12am.
Do not try to register before that time. Bragging rights for those with the quickest registration submission.
Racers must submit pictures of the car as it will be raced, clearly showing wheels, engine, and exterior of the car. Again, the images submitted must show the car AS IT WILL BE RACED. Bad pictures could delay or prevent processing of registration.
We anticipate filling up to 500 race cars very quickly. The selection process will be based on criteria, overall look of the vehicle, & order of the entry received. We reserve to right to change and modify the selection process, and the criteria to race. These are all our vision for the event and do not 100% follow any rulebook.
Please include the following information:
Name:
Address:
Phone number:
Year, make, model of car:
Width of rear tires (contact area where slick meets the track)
Class and approximate E.T.:
Club affiliation in any:
Length of truck and trailer
Email to: meltdownten@gmail.com (note the updated address for registration)
If you have questions, Please email meltdownten@gmail.com
MELTDOWN 10 RACE CRITERIA
This event is recreating a 1960’s drag meet. From the stands it will look and feel like a trip back in time. Does your car look like it came from the 60’s? If you had a black and white photo of it, does it look vintage? If yes, then WE WANT YOU!
WHEELS
Must look like a style available in 1966
-NO Weld Wheels -NO Center Lines
-NO Pro Stars -NO Super Tricks or other billet wheels that came after 1968 -No bead locks
EXAMPLE OF WHEELS THAT ARE ACCEPTED
-GM Corvette rallys -Torque thrust D
-Torque thrust originals -Aluminum slots -Factory steel wheels
-Keystone -Rocket racing launcher
-Cragar SS -Chrome Reverse
TIRES
-12″ max width on door cars.
-NO white or yellow writing on tires or slicks. M/T is ok (MUST be black wall or era appropriate whitewalls)
-NO Pro street type cars with huge rear tires. We’re trying to keep tire sizes appropriate to 1966 sizes.
SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN
-Straight axle front suspension, -Stock front suspension, ball joint extensions are allowed with correct stance
-No round tube chassis full bodied door cars
-Trans brake and line lock are allowed
-Wheelie bars should not exceed more than 12″ past rear bumper
HOOD SCOOPS
-Era correct scoops are permitted
-NO cowl hoods
-NO snorkel scoops
-NO L-88 scoops
-NO bubble scoops (teardrop scoops from the era are fine)
ENGINES
-All modified engines running 7.00/11.00 or quicker are required to have a diaper or pan per Byron Dragway rules
-NO Nitrous
-No anti-freeze or water wetter in cooling system, water only. Radiators will be checked.
-NO LS Motors -NO Billet Valve Covers (unless hood remains closed, not on display.
-NO Pro-Chargers -NO Turbos -Era correct Paxton ok
BODY PAINT
-No rat rods
-No 1980’s and 1990’s graphics
-No rusted cars (full panel rust)
-No multi-colored panels (ex. yellow hood/green doors and red fenders) unless approved.
-No modern decals all over the car
-exceptions will be considered for original cars with documented history.
GLASS
-NO riveted in windows or windshields unless fasteners are hidden or camouflaged.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
-No 2 steps/stutter boxes that you can hear popping
-No throttle stops
SAFETY
-Modified engines require a diaper per Byron Dragway track rules
-Before racing starts check for oil leaks, fuel leaks, current seatbelts
– Snell SA2020 or SA2025 NHRA approved helmets.
-All vehicles must comply with NHRA safety rules concerning equipment, specific to ET and class “modern” specs. Track rule or NHRA rule that is most stringent applies. Safety is a #1 concern for the driver, fans, and track crew. The added benefit is that it minimizes track down time. There will be a limited amount of diapers available to the track, but you have all read the rule, an no car will be entered that doesn’t comply.
EXAMPLES: driveshaft loops, scatter shields, roll bars, remote power disconnect, etc…
ENGINE COOLANT MUST BE WATER!! -NO ANTIFREEZE!! IT WILL BE CHECKED
RACE CLASSES
-We will run heads up Sportsman tree. We will run 1/4 mile unless a group is specially designated and pre-approved 1/8 mile. All 1/8 mile will run as a group but must be pre-approved so as to coordinate with the tower.
DRAGSTER & ALTERED CLASS
-Can be an original or re-created chassis, but must appear as cars in the 60’s would have looked. Larger rear tire width ok
GAS Class
-A 9.99 and faster
-B 10.0-11.0
-C 11.0-12.0
-D 12.0-13.0
-E 13.0 & slower
-Do not enter a class where you cannot consistently meet the ET minimum. Remember, in the 60’s, B, C, and D were the most competitive classes, and due to cubic inches much to weight classing, were many times much faster than A. Pick the right class so we put on a good show.
-Blown and unblown in same class
-A/FX and F/X (1960 to 1966 cars with straight axles and altered wheelbase)
-Stock (any year up to 1966) • May have headers • Full interior
-Super Stock (select 1961 to 1966 cars with stock front suspension)
-Hot Rod street rods & hot rods (Pre 1961 cars/trucks that do not fit gas/stock class rules)
-Car must be a traditional style hot rod
-NO RAT RODS
-No mustang II front ends exposed on 30’s style cars
MOTORCYCLES
All bikes must appear to be 1966 or older and adhere to Vintage Motorcycle Racing Club safety rules.
ACCEPTABLE MODEL YEAR AND EXCEPTIONS:
-1966 and earlier only, exception being body style change such as:
-1966-1967 Chevelle -1966-1967 Fairlane
-1966-1967 Falcon -1966-1967 Mercury products
-1966-1967 Nova
-NO 1967 Firebirds or Camaros
If you have questions, Please email meltdownten@gmail.com