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FAQs
Mojave Mile Shootout Q & A updated 7/1/2010
Q. What exactly is a mile shootout?
A. Technically, it’s a one-mile standing-start speed trial. You drive your car/bike from a standing start and
try to get to the highest speed you can in exactly one mile.
Q. So it’s just a drag race, only one mile long?
A. Not really. Unlike a drag race, there is only one car on the track. And we don’t measure elapsed time,
only top speed. Because there is no E.T., burnouts and hot starts are not needed, making it easier
on your equipment.
Q. Sounds like fun. Who can enter?
A. Pretty much anybody 18 years or older, with a current valid driver’s license and insurance and a
safe machine with good tires. You must have permission of the vehicle’s owner to enter it in this
event, and NO RENTAL CARS are allowed.
Q. What are the car equipment requirements?
A. There are quite a few safety rules, but, for cars, you can start with a basic street legal car, a small
fire extinguisher, a decent helmet, and simple non-synthetic (100% cotton, for example) full-coverage
clothing, leather gloves and leather shoes with no holes. See the rule book for more details.
Q. What are the motorcycle equipment requirements?
A. Due to their more-exposed nature, we do require more safety equipment for bikes. Mainly: 1) you
must wear at least full one-piece or zip-together leathers, boots, gloves and an approved full face
helmet; 2) your bike must have a tethered kill switch installed; 3) a few items must be safety-wired;
4) all lights, turn signals and mirrors must be taped or removed; and 5) your tires must be at least
S rated, with higher speed limits for higher rated tires, up to unlimited speeds with W rated tires and
prior racing experience. See the rule book for full details.
Q. Do I need to pre-enter, or can I just show up on the day of the event?
A. You should pre-enter if at all possible. If you wait too long, you may be shut out, because there is a
limit to the number of entries. There is also a higher entry fee for a late entry. For two-day events
you have a choice of entering for both days, or for Sunday only. Entry forms can be downloaded from
the web site.
Q. So, can I bring any car or bike and go as fast as I want?
A. Well, not quite. There are speed limits that we impose, and they are based on your experience, and
on the safety equipment and tires on your machine. Brand-new inexperienced novices can go up to
150 MPH (if their tires and vehicle are good enough). That’s fast enough for a large majority of street-
legal cars, and quite a few bikes too. With more experience under your belt, more safety equipment
and better tires, you can go well over 200 MPH if your vehicle is fast enough! Please note that
separate speed limits apply to you and your vehicle; again, see the rule book.
Q. What if my car is a convertible?
A. There are special rules for convertibles or cars that don’t have a metal roof structure. If the car has
some kind of rollover protection behind the driver (like pop-up roll bars, for example), we can probably
find a class to run it in. If it doesn’t, it probably can’t run, unless you add a roll bar to it.
Q. Can I just bring my stock bike and run it as is?
A. Sorry, but probably not. We feel that for safety reasons, our required basic modifications must be
done. However, they are relatively low-cost and not that hard to do. We generally don’t allow certain
bike types such as scooters, mini bikes, pocket GPs, trikes, dirt bikes, choppers, Can-Ams,
Piaggios, huge automotive-powered bikes, etc. Sidecar bikes can’t run unless they qualify for the
Land Speed division.
Q. What kind of helmet do I need?
A. First and foremost, we don’t accept any helmet that is only rated DOT. We require other
ratings such as Snell SA2000 & up for cars; or for bikes, Snell M2000 & up, or ECE22-05, or
certain others. (A full list is in the rule book.) For bikes, all helmets must be full face with shield
(i.e. not a motocross type), and clamshell front-opening types are only allowed in the Street division
(165 MPH max.). For cars, the Grand Touring (GT) division (165 MPH max.) allows an open face
helmet but we would much rather see you wearing a full-face model. This car division (GT) also
allows using an approved motorcycle helmet, but if you do, you must also wear a fire resistant racing
head sock. All other car divisions (meaning those above 165 MPH) do require a real SA2000
(or later) full face auto racing helmet with shield. (But please, don’t go out and buy a new
SA2000 or M2000 helmet! They won’t be accepted next year. Get at least a 2005 version.)
