Tire rules have changed for this year and we are going with DOT legal street tires, no drag radials allowed. See rules 11 and 12. As far as what we're looking for, if it drives on the street and can be competitive in the environment that we've created, we're interested. We do specifically support the SEMA event and the sponsors that make this happen, so if your car will be at SEMA or is endorsed by any of the sponsors of the event, that's a good start. If you feel the car is SEMA quality and just didn't get in but belongs in the event, you can complete an entry form which will be available next week on the OUSCI website www.optimainvitational.com. BTW - we're still big fans of the Mullett so we may consider hairstyle points! Thanks for the idea!

SHOT GUN! :D

Have tools... will travel... lets just make sure Penny is running on all 8 cylindes this year to make it fair... :_paranoid

Awesome show last year! Expect bigger, badder, faster, more this year :D :thumbsup:

We hope to be there with a new 2010 Camaro

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...ro/Img0007.jpg

CF-71 Freedom Bird
 

Congrats Ty!!! And to everyone involved with the build too, hats off to all of you!!:hail:

Clarification on tires ...
 

Hi Jimi,

Just want to get clarification about tires as the rule #11 states that participants must use DOT approved "street" tires and no racing tires will be allowed. These three tires listed below (BF Goodrich, Hoosier, and Kumho) are DOT approved whereas a Goodyear "slick" is not and there's a lot of chatter going on about their use being allowed. While not recommended for street use, they are technically legal for such; lots of autocrossers do drive on them to and from events. I'd hate to see someone buy a set, bring them to OPTIMA, and then be told no-go. Worse yet, hate to see competitors think that these R-comps aren't allowed, don't consider them eligible for OPTIMA, and then competing against those that have them. If that happens, it will come down to a tire battle instead of one where the best car wins.

If DOT-legal R-comps are permitted by definition per-se, we need to know so we can plan accordingly.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...e_r1_ci2_1.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...o_a6_ci2_l.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...v710_ci2_l.jpg

If the above listed tires (and others of similar configuration) are NOT permitted for OPTIMA, is the Toyo R888 (see below) an approved tire? This is what Steve Rupp had on his car last year.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...XR888_Left.jpg

Thanks,
Mary Pozzi

I believe there will be some clarity on this soon as one of this year's Presenting Sponsors is a tire manufacturer.

Mary, the BFG R1 will be legal, as with the Hoosier R6 and A6 and other comparable tires that have a dot rating. I haven't seen any slicks with a dot rating, but I can tell you we will not allow slicks or shaved rubber.

BFG has stepped up to be the official tire sponsor of our event and I would encourage every one that doesn't have tires to please support our sponsors!