I tried hard to do well at TOTB this year but it didn't happen for me. I spent over a grand getting my car ready for the event but sadly my clutch started slipping on my second run. As a true privateer I was screwed after that. I'm sure CRD would have replaced my poor old 2000 mile clutch as a precaution but I can't afford to do that.
If I was modding a Supra just for drag racing it would have to be an auto with a high-stall TC and a single turbo. Autos are so much easier to to launch. It's just point and squirt. Trouble is, I wouldn't want a hi-stall equipped Auto for my road car - and that's what TOTB is supposed to be about - real road cars.
MonkeyMark and Justin are beating the quarter times of nearly all single turbo Supes with a basicaly BPU Supe plus hi-stall. I'm sure neither of them are claiming it's down to driver skill, they've just done the mods that work best for drag racing a Supe.
Anyway, I agree that TOTB is a joke now. Most of the cars there ain't road cars. It was an ambition of mine to represent us at TOTB, and I did (badly), but I wouldn't do it again. It's like when a small sunday league footy team gets drawn against Arsenal in the FA Cup. You've got no chance without serious financial backing.