The premise is pretty simple: these are the racing series we at Mis-Shift would love to see actually exist in real life. Maybe you can be the start of one! Although I highly doubt it…

1. The Northstar Cup

Cadillac’s attempt at a “high tech” (aka contemporary) dual over head cam v8 should not go unnoticed or celebrated. Infact, a turbocharged variant of this engine found its way into the back of an LMP car in early 2000’s Le Mans. Was it a success? Uhhh… no. But it serves as 100% proof that this engine was destined for the races. Bring any North Star engined car, fwd, rwd, manual, auto, convertible, whatever it is. We’ll sort out BOP later. And let that 32 valve lump of GM engineering sing till it pops. Endurance races will last until the last Northstar is standing, points given out to the last three and first to die.

2. King of the Choppers

Everyone knows of the silliest professional motorcycle race, King of the Baggers. However, get ready for the next hit: King of the Choppers! With solid rear suspension and just front forks, the handlebars are required to be a certain distance high into the sky. All bikes are required to run the spec piss-poor Harley motor with a max of 45 hp, but chassis are up to the manufacture. The tracks have as many turns as possible, more maximum excitement, of course.

3. The Motorized Triathlon

Everyone know what a classic triathlon looks like, but frankly it’s painfully slow. Now, instead of a race with cyclists/runners/swimmers we have a MotoGP/Hydroboat/Autocross race in the style of a triathlon. The winner of something like this would truly be a jack of all trades in the motorsport community all offering a form of entertainment like nothing we’ve ever seen.

4. Wheel to wheel FSAE racing

Insurance companies wouldn’t even have to worry about the event because most the cars wouldn’t make it to the start line!

That’s it. That’s the punch line. Sue me.

5. Spec Altima

Nothing screeches performance like a Nissan sedan. The Nissan Altima is basically a sports car. SCCA could open a spec series, with the newest Altima as a benchmark to BOP all older generation cars. CVT only, Minimal modifications aside from Saftey (because an Altima is pretty much a race car), it’ll be like the Sentra/Micra cup, but worse infinitely better. But is it better then spec land yacht…?

6. Human Vs Autonomous Racing Series

We live in a time where technology is not only taking our jobs, but our hobbies too. This is a series where human drivers can go head to head with these systems. Not only would this series push the limits of robotics and automotive engineering but create a whole new level of engagement with racing and camaraderie within the motorsport community. We’ve seen this story on the screen a million times. Why not take it to the track!

7. The International Battle For R Badge Supremacy

Over the years, many manufacturers have slapped an “R” badge on their cars to denote sporting prowess. Well, you smug marketing teams, let’s put this to the test? Any road car is allowed to participate, as long as it’s got an “R” badge on it. Golf R? Sure. 911 GT3 R? Seems unfair but why not. R spec genesis? By all means! Nissan GTR? Eh maybe consult the rule book. It will be a season comprising of sprint races, with points not only going to the driver who has done the best, but the type of car as well, in order to determine which R is the R-iest of them all.

8. The Intergenerational Racing League

Old people suck. We know this. But do they?? The talks about back then when they were capable do nothing but grind my gears. Nicki who? Fangioh my god we get it! Put a dutch kid with a sprinkle of childhood trauma against any of these milk loving fuckers and we got this. No more excuses people! I propose a league where we obtain racers from the past and strap them into VR setups connected to cars place those cars against the drivers of today. We can shut them up about the old days once and for all.

Dan Verona’s Miserable Mentions

9. The Craigslist Cup Challenge

An event with the potential for variety, competition, camaraderie, and utter failure on a scale never before seen in motorsport. For you OG car YouTube enjoyers, remember project car challenge 2017? Me neither, but it did happen, and serves as a reference for this pinnacle event. Cars legal for competition must be purchased from our title sponsor’s website, and must be listed as “projects” built by unknown sellers. No further modification is allowed aside from getting vehicles to run and drive, and then it’s full-send on track until a lap number is reached or one car is left running.

10. 100 Miles of Manx

When was the last time you saw a vintage “dune buggy” touch the biome in its name? Too often these quirky classics are parked up and kept polished in suburban garages with RaceDeck floors, and I’m calling out these offenders with a challenge. Envision, if you will, the Mint 400 trophy truck course packed with glitter-painted VW buggies. Set up a 20 mile course and run five laps for as long as it takes. Power restrictions? We need not, it would be a miracle if enough owners muster up the confidence to fill the starting grid. Running a stock 36HP? Good on you. 260HP turbo stroker engine? Go for it. One of the lucky few with a 3-cylinder Australian radial? By all means, get out there and prove me wrong.

Honorable Mention:

Pontoon Boat vs Ox Cart

Ah the Ox Cart. What a mode of transportation! And just to be clear, we are in fact talking about an actual ox cart, not the A12 Ox Cart spy plane (almost identical to the SR71 Blackbird). Us at MSIMA have even compared an Ox Cart’s sporting pedigree to a Bugatti Chiron.

But is it faster than a pontoon boat?

(The Ox Cart was excluded due to MSIMA staff bias)

Comrade Zdzisław’s Autismo Input

Pandamonium

A no-holds barred beatdown:

Get a field of 1.1 and 1.2 Mk3 Fiat Pandas, no mods allowed apart from cosmetic, cheap, crappy tyres and basic safety equipment, get em on a track (preferrably one made for rallycross) and then unleash the chaos. Only one comes out on top.