Ozark Mountain Super Shifters

Words and images by Dan Ricks

In the fall of 1991, a small group of drag racers who chose not to use automatic transmissions with delay boxes, stutter boxes and other electronic devices banded together with the help of Ted Jones, Ozark International Raceway owner. The first race was sponsored by OIR dragstrip, and felt to be of interest to the spectators, enough so that a second race was put together.

This time, the participating racers collected sponsorship money for the purses from businesses in the immediate area who also liked this type of race. Again, the race was found to be of great interest to the spectators. The participating racers enjoyed the experience of racing against other stick shift cars and racing was once again fun.

Throughout the winter months, these racers continued to meet to discuss plans of how to continue this type of racing. The Stick Shift Super Club slowly evolved into the Ozark Mountain Super Shifters Inc. Original founders were Jim & Betty Ruble from Springfield MO, Leroy & Janet Tarr from Buffalo MO and Jim & Jason Ort from Lake of the Ozarks MO. Colombia MO Dean Arthaud served as president from 1994 to 1998 while Billy Leaf joined the group in 1996 and became president in 1998 till present.

The inaugural Ozark Mountain Super Shifter race was held Sunday April 26, 1992, at Ozark International Raceway in Missouri seven “Super Shifters” braved the cold for the first race of the newly formed drag racers association specifically for stick shift cars: Fred Quackenbush, Kerry Baker, Jim McGuire, Bill Porter, Larry Tarr, Jim Ort and LeRoy Tarr. McGuire’s Chevy II won with LeRoy Tarr’s Camaro taking runner-up spot.

Today however, to help increase membership and car counts, they have changed the rules to allow power adders, nitrous and hydraulic clutches. This rule change is new for the 2022 season.

Today we currently have over 30 members and average 22 cars per race. The Ozark Mountain Super Shifters gather for races in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa to put on exciting drag racing programs for enthusiastic fans. They feature nostalgia- type cars from the 60s and 70s as well as late-model pro- stock style cars that run in the 7s at over 180 mph in the 1\4 mile. If long, smoky burnouts, high RPM wheels-up launches and exciting side-by-side drag racing action appeal to you, come on out and see the Ozark Mountain Super Shifters!

People ask why they have been so successful over the years it’s simple:

THEY PRAY BEFORE RACES, PRAY BEFORE MEALS AND HAVE A STRONG COMRADERY BETWEEN TEAMS!!!!!!!