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Larry Callahan
11-17-2013, 11:28 AM
Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational
Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Pahrump, NV
November 9, 2013
Story by Brandy Morrow Phillips
Photos by Brandy Morrow Phillips and Justin Malone

Another successful race is in the books as the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational came to an end Saturday night. Though many of you may already know about the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, better known as OUSCI, here’s a quick recap.
OUSCI held its first race in 2008 at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, NV. Though much has changed since the first race including a TV feature, added sponsors, and new qualifying events; the spirit of the race continues to stay the same. The race was designed to bring SEMA cars out to compete head to head, proving that these cars were not only SEMA built, but also track ready. This year marked the sixth annual OUSCI event. Drivers and their cars were given invites throughout the year through four different methods: winning a qualifying event, hand selected by Optima, chosen by an event sponsor to race on behalf of their company or by winning a “Golden Ticket.” The event started on Friday as the SEMA show came to an end and competitors prepared for the Detroit Speed Road Rally. Drivers jumped in their cars and drove the 56 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center to Pahrump, NV to get a couple hours rest before heading to the track at 6am. Saturday morning started with tech then lead into the BFG Hot Lap Challenge, the Ridetech Autocross, the Wilwood Speed Stop and the Lingenfelter Design Challenge.

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Points were distributed between each of the four events starting with 25 points to the overall winner of each category. The top 25 competitors receive points ranging from 25 down to 1point. If a competitor scored high in most of the events but scored no points in another it may hurt their overall score. It’s all about whose has the highest average point total.
This year’s sixth annual OUSCI brought some new and old competition. OUSCI veterans like Mark Stielow, Bret Voelkel, Kyle and Stacey Tucker and Brian Finch came out with some tough competition.

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First time competitors Linda Jacobs, Cheryl Herrick, Kenny Edwards, and Matt Alcala held their own and finished all four events.
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Unfortunately some were not so lucky included Dr. Mark Capener’s 2013 Dodge Viper, Skyskrape’s 1966 Chevy II Wagon, and Joe Delgato’s 1995 Toyota Supra, all of which broke and fell from contention before finishing all four events. Breaking is part of this race though and those who experience these difficulties know just how important it is to be prepared to fix these problems on the fly so they can continue on to the next event.
As the day came to an end many spectators were not surprised to hear the overall winner of this year’s OUSCI. Brian Hobaugh and his 1965 Corvette, sponsored by Wilwood, blew his competition away with a 10 point lead. Brian ran at the top of the field all day ranking first in the Autocross and Speed Stop Challenge and coming in with a strong finish in the Hot Lap and Design Challenges.

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Mark Stielow in his 1967 Chevy Camaro and Danny Popp in his 2014 Camaro, sponsored by Lingenfelter, came in second and third overall. At the end of the day the top three competitors will be talked about, but the memories go beyond the overall winners. To be selected to race this event is an honor within itself and the triumphs and challenges each competitor experienced will make for some memorable stories in upcoming years. For those competitors that raced in 2008, they can reflect on how much this event had grown throughout the years. As for the new competitors of 2013, they also will share stories, browse through pictures, wear their OUSCI gear proudly and hope that they too will get another chance in 2014 to come back and redeem themselves in the battle of the ultimate street car of the year.

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To view the complete photo gallry of this event visit: http://s385.photobucket.com/user/protouringdotcom/library/OUSCI%202013