Q. Can my spouse/kid/parent/buddy ride along with me in the car?
A. No. We’re sorry, but no passengers are allowed under normal circumstances.
Q. Can I bring someone else and share a car/bike?
A. Yes, but this is limited to two people total per vehicle. The second person will pay full entry fee minus
$40. He/she must meet the same equipment requirements as the primary driver or rider.
Q. Can I bring two or more vehicles and drive/ride them all?
A. Yes. Each one requires a full entry fee and a complete separate set of entry forms.
Q. If I bring my family and friends, is there a place for them to sit and watch?
A. Unfortunately, right now, there is not. Due to the details of the way we have to run the event, and
the layout of the airfield, there is presently no specific spectator area, no bleachers or seating, and
no facilities to speak of. However, there is space for a limited number of spectators to stand and
watch. They will have to sign the necessary liability waivers and get a wristband so they can enter.
It’s possible that in the future we might be able to set up a specific enclosed spectator area, but for
now, this is all we can do.
Please note that if you bring children or pets, a responsible adult will have to personally supervise them
at all times. We absolutely cannot have kids and pets just wandering around. Also, kids cannot
operate ANY KIND of wheeled or motorized vehicle or device at ANY TIME, meaning no
skateboards, skates, bikes, trikes, scooters, big wheels, pedal cars, razors, RC cars/planes/copters,
or anything like that.
There is a no-alcohol rule in effect at the event, which applies to everyone there. Also,
open fires, barbecues and glass bottles are not allowed.
Q. So, how much do I have to do to my car to raise its speed limit in your event?
A. Put on better tires; and put in more safety equipment. These are the two main factors determining
your car’s speed limit. A quick overview: Depending on tires, your car can go up to 165 MPH with
the basic requirements mentioned above (helmet, non-synthetic clothing, and extinguisher, in a
normal street-type car). We call that Level 1 safety equipment. To jump up to a maximum 205 MPH
car limit, in addition to better tires, you need to have a roll bar and racing harnesses, and wear a
Nomex driving suit, racing shoes and gloves, and a full face SA helmet. We call that Level 2. Above
205, you need high-speed or racing tires, and Level 3: a roll cage, a fire system, a racing fuel cell, a
real racing seat, a head and neck restraint system, arm restraints, a full face SA helmet with head
sock, and a heavier Nomex driving suit, gloves, and shoes. (In other words, race-car-level preparation.)
In some cases you may also need a parachute. This is only a snapshot of the requirements; you need
to read the rulebook for full details.
Q. 165 mph seems to be pretty easy to reach with today’s sports cars. I know my
(Corvette/Mustang/Viper/Porsche/whatever) has a top speed in excess of 165, so this
doesn’t sound like much fun if I have to back off at the end. Is this an issue?
A. Actually, 165 mph is pretty hard to get to in a standing mile. We know from experience that recent
stock Z06 Corvettes are right about there, and they have ~500 horsepower. If you have less than that,
you probably won’t see 165 mph. So, we believe that with most stock sports cars, you will be able to
run flat out.
Q. I have a rare/expensive/exotic car that I think can go really fast. It is very valuable and I
don’t want to modify it. What can I do?
A. We have a special category called the S4 Division that is designed for such cars. Basically, the car
must be a US version, model year 1990 or newer, street legal and insured, made by a certified new
vehicle manufacturer for the US market, must meet US DOT/NHTSA standards, must still be in
totally stock, unmodified form, just as it was manufactured, and must have originally come with
tires speed-rated ZR or higher. It then qualifies for a speed limit of 175 MPH or more, depending on
the tires. The speeds in S4 Division are capped at 190 MPH, but very few showroom-stock cars can
go that fast in one mile. (For example, a new stock 638-hp Corvette ZR1 can just about get there.)
Please see the rule book for full details about what’s allowed in this division. If you modify the car at
all, even with just a computer re-tune, you may find yourself outside this division and saddled with a
lower limit. This S4 Division is basically limited to rare/exotic/expensive high-performance cars that
might be seriously devalued by the installation of a roll bar. It isn’t meant to be a general-
purpose showroom-stock category. No kit cars or grey-market imports are allowed in S4 Division.
