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[merged] OPTIMA Ultimate Streetcar Invitational, Penny Wins, CAR Vette 2nd!
2 Lateral-g.net Members competing in the OPTIMA Ultimate Streetcar Invitational
Two Lateral-g.net members have been invited to participate in the OPTIMA Ultimate Streetcar Invitational presented By HOT ROD Magazine on Saturday November 8 at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Park in Pahrump, NV. The OPTIMA Invitational is a multi-event competition to determine the baddest streetcar in the country. The event consists of styling, autocross, acceleration/braking and lap time competitions with points being awarded for each facet of the event. The car accumulating the most points over the four events will be crowned the OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar. The rules are fairly simple: the car needs to resemble a production car, no specialty race cars or kit cars and it must run on street tires with a 180 tread wear rating or higher. Drivers must have a helmet and a harness for the event, that’s about it. We’ve scheduled the race to run the day after SEMA, and Pahrump is about an hour or so from Vegas. The field will consist of 30-40 cars from some of the best builders in the country and participation is by invite only. The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar Invitational Presented by HOT ROD Magazine When: Saturday November 8, 2008 Where: Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Pahrump, NV. The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar Invitational is designed to give builders and owners of some the world’s most awesome streetcars the opportunity to show their stuff on a closed circuit professional road racing course. The event will be a combination of driving, handling and acceleration/braking. The goal of the event is bring 30-40 of the best street cars in the world (this event coincides with SEMA, held in Las Vegas) to the track and put them through their paces, highlighting styling, handling, acceleration/braking and overall build quality. Each event, styling, autocross, 0-60-0 and road course laps will be timed (styling will be judged) and points will be awarded based on a classifying system. Awards will be presented to the top three in each event and “The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar” award will be given to the vehicle accumulating the most points over the combined events. Rules for the event will be relatively simple with safety being paramount. All cars will be required to run on DOT approved tires with a tread wear rating of 180 or higher and must have a minimum four point safety harness. All drivers will be required to wear a helmet during the road course portion of the event and they will be encouraged to wear the helmet during all events. This is a street car event with an emphasis on street cars that bear a significant resemblance to common marks. Hot rods, muscle cars, sport compacts, European cars and trucks/SUV’s are welcome but no purpose built race cars will be allowed and no kit cars. The idea here is promote cars that are somewhat obtainable and built with aftermarket performance upgrades. Any car not complying with the “Spirit” of the event will not be allowed. Compliance with the “Spirit of the event” will be at the sole discretion of Optima Batteries. All cars will be required to pass a simple technical inspection to assure safety during the event. Car builders and owners can make the choice to drive or bring in their own driver, and all vehicles must participate in all segments of the event to qualify for “The Ultimate Street Car” award. HOT ROD Magazine will provide exclusive coverage of the event and will feature The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car. They will also be promoting the event on the HOT ROD Magazine website during the time leading up to the event. OPTIMA Batteries will also be promoting the event on their website as will other sponsors. Television coverage in currently being negotiated, but various internet TV outlets have agreed to provide coverage as well. Corporate sponsorship for the event is available with cash being the most significant necessity. Track rental fees, medical services, technical and safety staff, food and beverages in addition to several other things are all needed to put an event like this together. Air Ride Technologies, K&N and Pfaff Designs have all graciously offered to sponsor portions of the event. We will be looking to sponsors to provide product support as well for the individual and overall class winners. |
I may have to make a tip over the hump to Pahrump. Only have 3 point belts so I'm out. :yes:
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This sounds great! Is it open to the public?
Scott, do you know who is going to show up to the event? For example: rad rides ring bros dse... How do I get in? I have no problem staying one day after sema...this sounds like sooooooo much fun! I will "crew" for any team or company. David |
David, it's free to the public to spectate, and it's actually encouraged. :thumbsup:
However, I'm not sure if there will be any concessions stands open. That's being looked at and there might be a bag lunch available. |
Am I not allowed since I work for a car magazine?
I would be SO all over this... :( <------- me |
Wait.....I think it moved....I would love to do this. Why does it have to be so far! If it doesn't sell maybe I could call some "friends" to help me get out there. (dialing phone)Hello...DSE?:lol:
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sweet!!!! i would love to see this... that track is pretty kick azz
the problem with the place is that is suck for spectators... it wasent really setup for that so you dont really get to see the whole track. i guessing for a event like this maybe they will move or put up some seat stands for the viewers...im thinking dse will be out there kicking some butt! and brett too. |
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Steve, I think you and Penny would be perfect, regardless of your 'day' job. I don't see why it would cause any problem. Hot Rod Magazine has exclusive coverage, so you'd just be a regular competitor. Well, how about if you go as in 'in car' reporter for Lateral-g.net? I'll make some phone calls and get back to you... but as far as I'm concerned, you're 1 of 2 members that will be representing us. :thumbsup: |
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I would need to build my rear bar by then. I would seriously consider Mary as a driver for Penny. I could do it, but she would be faster (and I don't have time to practice until AFTER SEMA). What tires have a 180 treadwear rating? I wonder if Toyo would make some special for me. lol Let me know if I'm "allowed"... I bet some crazy stuff is going to show up though. But, I will run it till it breaks! |
Scott would my camaro be allowed in to this event. IT has a optima battery and Its street legal has every thing but a horn. Sounds like fun.
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Scott- why not your car??
I could think of a 1/2 dozen sweet cars on this sight- like... Malitude?? Really needs to be something that is proven and rocks Bad Penny Camaro X |
Looking for streetcars only, but requiring them to at least have a 4-point harness which in turn requires a harness bar kinda sucks.
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Sounds pretty damn fun!!
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To All:
I would like to know how they define street car? Can be run on the street legally? They say no purpose built race cars. Many of our cars have been purposely built (From the frame up) with many racing pieces added for performance. Many of the cars on here have more hp than a lot of race cars. The kit car thing doesn't make sense exactly. Most of our cars are the combination of many kits. In fact you can just about order a complete car that would look more original than the originals. I think I know what they are trying to say, but most of the best cars on this sight run in a very gray area, IMHO. What are you all's thoughts. I'm I making this too hard? Thanks, Ty |
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Anything new on this?
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I would be interested in bringing my hemicuda to it. :)
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I should have noted several days ago that Steve and Kevin will be representing Lateral-g.net at the OPTIMA Batteries Invitational.
More info to come as the event approaches. :cheers: |
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Kevin? |
I'm Kevin
I'm part of the staff at Campbell Auto Restation aka CAR. We will be there with 1 of customer's cars. It is a 69 Vette with our front suspension and Car Creation's C-4 rear. The car is built to look like a LeMans racercar from 69 but with todays tech, 18" and 19" wheels, EFI on Kinsler crossram, 540 aluminum big block, Quaiffe Sequential 6 speed and tons more.... Maybe Scott could post the pictures I sent him. Kevin |
I would love to see pictures of that one. the 68-72 Le Mans Corvettes are some of my favorite racecars
Tonny |
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Sounds like an awesome car. Please post pictures. One question, Would this qualify as being in the, “Spirit” of the event? How do you like your Quaiffe Sequential 6 speed? Was it pretty big $$$? Sounds cool. Good luck. Ty |
Ty,
Scott will be posting the pictures I sent him soon. Most of the pictures we have are to big of files and take forever to down load. Would this qualify as being in the, “Spirit” of the event? You bet!!! The as it has more street miles on it than track, the only things it is missing are wipers and a heater/defroster, just like almost every '32 Ford Highboy roadster. How do you like your Quaiffe Sequential 6 speed? Was it pretty big $$$? Sounds cool. The Quaiffe transmission is awesome. The unit we are using is dog ringed so we really only need the clutch to start the car rolling. Yes it is big money over 20K by the time evrything is said and done as they are not built for big block Chevrolets, we fitted a unit Quaiffe builds for Vipers. Kevin |
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https://lateral-g.net/temp/kevin_01.jpg https://lateral-g.net/temp/kevin_02.jpg |
Thanks Scott!
I'll get some more pictures to you soon. Kevin |
Better get some legal tires on that sucka! ;)
Can't wait for the event... I will try to represent the site well.. TEAM LAT-G!! :woot: |
Steve,
They've have DOT numbers. As for legal tires for the event it looks like we will be running Michelins with a 220 treadwear rating because there is nothing lower in sizes we are running without dropping below 100. We may end up running small tires so we can be on tire as sticky as the other cars, a little step back though. Kevin |
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Happy to have you as my team mate.. should be fun! |
wholly crap boys!
You and Steve are definitely bringing the hardware.
And I thought Penny was a little on the edge. Would love to see some build pics of the vette. Steve how is the tweaking going? Started yet? |
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Boy, that Vette is a Knockout! I bet your really proud of it. You'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge but, "The unit we are using is dog ringed so we really only need the clutch to start the car rolling.", what is, "Dog Ringed", and what properties does this give it? Any Idea how long this Transmission can expected to last on the Street? Thanks, Ty BTW: Those side pipes are the Best. Very Cool. (Hooker I assume?) |
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Oh and some new Forgeline super lightweight rollers are being built.. so yea, I'm busy :) |
Steve, ya I hope they change the tread rating down to 80 so we can run the Sport Cups as it seems no one builds anything 100 or a little above that in sizes we are running (335/30/18 front, yes front and 345/30/19 or 345/35/18 rear). Maybe someone here might know of some tires in these sizes. And yes it should be a blast!
Scott do you have any window stickers? Ty, Here's a little more if about the trans, it has straight cut gears so it is a little noisy. It uses dog rings verses sincro's to match up gear speeds in the box. Once rolling to up just lift the throttle and pull the shifter and to down shift blip the throttle and push the lever or you can use the clutch if you want (nomally use the clutch on the street). Go Lateral-G Kevin |
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Don't count on it... You're lucky I talked them into 100 treadwear. In hindsight I should have left it at 180 and kicked ass with the combo I secretly found (actually that Mary secretly found), but this way is more fair I guess. lol You could go with Toyo R888s but you would need 18-inch rear wheels and run 335s all around. |
So you are the blame!!! So now I have to talk to Mary.
We would have been happy with 180, really. Kevin |
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The problem is that the sizing was REALLY screwing up a LOT of people. There are no wide 180 tires in an 18 inch rim.. period... At least you can get a 335/30/18 tire in a 100 treadwear.. you sure as hell can't do that in a 180. Oh well, I guess it makes it more "real" since I can run what I run on the street :) |
And for the record.. here's the other car representing Lateral-g
http://picsorban.com/upload/penny23low.jpg |
Steve
You are a busy little bee. I did not know about the new rims..do tell
Not that my opinion matters, but the 335 Toyo R888 all the way around on the vette sounds like your best best. Tire sizing in a sticky compound always is dificult |
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