2009 OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational
 

The 2nd annual OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar Invitational
presented by Ridetech
When: Saturday November 7, 2009
Where: Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Pahrump, NV.
Gates will open at 7:00 am

OPTIMA Batteries and FM3 Performance Marketing announces the The 2nd annual OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by Ridetech. The event is designed to give builders and owners of some the world’s most awesome street driven cars the opportunity to show their stuff on a closed circuit professional road-racing course. The event is held following the conclusion of the SEMA show and is intended to reflect the craftsmanship and performance of SEMA-quality vehicles and to promote those manufacturers and vendors that are closely associated with the automotive performance industry supported by SEMA and it’s members. The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by Ridetech is an exclusive invitation-only event designed to highlight the best-of-the-best street cars in the country.

The event will be a combination of styling, driving, handling and acceleration/braking. The goal of the event is to bring up to 40 of the best street cars in the world to the track and put them through their paces highlighting overall design, build quality and performance. Each event, styling, autocross, 0-60-0 and road course hot laps will be timed individually (styling will be judged) with the overall cumulative times being the final result. The lowest cumulative time for each vehicle, combined with styling points will determine the finishing order. Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in each event and “The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car” award will be given to the vehicle posting the lowest cumulative time over the combined events. The styling portion of the event will be determined by a 4-judge panel of automotive industry styling and design professionals with points being awarded on a 1-10 scale (1 being the best and 10 being the worst). Style points will be added to the cumulative time for the final result.

Sponsors, manufacturers and media testing/R&D vehicles will also be included in the event and will participate alongside invited participants. Vehicles not meeting the rules requirements will be run in a separate exhibition class and will not qualify for The Ultimate Street Car.

Rules for the event are simple with safety being paramount. All cars will be required to run on DOT approved tires (no drag radials) and must have at a minimum a functional seatbelt. All drivers will be required to wear a helmet during the road course portion of the event and will be encouraged to wear a helmet during all events. This is a street car event with an emphasis on street driven vehicles that bear a significant resemblance to common production vehicles. Hot rods, muscle cars, sport compacts, import cars and trucks/SUV’s are welcome but no purpose built race cars will be allowed and no kit cars. The “Spirit” of the event is to promote vehicles that are somewhat obtainable and built with aftermarket performance upgrades. Any vehicle 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 the race director and OPTIMA Batteries. All vehicles will be required to pass a technical inspection to assure safety during the event. Builders and/or owners must drive their own vehicle, and all vehicles must participate in all segments of the event to qualify for “The Ultimate Street Car” award. There is no charge for the invited participants and breakfast and lunch will be included with the invitation.

Source Interlink and other print and television media will provide coverage of the event and consider a feature article on The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car. OPTIMA Batteries, Ridetech, BFGoodrich, Baer Brakes and Source Interlink, along with numerous sponsors and forums will be promoting the event via their websites during the time leading up to the event. TV programming is currently being negotiated, and various Internet TV outlets have agreed to provide coverage as well.

Corporate sponsorship for the event is still available. Please contact Jimi Day at 414-702-4939 or [email protected] or visit the event website at www.optimainvitational.com.

Current event sponsors include: OPTIMA Batteries, Ridetech, BFGoodrich, Baer Brakes, HOT ROD Magazine, FM3 Performance Marketing, Pfaff Designs, Shelby Automotive, Lateral-g.net, Pro-touring.com, Silver State Classic Challenge and Good Guys Rod & Custom Association

