F-Body Beach Week '08

Being a noob, I have no idea where most of you are from but I almost forgot to post this. Myrtle Beach is hosting the 3rd annual F-Body Beach Week July Thursday 17th-19th. So that's like 4 days from now by the time you read this. Sorry I didn't find you guys sooner but if anyone is within the vicinity and looking for a vacation excuse, there it is. On Thursday the Myrtle Beach Speedway is doing a drag and AutoX. Friday is a cruise in at a burger place, cruise up and down the Ocean Blvd and a photoshoot. Saturday will be the show and some of us are going to see Dark Knight.

New Guy from the South

Name is TJ, just got my car about three months ago. It's a 98 Z, dressed up as an SS and it was pretty much stock, 3.42s/magnaflows. Now it's got new intake filter, MAF, mid-lengths, 3.73s and a tune. I bought a set of black ZR1s and put BFG DRs out back. Well I suck at drag racing and it's just not as fun to me as I thought it would be. I had planned on doing a heads/cam/stall install but I'd really love to get my car set up for some autox/road racing events and googled for some forums and found you guys hoping you could get me on the right path. My first question is, are manual trans. a must for these types? Secondly, if this is the direction I want to go in should I be more worried about suspension and weight right now than power? And lastly, are there any regular events in the South East? I live in Myrtle Beach SC.