Charlie, I saw a post on the Facebook with the dates and tracks for next year.
The highlights for the western events...
T-Hill, February 27-28
Vegas, April 23-24
COTA, August 6-7
Auto Club Speedway October 8-9

Slap some Camaro sheet metal on one of your nazcars, hang a plate and come play!

The sponsors like Detroit Speed offer suspension parts for 5th gens, in addition to Vintage cars, K&N/Spectre offer parts for all year cars, Falken doesn't care if the car is new or old using their tires. Same for Lingenfelter, Holley & Wilwood brakes, they all sell parts for all year cars. The sponsors have adapted to the new world, so while you all like to complain about c5 Corvettes, Evo's or 5th gen Camaro's running in the event, if we didn't run, there would likely be no events as the Vintage guys are not coming out in force to the USCA qualifier events.

There were only 128 GTV cars registered all year at the 9 USCA events, and about 30 of those participated in more than one event to try and qualify for the OUSCI event. If the vintage cars want to be represented in greater numbers all they have to do is sign up and accumulate enough points to make the big show, like the EVO guys from RS Motors did.

They limit the number of entries, so fill the field at each event with as many vintage cars as you all can. USCA and Optima put on great events that provide all of us with a playground to drive the piss out of our cars and get some great seat time, which I do with a lot of friends at events. Do I ever expect to win the event? No, Do I have any less fun seeing where I stack up? No and I finished 57th overall...I am happily looking forward to the 2016 season!

They did beta test a import handicapping system at the Speed Stop Challenge on Saturday.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...Bn8cWqm-XL.jpg

In ANY competitive series...soccer, football, car shows, and car racing...there are challenges and no shortage of opinions on how to resolve them. That is why there are MANY such series...each one has something unique to offer and typically caters to a specific audience of participants and spectators.
Up to this point I think the Optima Series has tried to be focused on the participant. As Jimi pointed out, there is no other series that offers as much seat time AND access to brand name tracks as USCA. They have invested a huge amount of time, money, and effort to create a competitive and fun environment for competitors.
And they have arrived. In 2016 there will be a waiting list for entries for many of these events [its already happened this year].
Now they can [hopefully] concentrate on improving the spectator experience, both in person and remotely [TV, livestream, etc.].

The Indy 500 is arguably the most popular race in the world. It is over 100 years old. In 1904 is was not the most popular race in the world.

I was not able to run nearly as many Optima events in 2015 as I wanted to. Like most other people, I have other obligations that sometimes take precedence. In 2016 I may run even fewer only because of the locations of the events and the timing compared to other commitments.
BUT...I still stand by the USCA format and viability of that format. Danny Popp won that event because he was the best combination of car and driver. Chris Smith in our 48 Hour Corvette was the 33rd best this year. What will it take for us to win that event next year?

I'm not sure I care. Our goals are simple:

1. build a fast car to develop and test our suspension components
2. demonstrate how those components perform
3. enjoy ourselves during this process
3. try not to spend ourselves broke doing the above

For us, no matter the official standings...mission accomplished.

Would I like to win? Sure, everyone wants to be the best. But it is only one path to success...we have many.

I know that Jimi Day and Cam Douglass are watching this thread with great interest. They CRAVE constructive criticism [and certainly have the ability to ignore simple whining]. I would encourage everyone to keep these ideas coming...offering detailed opinions if relevant...to help improve the series.

That is EXACTLY what needed to be said.... Sign up & Participate. The series started with "us" -- "us" didn't show up to play.

MY thoughts EXACTLY Bret. #3 being the MOST important

I wonder how many of "us" had finished running, driving cars that we took completely apart or new cars that were supposed to be "simple" street/track oriented builds that "should" have been done at the beginning of this year. :lol:

98 out of 100




LOL

I am example of the type of guy that slowly got legislated out of Optima. Granted, most of that is because my project build has taken way too long - my bad, but there is a lot of satisfaction in the build. I have stock frame rails in a vintage car, but not much else. Then there was the "it needs roll-up windows" issue, and lately the restriction on big wings. Couple that with the fact that other sanctioning bodies where you might get much needed track time have mandated more extensive safety restrictions (full cage, changing requirements for cage bar configurations, seat and seat mounting restrictions, etc.) and you end up with a race car with license plates. But that is what you have to do if you are going to be even the least bit competitive with the technically advanced late model stuff. So now I will target the Ultimate Track Car Challenge. I bought an older NASA Spec Focus to complete the required competition licensing program (actually a ball, and cheap to operate). I have a C6Z/Z07 and an ACR on order, but what fun would they be (not to mention the wear and tear) just to be in the middle of the late model, store-bought crowd. I think I would vote for a "street legal" super unlimited class - build it, drive it (legally) to the track, regardless of make or model, and may the best car win THAT class.

Pappy

Bring on the Unlimited class!! The more I look at the Dusold Camaro the more I know that these builds need a place to run. Tube chassis, full cage, twin turbo LS7...who wouldn't want to see that run?

As long as they can complete the road portion and show that they're legal in their home state they should be able to run. Look at the draw that the ProMod "streetcars" bring at Drag Week.....trickle down engineering :lol: