Sorry, this is really bugging me because I'm OCD and pedantic...

it's moot :D

Oh yeah --- I totally get it.

I don't think my car belongs in the event.... For all the reasons mentioned above - cage - jerico - locker - no windows - lexan - no anything... it's a race car.

I did like the EVENT because it was really really interesting to see how well all the different "VERSIONS" ran. How they sounded. How much body roll they had. The imports vs the big inch motors etc. To me - the VARIETY is what made it so much fun this year. Every car out there was really unique and it was just great watching them all. Frankly I was more impressed with the cars that had all the shizzel and paint -- run their little asses off against the cars that were obviously purpose built. The show cars turned in a very impressive effort! And I don't know anyone that wouldn't LOVE to own a 800 hp (or whatever - I'm just tossing a number here) brand new CTS V or Camaro and be able to drive it to LA from Vegas and back....

FIXEDEDEDED it!

CANNOT COMPUTE HORRIBLE GRAMMAR!!!


http://gifs.gifbin.com/1238157980_sc..._explosion.gif



:lol: :lol:

I said 3 years ago, just watch this whole ProTouring thing is going the evolve the same way Prostreet did, into the PCSA fast street car class etc.
it just seems to be natural progress. Can't stop it, if you look back at the PT cars at Sema 5 years ago, I will use the Black /Orange stripe 69 camaro we built as an example compared to what is being built now, I will use the Orange and Black 70 camaro of Brians, (great car by the way)or even Mary's Car there is a HUGE differance

I think you will see more and more race cars at Optima in the future. or the same red camaro will win every year.
Remember when Bad penny won the first year, and this year if it was there would have finshed somewhere arround 15-20th, NO Disrespect to Steve or BP. I am sure the Speedtech Nova would not have finished 5th this year, competition is getting stronger and it's run what ya brung and hope you brung enough!! only way to do that is to build a race car.
Just sayin.

Is it all invite? I'm asking, but I thought if you won one of the qualifier events at Goodguys throughout the year, you automatically got an invite. Is that true, or do you have to win, and also have them invite you?

Like I said, I don't know.

Exactly!! Only race cars with lights, blinkers, current registration, and 200 tw tires.

If you win select events throughout the year, you get an "Invite" automatically for racing your way into the event.

In my case and many, you get personally invited to be a part of the event.

Two great quotes and I agree with you guys whole heartedly (spelled ok Max? :D ). As Blake said, it happened in other race series and is the evolution of our hobby/sport right now and people are bringing it. Optima will decide what the invite/qualification criteria will be and we will compete accordingly. At some point, just like the low 8 second World's Fastest Street Car, it'll be for the really big boys only (I'm not in that club, BTW). Watching this year, I think it already is.

Oh, and I'm fine with that. :thumbsup:

I'm not sure I agree with the hobby is going to "Race Car". The event winners are certainly headed that way. Go to RTTC and tell me it's dominated by race cars. It's dominated by a agreat bunch of guys with slow pro touring cars. I still see alot of builds catered towards weekend warriors with families and cruising in mind. As usual, the big egos and wallets are wanting to one up the last guy. :unibrow: The vendors have all been sucked into this mindset as well. How many out there are claiming there stuff rides the best, has the longest longevity? We're not reinventing the wheel here. How long have guys been road racing and autocrossing muscle cars? The difference is guys are trying to build cars capable of doing two things well. Cruising and racing. Delicate line to walk.

I'm with Gaetano, I've damn near quit driving my car on the street. I just enjoy the events and racing. I'd rather have a race car to be perfectly honest at this point.

I thought if you win at one of the qualifing events, you get your ticket to the event. Then there is a few more that get added as invites. then at SEMA they pick a few more.

In addition to winning your way in or being invited during the year, there's another way to get your OUSCI ticket punched ... be a sponsor's entry.

Mary Pozzi

I should have modified my ALL invite statement -- because we all know that you can win a golden ticket (which I mentioned).... and of course the sponsor cars (used to be called exhibition)... Last year we had the killer drift car... and the SEMA picks (which are also invite cars)... So what's the breakdown?

20 Invites?
10 Golden tickets?
1 prior winner?
10+ Sponsor cars?

Somehow it got to 53?

What I was really saying is that this is not an event you can just sign up for and run what ya brung..... but I get the hair splitting. LOL

My clarification wasn't directed at you, Greg, but meant for others that may not know the different ways a car/driver can get into the show.

Mary

Not Goodguys events, but these event wins got you in:

Run to the Coast: February 26-27, 2011
Run to the Shore: April 1-3, 2011
Run to Music City: May 28-29, 2011
Motor State Challenge: June 17-19, 2011
Heidts Performance Car Challenge – Midwest: July 15-17, 2011
Holley LSFest II: September 9-11, 2011
Run Through the Hills: September 23-25, 2011



I was hoping the Lat G and PT forums were each going to get 1 pick again this year.

That club sure is growing...

Got this from the PT forum for anybody thats interested:


2012 Schedule of Run To Series Events

In an effort to cut down on PMs about upcoming events, I want to post this now. It, as you will see isn't a complete list of our planned events for 2012 but we have nailed down 5 of our 7 or 8 planned stops.

The schedule as of now is:

Run to the Alamo, San Marquis, Tx. Febuary 17-19

Run to the Coast, Irvine Ca. March 9-11

Run to the Shore, Millville, N.J. April 6-8

Run to the Ole South, Kershaw, S.C. May 11-13

Run to the Hills, Pigeon Forge, Tn. Sept. 28-30

We are working hard to secure a date and location for RTMC. The Nashville Speedway is reportedly closing and locking the gates at the end of the year. We may be forced, if this is indeed what happens, to move it, but we do have a back up plan if the track does close.

We will also be running the annual Midwest Muslecar Challenge with Mark Bowler at Putnam Park, right now we are working out that day with the track.

We also are on the verge of announcing one more event, later in the year, at Thunderhill raceway in northern California. More on that event later.

We are very proud of the two new events, Run to the Alamo and Run to the Ole South and hope this creates a new opportunity for some that have not been able to attend our events in the past.

One other event that, while is isn't officially part of the Run to Series, it is certainly one that we all try to make every year has also moved for 2012. Scott at Motorstate told me at SEMA that the official dates for their event are July 13-15.

Please make a note of these dates guys and we will let you know as soon as registration is open for all of them.

We look forward to seeing you at an event near you in 2012.

OH don't get me wrong. i am simply observing, and "OUR stuff Rides the BEST"
:_paranoid there someone said it lol

I knew you weren't Mary -- but I also try to write - as many do - so that anyone that reads a post can understand. So when I went back to read my post I could see where it wasn't correctly stated.


I will add.... ya know... because I never have an opinion.... that regardless of what the CAR is... I still saw how the DRIVER did. To me - that's the real separation of where a particular car placed in the standings. And if someone wanted to move up the leader board.... A trip to Bondurant or SMMS or some other driver school would probably do more for them than a lexan window. :cheers: :D

yep, you could put some of these guys in a rental car and they'd be competitive......................:lol:

Well..... that might be a great way to declare the winner in a tie!! Wouldn't that be a hoot to watch! :unibrow:


Watch a video of Mark Stigelow (LOL).... and watch how quiet his hands are... how relaxed his driving is. Compare that video to Mike Maiers video on the road course - it's posted up around here somewhere - and watch how busy he is.... and remember a driving rule.... "every time you turn the wheel you're going slower".....


That statement is in no way meant to say Mike needs driving instructions!! :faint: Please don't read that into this comparison.... I'm using it because there are good videos of both guys around here that can be easily viewed. I use this because viewing the two - you'd SWEAR that Mikes car is probably way faster... it LOOKS fast. And it's great driving - or as I'd call it as a skier a fine bunch of linked recoveries!

While we know about car set up etc - and we could argue these points all day -- I'll repeat -- I'm only using this as an EXAMPLE for comparison sake... not a statement of who's better or the cars are this or that....

yeah in the event of a tie they should get into 2 rentals like in the movie "Days of Thunder" just let them duke it out till the finish line.

I really like this idea. Takes the individual cars out of the equation and puts it on the drivers. :thumbsup:

The one great thing that I really like about the Optima challenge is that it is connected to SEMA and that they do call it a "street car invitational".

This element keeps our builders creative juices flowing and the only boundary is that it has to be a street car. I think this way we will continue to see some really creative interiors being built along with some really cool looking race inspired cars.

Todd mentioned that he would rather have a race car but I disagree with his statement only because I have seen his car and his lap times. His car is one of the prime examples tailored to these events.

Brian's car is another good example. Creative and race inspired. He knows the rules of the event and I can gaurantee we will see working windows in that car just because he has that competitive edge to him and enjoys these events.

I dont want anybody to take what I said in the wrong context. Yes, we are building race cars, but street legal ones with style.

Does any of this really matter? The bottom line is it's a great event that allows many of the top builders and drivers hang it all out. FOR FUN.

Add too many rules and the FUN goes out the lexan window.

I hope I get to go WATCH one day. I know me or my car will never be in it.

If you want to watch a ” too many rules” race, flip on the speed channel.
If you want to watch a wide variety of performance built cars get beat on and have FUN go to Optima.

Just my .02.

Then I should have won the whole thing...my hands fell asleep several times.:D

Yeah.... that will happen to ya when you're driving white knuckled! :rofl:


Kidding of course -- your Volvo is so kool!

How much faster and confident would I be with a full cage and missing 400 lbs? I'm ready but I really like my car and don't want to start over at this point. I enjoy using it more than working on it. I'm just stating the fact that I will build a race car next time around. Something similar to Brians.

I'd say at this point you are in the same league as a certain red car. Close to the same weight minus the hp.

If you had the hp and a little more wheel time.............:yes:

You guys keep building them faster and faster, because I enjoy watching the competition. I like the event, and it's nice it ties in with SEMA.

Not even close my friend. :cheers:

I find it amazing that Mark, Kyle and a few others improved their times by 3 to 4 seconds per lap on the road course from last year.

I thought this event was supposed to be about the car? ;)

No offense Scott, but I think Steve is correct! :thumbsup: