BARE KNUCKLES CARS | Loudmouth Promotions

2025 Bare Knuckles Cars Rules

Contact Jarrod Blades on Facebook messenger or text 989-429-5649 for all questions.

With 10 or more cars:

First place $1500

Second place $750

Third place $250

Over 25 cars the payout will be $2500 $1000 $500

Less than 10 cars will default to 100% payback.

Trophies will be 5ft 4ft and 3ft

All drivers must wear long sleeves, a helmet, pants and closed toed shoes to compete. Also must use a lap belt only in the car. Eye protection is mandatory.

Ethics clause:

Loudmouth Promotions will always uphold confidentiality between driver and promotor when regarding rule questions, registrations and all other build procedures. We understand what it is to build at this level and we will not gossip with other drivers in a distasteful manner. We feel this bias harms the sport and can put drivers at a disadvantage.

Strongarm clause:

Loudmouth Promotions will NOT be strongarmed or influenced by any driver on rules, regulations, entry fees or anything of the like. ALL drivers will conform to ALL rules at ALL times or you be disqualified from the event regardless of “status”, experience or credibility.

Behavior clause:

Drivers and their crews will demonstrate a respectful behavior toward all Loudmouth officials, and all other drivers, at all times. There will be zero tolerance for profanity, fighting, destruction of property or any other destructive behavior at any Loudmouth events. If you fail to demonstrate respectful behavior at our shows you will be asked to leave and will be banned from future Loudmouth events. This is a rule like all others and MUST be followed!!

Sandbagging clause:

Sandbagging will NOT be tolerated! You will be allowed to drive, but you will not camp in the corner and win this show! This is a rule like every rule and must be followed!

Team driving will not be tolerated. If we see team driving we will break it up.

Cars may not be decorated with profanity or hate speech. Have your number on your door or roof sign highly visible so we can distinguish drivers.

NO passengers will be allowed at this event.

Timing will go as follows; you will be allowed 30 seconds to make contact. Do not milk the clock and put us in the position to flag someone for sandbagging. Keep a good pace and keep the show moving. We will NOT have a 3-4 hour feature! This is a rule like all others and must be followed!

Cars allowed for the class will be any full size V8 passenger car. Fomoco cars must be made during or after 1980. Gm cars must be made during or after 1977. Chryslers must be made during or after 1980. No vans, suvs, trucks, hearses, limos, el caminos. Call if you have a car in question.

Used cars will be allowed, and must comply to all rules.

On Fords ONLY the front frame may be tilted at the boxes by cutting and re welding the 3 tabs ONLY. Re weld these seams ONLY. No other frame welding allowed. If you decide not to do this you may re weld this seam. Welding may be a 1/2” max wide pass.

All cars will be allowed (1) 4”x4”x1/4” plate to be welded flat on the frame. No incorporating into suspension or body. Must be a square shape and must not cover an area bigger than 4”x4” max. You may bend/ fold/ plug weld the plate, if you cut it you throw the extra piece away.

2003 and newer will not be allowed this plate.

77 and newer GM cars ONLY may have a strait across plate 4”x22”x1/4” centered on the hump or you may frame shape 22” of the hump if you do not run a hump plate. GM cars may NOT tilt the front frame.

No other cars will be allowed hump plates.

You be allowed 4 spots of 4 strands of 9 wire to be added at any time before or during the competition.

Bumper height must be as follows, the top of the front bumper, or any part of it, may not be higher than 26” off the ground. The bottom of the rear bumper, or any part of it, may not be less than 14” off the ground.

If you decide to weld nuts to the top of your front bumper for wire, they must be 1” nuts max, these will not be included in your measurement.

Nothing else can be welded to the top of the bumper besides the 1” nuts for wire.

Wording definitions:

“Must”: this means “has to be”.
“May”: this means you can, but if you don’t, there are no other options available unless specified.

Rules:

Body:

Remove all plastic and molding before the show, this means trim, moldings, grills, etc. All airbags and interior parts must be removed. The dash can stay if you prefer.
Anything can be removed, nothing can be added.
Doors may be welded shut in 8 spots per side of the car with 4”x4”x1/4” plates max. Drivers door may be welded in 3” on 3” off manner.
Hoods must have a 12x12 hole above the engine
Hoods and trunk lids must be open for inspection
Speaker deck may be removed.
Trunk lid may be set down on the floor of the trunk AFTER inspection and may be wired in with 4 spots of 4 strands of wire. Wire may go through the side of the trunk, the trunk lid, and trunk floor only. No excessive routing or x mending wire.
If you leave the trunk lid on its hinges you may 90 the trunk lid side to side in the middle, and wire it with 3 spots of 4 strands of wire per drivers and passengers side. Wire may go through the trunk lid and trunk side only.
You may dent the trunk sides in. No creasing. No jigs allowed. No squeezing the trunk sides in on top of the frame real. Rear quarters may be folded up underneath but no bolting or welding. No wedging. Do not beat the trunk sides down.
Front fenders must not be creased.
You may remove the trunk lid but must run a hood.
Hoods may be wired in 3 spots max per driver and passenger side, 3 strands max.
No rear window bars allowed.
Must have a chain or 9 wire in the windshield area, 1 location in the center, if using wire 4 strands max. This must go from the dash bar to the roof. Chain may be looped around 1 time and bolted with a single 3/8” bolt max.
Or you may have 3/8” strap built into an “A” in your windshield area. No more than 6” of contact on the roof and firewall will be allowed.
No shaping or forming body or firewall other than what’s specified. No adding material to body in any way other than what’s specified.

Drivers compartment:

Aftermarket steering columns will be allowed.
You may run aftermarket shifters and pedals. No way of mounting these can strengthen the car.
Battery must be relocated to drivers compartment and mounted on the passengers floor area, secure them good
You may run a ratchet strap in the drivers compartment to hold on to during the competition
All fuel lines and fittings must be leak proof.
Drivers door must have a steel plate minimum 6” tall across, must not exceed 3” past either seam
Lap belts only must be used, no shoulder straps for seat belts

Cage:

Drivers compartment may have a 4 point floating cage made from 3”x3” material max. Dash bar, door side bars 60” long max, and rear seat bar. No down bars or kickers of any type allowed.
Seat bar must be mounted directly behind the seat.
You may have a center bar to mount the shifter to, 3”x3” material max. Must mount to seat bar and dash bar only.
If you do not run a 4 point cage you must run a bar behind the seat 3”x3” material max. Must be 6” off the floor.
You may have a roof bar, it must be mounted to the top of the cage side bars and must be bolted to the roof with (2) pieces of 3”x3” angle 4” long and (2) 3/8” bolts. 3”x3” material max. If you do not bolt this to the roof you must have 2 locations of 9 wire through the roof only and around the roof bar.
You may have a gas tank protector made of 3”x3” material attached to your rear seat bar. This must be mounted with a 3” gap from all sheet metal. No beating or shaping sheet metal to make this happen.
All cage components beside the gas tank protector must be mounted at least 6” from the floor.
If you do not mount your gas tank from your cage you must fabricate a 24” square mount max for your gas tank. Must be mounted to the floor in 4 locations with bolts. If you choose this option your gas tank mount cannot be connected to the cage.
Cage components must not extend through the firewall.

Core support:

Radiators must be mounted in the factory position.
Core support spacers must not exceed 2”x2” material 6” tall and cannot be welded to the frame or core support.
You may run a 1/4” thick expanded metal radiator cover and you may bolt it to the core support with (5) 3/8 bolts per side. Or you may run a 1/8” thick radiator cover bolted to the core support in the same fashion.
To mount radiator you may use (2) pieces of 5/8 threaded rod and they must be ran vertically, strait up and down, through the bottom of the core support and you may weld (2) 2” wide 1/4” thick tabs to the top of the core support to mount the rod. Rods cannot run through the hood. No other welding to core support allowed. Washers may be 3”x3” max material.
You may use ratchet straps, 9 wire, or seatbelts to hold radiator in if you do not use threaded rod. No welding to the core support of you do this.
No other radiator protectors allowed.
No other modifications to the core support will be allowed.

Body Mounts:

You may replace 6 body mounts with 5/8 rod, you’ll be allowed 3 nuts and 3 3”x3” washers per rod. Core support mounts count as 2 of your 6. This must be done before inspection. No welding or bending rod in any way. Rod may not attach to cage in any way.
All other body mount bolts must remain factory or be factory replacement.

Driveline:

Any engine allowed.
Engines may be mounted with a front plate/ lower cradle only.
You may have a 1/2” thick plate under your motor mounts to space the engine up. This plate may not measure more than 1/2” around the base of the motor mount.
On 03 and newer fords you may use a 6” wide plate to bolt to the aluminum cradle and weld to the frame rail to hold engine in. You will only be allowed to weld the edge of the plate to the frame. A derby manufacturer cradle will be allowed but may not be allowed to weld to frame.
You may run (2) 12” long 3/8 chains from any component of your engine protector to anywhere on frame, 1 per side, 3 links welded max, chains must demonstrate 1 free link of play if the whole 12” isn’t used. No using the chain to weld your engine in solid. No welding links together or any additional welding besides to weld to cradle and frame. Chain links must remain joined together like factory, no cutting, smashing, spreading or manipulating links in any way.
Crossmembers can be mounted with a 3”x3”x6” piece of angle max. Welded to frame only, this cannot protrude through the floor.
Crossmembers must be mounted within 8” of the factory location.
Crossmember must be a factory passenger car crossmember or a piece of 2”x2x1/4” square tubing. 1 crossmember allowed per car.
You’ll be allowed (2) strands of 9 wire to go around the transmission tailhousing and the crossmember only. No other routing of this wire allowed.
If you use a transmission mount you must use a factory 74 impala mount.
Aftermarket pedals, steering column, and shifters will be allowed
Nothing may be mounted to strengthen the vehicle.
Headers are allowed.
Engine mounts must be factory 74 Chevy impala style motor mounts
No trans braces
No aftermarket bell housings
No aftermarket transmission cases
No rearend braces allowed
No pinion brakes allowed
Slider driveshafts will be allowed
No distributor protectors
No mid plates
BOP trans adapter plates will be allowed but must not extend more than 1” above the bell housing bolts and must not connect under the transmission. Must be a U shape.
No oil pan protectors
No skid plates
No leaf swaps
No watts swaps
No full size factory automotive gas tanks allowed.
Rearend gears may be welded
Rearend gears may swapped
Rearends must be 5 lug max. You may have (1) 3/8” chain per side wrapped around the axle to the frame held together with a single 3/8” bolt. One loop of chain only. Chain must stay on the same side of the car. No other routing of chain allowed.
Rearends must be factory housings, no aftermarket housings.
Rims must be factory with a 2” max valve stem protector.
Rims may have an 8” center max welded in.
Rims must not be reinforced in anyway.
Any tire allowed.
Car must have working brakes.

Bumpers and mounting:

Factory chrome bumpers for front and rear will be allowed.
Replica bumpers are allowed but no replica pointy bumpers.
No factory Chrysler pointy bumpers allowed.
Front frame may be shortened to 1/2” in front of the body mount bracket on fords. On any other car the front frame may be shortened to 1” in front of the core support mount hole in the frame.
You may swap the front bumper with a piece of 4”x6” tubing or a factory stuffed passenger car bumper. Tubing may have a point 4” from the front face of the bumper spread out over a minimum of 32” max. Front bumpers may be hard nosed to the frame. If this is done you must remove the front bumper shock and use only the bumper plate described below.
Factory bumper shocks may be collapsed and you may weld your bumper on this way. If you do this you may use a piece of 4”x1/4” flat stock to weld to bumper and frame. Flat stock must not extend on the more than 6”. 1 per drivers side and 1 per passenger side.
If you hardnose you may use a 4”x6”x1/4” piece of steel to weld to your bumper and frame to mount bumper with. 1 per drivers side and 1 per passenger side and must touch bumper.
Rear bumper mounting is the same as front bumper mounting described above.
You may swap your rear bumper to a piece of 2”x4” tubing max. Rear bumper must be mounted to the factory bumper shocks. Bumper shocks may be collapsed. No point allowed, must be a strait piece. The bumper plate will still be allowed.
Trunk and rear frame may not be shortened to mount rear bumper.

Frame:

No reinforcing of the frame of any kind.
No frame shaping of any kind.
No adding material to the frame of any kind.
No painting or adding any other substances to the frame.
Frame must remain stock. If anything is found done to your frame that isn’t specified, you’ll be loaded on the spot.
Rear frames may be dimpled to control the bend. Dimple area may not exceed 2” front to back.
NO other modifications may be done to the frame. No other hammering, frame shaping or welding on the frame in any way will be allowed. No welding to the frame unless specified.
No shortening the rear frame.
No plates are allowed on the frame unless specified.

Steering/ suspension:

All steering components and suspension components must be factory or factory replacement components for a car legal in the class. With no modifications. This means a arms, ball joints, spindles, hubs, springs and trailing arms must be factory with no modifications.
Old iron or factory passenger car “big block” springs will be allowed in the front to help raise bumper height.
You may reinforce the center of the tie rod tubes with 1x1 angle max or equivalent. No aftermarket tie rods or any other modifications of tie rods will be allowed. Must be a factory reinforced piece.
Front and rear suspension must demonstrate the ability to bounce at all times. Suspension may not be solid at any time during the competition.
You may use front springs in the rear to add stiffness but suspension may not be locked solid in any way.
2003 and newer fords must run the factory aluminum cradle, struts and rack steering.
No watts swaps allowed.