OUSCI official rules
 

Rules and Regulations for the OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar Invitational presented by Ridetech:
1) The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by Ridetech is an invite only event. 10 invitations will be reserved for vehicles displayed during the 2009 SEMA event.
2) Paid sponsors/manufacturers may enter one vehicle of their choice into the event that meets 2009 OUSCI requirements and compete for The Ultimate Street Car
3) All OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by Ridetech participants must compete in all segments of the event to qualify for The Ultimate Street Car Award:
a) Styling
b) Autocross
c) Acceleration/braking
d) Lap times (2.2 mile road course)
4) The registered owner or builder of record must drive the vehicle for all events. The owner and/or builder may separate driving duties – no professional drivers will be allowed to compete for The Ultimate Street Car.
5) All drivers will be required to sign a liability waiver. Passengers must be at least 18 years of age and will be required to sign the same liability waiver as driver.
6) A mandatory driver/passenger meeting will be held at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park prior to the first competition.
7) Only official wrist banded drivers and passengers may ride in the cars on the track. The drivers may change during the competition provided they have attended the drivers meeting and have the proper wristband.
8) All vehicles must represent a street capable vehicle with a strong resemblance to a current or former production model. No purpose built race cars or kit cars will be allowed. The only open-wheeled vehicles allowed are '34-and-older domestic vehicles and replicas thereof. Other vehicles such as production “concept” cars may be allowed. This event is designed to be a fun and spirited competition to showcase vehicles conceived and built using parts and manufacturers supported by SEMA.
9) All competitors must have current registration, proof of insurance, and a current driver's license. The following are required: current registration, working headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and a safety-glass windshield. Side windows must roll up and down in the manner designed by the factory. Full hoods are required on all entries.
10) Each entrant will be issued a number which must be clearly visible on the windshield, side windows or rear window. White shoe polish is acceptable.
11) Participants must use DOT approved tires. Tires will be required to pass a technical inspection at the track. The spirit of the event requires the use of a DOT approved “street” tire – no modifications to tires will be acceptable, including shaving. Any vehicle with tires showing any evidence of modification will be immediately disqualified from the event. No racing tires of any sort, including drag radials, will be allowed.
12) Competitors must use a single set of tires for the entire event, no tire changing between events will be allowed. Tires will be marked during tech. Tire changes will be allowed in the event of a catastrophic failure, but replacements must be of the same manufacturer and model as those approved during tech inspection.
13) Helmet use is required during the lap times segment of the event and is encouraged but not required for any other segment. The autocross course design will attempt to keep speeds below 35 M.P.H.
14) Participating cars must pass a basic safety inspection that will include but may not be limited to the following:
a. Functional seatbelts.
b. Proper brake pedal pressure and travel.
c. Sufficient throttle return spring and secured battery.
d. All lug nuts in place and tight.
e. Hubcaps/clip-on center caps are to be removed.
f. All loose items must be removed from vehicle.
(Floor mats, things hanging from rearview mirror, cassettes, CDs, and glove box, console, trunk items.)
15) Each segment of the event will be timed to 0.00.00 (except the styling event). Times will be cumulative for the four events and the entrant with the lowest cumulative time after all four segments will be awarded the OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car. Only entrants completing all four segments of the competition will be eligible to win the grand prize. For the three timed events, participants will have the option to throw out the worst time in each segment. Styling segment points will not be adjusted or thrown out.
16) The styling segment of the event will be determined by a 4-judge panel based on overall quality, design and craftsmanship of the vehicle. Styling points will be awarded on a 1-10 scale with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst. The style points will be added to the cumulative time for the overall scoring.
17) Race director and event management staff will have COMPLETE discretion to deny or remove from competition anyone in the event for any reason.
18) The OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar Invitational presented by Ridetech will be run rain or shine.

We'll be there and ready to rock.. the main goal will just be faster than we were last year.

:woot:

TEAM :lateral:

Here's a link to a short video from last year's event...

www.hotrod.com/multimedia/hot_rod_videos/6205344/the-optima-batteries-ultimate-street-car-invitational-video/index.html

A couple clarifications:

treadwear rating? last year I remember it being 140, is this year the same?

open to all makes? Car Craft RSE will not let me participate 'cause I have a Volvo

style points? Driving style, car style, hair style...whatcha looking for?

How do I sign up?

I'm in as long as I get an invite.:yes: :yes: :yes: And I'll drive to the track.:thumbsup:
Shameless plug for an invite or sponsor:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...ck1969/012.jpg

nice cars That is cool:hail: :hail:

style points- looks of the car.

invite only-to participate you'd have to either have one of the event sponsors/vendors want your car to represent them...(really only lat-g or pt.com since most vendors already have their own cars)
or have your car at sema and that it stands out enough to get an on-site invite (10 spots)at the show.

Man... That car looks great with those wheels!

Nice car.