A Lesson in Family From the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association
Courtesy of MMPSA
Frankfort, IL – In a world where competitive sports are often unfriendly at best and cut throat at worst, drag racing stands out from the crowd. Drag racing is a sport known for its camaraderie and goodwill. Although it’s not entirely
across the board, most competitors will tell you that the amity found in drag racing is second to none. Such is the case in Mountain Motor Pro Stock, where the spirit of goodwill thrives.
Over the winter, quarter-mile Mountain Motor racing hung in limbo as the International Hot Rod Association, the mainstay for the class, adopted a new format of racing and chose not to keep the 800+ cubic inch machines around. Competitors quickly worked together to find a solution. It came in the form of the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association. Staunch supporters and devoted competitors, Pete Berner and Richard Freeman, along with the support of numerous other Pro Stock racers rallied together to bring about the formation of this new organization that would take Mountain Motor racing into the next decade. In just a few short months the MMPSA went from an idea in the minds of racers to an active and valid organization with a successful event in the books.
The MMPSA held their first ever event just a few short weeks ago at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, N.C. Fifteen cars turned out for this historic weekend, the likes of which will forever be in the record books as playing host to the foundational MMPSA race. Cary Goforth, the younger half of the father/son team from Holdenville, Oklahoma streamed the headlines from the weekend, claiming the pole position, the Saturday night qualifying award from Summit Racing Equipment, and the race day win. He nearly eclipsed the quarter-mile world record in qualifying, his 6.257 elapsed time coming within a few thousandths of a second of the 6.251 record.
And while the headlines are substantiated in highlighting the history behind the MMPSA and Goforth’s feats from the weekend, there are stories behind the event that should not be overlooked- stories of the camaraderie of drag racing that may be best found in the MMPSA, where it is vividly clear that sportsmanship lives on.
Massive potato and onion farmer JR Carr is fairly new to drag racing, stepping onto the IHRA Pro Stock scene in 2008 in an Elite Motorsports ride and drive program. The Washington state native finished eighth in overall IHRA Pro Stock points standings in 2009. Now, Carr has branched into his own operation, fielding his Carr Motorsports ’09 Pontiac GXP in the MMPSA.
At the MMPSA’s inaugural event in Rockingham, Carr ran into some engine trouble, hurting his motor during the second round of qualifying. Fortunately, he had a spare.
Then, fellow competitor John Konigshofer of Otterville, Ontario followed suit during the third round of qualifying where he hurt a piston. Konigshofer, one of the fastest Pro Stockers in all of Canada, did not have a spare.
This is where the amazing sportsmanship of the MMPSA comes into play. While Carr was changing motors and solving his own dilemma, he knew that Konigshofer needed parts to compete on race day. Their motors happened to share the same bore and stroke. To Carr, the solution was easy. He offered a piston from his own motor.
“We were busy changing motors ourselves, so John Kaase took the piston out for John,” said Carr, relaying the story with humble generosity. “I didn’t think twice about helping him. It’s just what we do for each other as racers. That same day I needed some fittings and a water hose and everyone took time to help. That’s one of the greatest things about drag racing. Everyone is willing to help, even if it means helping a competitor. We’re all friends here.
“I love the camaraderie of the MMPSA. It is super important to be in a place where you are always welcome and everyone is glad you are there.”
A surprising twist came to this story when Carr and Konigshofer were scheduled to run each other first round. Carr came out on top, his 6.461 beating Konigshofer?s 6.518. Carr lost to eventual winner Cary Goforth in round two.
“My guys were teasing John before first round, telling him he had to take the plug wire off the cylinder that had our piston in it,” laughed Carr, “but really there were no hard feelings between us, and I would have done everything the same way, even if the outcome had been different and John had beaten us first round. It takes a lot of time to prepare for these races and you hate to see anyone go home early because of a little bad luck.”
As evidenced by JR Carr, the MMPSA is more like a family than distant competitors. When the helmets are on and engines revved, all bets are off, but as soon as they reach the other end, their remarkable camaraderie rules again.
The easy-going and always-smiling farmer and family man turned drag racer doesn’t take much credit for his generosity. To him, it’s just what families do. And the MMPSA is a family unlike any other.