There is one small modification you must make, which is mounting a 2.5 lb fire extinguisher. S4
requires Level 2 clothing and helmet.
Q. I’ve modified my car to go pretty fast but I don’t have a roll bar. Am I going to be stuck
only doing 165?
A. The answer is “maybe”. Certain cars are exempt from the usual Level 2 roll bar requirement due to
their high-quality factory rollover protection. Some of the cars on this list include: 1984 and newer
fixed-roof (non-convertible) Corvettes; Dodge Viper coupes; 2005-2006 Ford GTs; certain Mercedes
sedans. Other cars may be added to this list from time to time. Call to inquire about your car. You
will still need to properly mount your racing harnesses, which can be difficult without a roll bar. Usually
a “harness bar” will be needed.
Q. I would like to use nitrous oxide injection. May I?
A. Usually, yes, subject to our rules regarding Power Adders. The system must be properly installed,
plumbed, and wired. See the rule book for specific limitations for each division.
Q. Equipment-wise, what do I have to watch out for? What are you not going to allow?
A. First please realize that if we state that certain items are not allowed, we are doing it for a good reason,
usually safety-related. Having said that, we’ll warn you now that the following will most likely not pass
Tech Inspection:
- Wheels (on cars) over 20 inches in diameter, unless they are factory original for that car, or approved
for racing
- wheels or wheel covers with “spinners” or other similar moving parts
- a helmet that is only rated DOT, with no other rating
- a helmet more than ten years old
- 2-inch 4-point “street” harnesses (“tuner belts”, “show belts”)
- Y-type or one-piece V-type racing shoulder harnesses (must be two separate belts)
- racing harnesses more than 5 years old
- worn-out, undersized or mismatched tires
- knobby, snow, mud, offroad, all-terrain, or other heavy-lug treads
- tires not at least “S” speed rated
- tires that are more than 6 years old (based on sidewall date code)
- tires with cracked sidewalls, chunked tread, or other damage
- tires that have been repaired
- drag racing tires, except for DOT-approved Drag Radials
- on cars, any DOT legal tire that is not a radial
- bikes that don’t have our minimum safety modifications
- vehicles in a poor state of repair and/or leaking fluids
Bike riders all have to wear a full leather racing suit, and that doesn’t mean just regular leather pants and
a separate jacket, unless they zip together completely.
Two things that a lot of people tend to forget, but are required: metal tire valve stem caps, and, for every
car, a 2.5 lb. BC fire extinguisher.
Naturally this is not a complete listing; see the rule book for more details as to what’s required and what
is and is not allowed.
Q. I have a Land Speed/Bonneville car or bike that I would like to run. Is that possible?
A. Good news! Our rules now allow nearly all Land Speed vehicles, except streamliners, that conform to the
SCTA rule book, to run using SCTA technical specifications. The vehicle must already have a current
SCTA logbook and chassis sticker, and must have passed an SCTA tech inspection within the last two
years. The driver/rider must have a current (less than two years old) SCTA Competition License. Speed
limits are generally based on SCTA tire limits. A tech inspection using the SCTA tech inspection form will
be done. Entry procedures, event operations, and everything not having to do with technical and safety
requirements, will be done under MKM rules, the same as for everybody else.
One thing needs mentioning. The particulars of running at Mojave mean that we can’t have any push
vehicles or crew members at the starting line. We’re sorry, but for now, it has to be that way. All
vehicles must come from the staging lanes to the starting line on their own, stop at the line, then start and
complete their run, and exit the runway, all under their own power. Towing a car back from the far end is
permissible.
Q. What is the altitude at Mojave? Which runway will we be using?
A. We will be running on the 12,500 foot Runway 12/30. We may run in either direction at any given event,
and that will be determined by us prior to the event start. (The direction will not be changed during the
event.) The start line is at approximately 2750 feet of altitude.
Q. How can I get a better look at the airfield layout?
A. We suggest using the free Google Earth application, which will give you a nice aerial view of the facility.
Q. Mojave Airport? Isn’t that where they build and test those exotic aircraft?
A. Yes it is! The company is called Scaled Composites, founded by famed designer Burt Rutan. You
occasionally see some strange craft being tested here.
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