OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car to air on SPEED

[gearbanger]

Kind of lets you see how nascar got to where it is doesn't it.

I think that would be really a cool way to do it next year though. If you could trust people to run test laps all out and not sandbag, you could handicap it that way. Or you could just apply a factor based on horspower to weight, but you would have to be able to trust what the person says is his hp and weight.

Or, you could just run what ya brung and hope ya brung enough!!!!!!

[John McIntire]

I watched it this morning and the show was amazing! I really enjoyed it. Like others had said, it was nice to see faces and be able to relate them to members here on the board. The cars being driven the way they were supposed to was also nice to see! Some of them just plain kick ass!
I must admit, that Cobra was bad ass!! During the 0-60-0 it looked like it took no time for it to accomplish that, looked like it was done in half the distance of the other cars!
Great show and footage, it would be cool to see more video from the ZR1 chase car! They should have had that car compete too! (but not really count!)

[gearbanger]

I was amazed by the Z06. Was it able to keep up with the competitors no problem, or was it just certain spots on the track it would catch some footage. Doesn't seem like it would have the juice to run with the LS9 camaro or the cobra.

[MIGOAT]

I thought it was awesome seeing the cars from RTTH and Familiar rides. I had my surround sound on very LOUD. I hope one day to be able to get the ride out on the track. The show was very inspirational! that cobra was nasty what motor is he running?

[wicked68]

It had a dry sump 427 FE engine and Bruce said it was somthing like 900 hp.. cool stuff.

The problem with the Cobra was that it was in a different class in terms of weight.

The typical pro-touring car is a mudane street car turned into a handling car. Take Jackass or Penny for example. Those are ill handling car that through the use of aftermarket parts are made to handle.

The Cobra was build AS a race car.. and then made better from there. I should have won and was a bad ass mofo for sure.

Personally I didn't feel that it really was a street car.. could it be driven on the street? yea, but with open side pipes, no windshield, race gas and all that it didn't fit into the spirit of the event. Even the owner stated that it was taken off "street duty" back in 1970.

There was also the driver issue, but nobody protested it so it is what it is.

It was the best handling car there, no doubt

Pointing our facts isn't "whiny".. it's how the event is adjusted for next year. If a bunch of Cobras are going to show up then there's no point in our cars trying to beat them. It's just physics.

I would actually like to see this event or one like it focus on 60's / 70's pro touring cars only. the newer cars and some of the rat rod type cars as well were distractions imho. I would like to see it focus on the cars that we do on this board mainly that you pretty much rebuild from the ground up. the rat rod type cars are cool - but lets face it they are not real competition either - they are simply filling a slot.

All the newer stuff and the real race cars that are not street legal or really not street cars fill slots also.

I would also like to see the drivers scoped in so that it really is the owners driving to level the playing field.

Finally more focus on what went into the cars on the show would be nice too - didnt see a lot of engine and parts of the older cars.....except a few that were high lighted being picked up off the course. lol

[wicked68]

I am installing a dry sump system on my car

I already installed vent lines from my differential housing to a nice aluminum catch can in the trunk and moved my crankcase vent line from the front of one of my valve covers to the top.

I am also installing a new rear diff with slightly different gearing.

Finally I am changed my brakes setup by moving the mount points of my plunger to the pedal and using some different pads.

I learned a lot being able to see real time and experience real time different modes of racing and then get pointers from various experts in the different areas. Well worth the get together.

My car will be much better for attending this event. I hope it will be a primo all around car now that I can drag race / road race and autocross. This spring I will find out.

Thanks again for the invite :D

[MIGOAT]

Yeah some photos of the set up or engine shots would have been really nice.
I agree the Rods are kindo off in this event as well even though I love them but don't feel that they had what it takes to be top 5.

The late model cars Z06, GTR, and Bently are close to race as well. Bently as a race car well not really but whats the price of one ? Fun to watch dream of owning but not for the Event.
my .02

[badchry]

It was also too loud. I'd like to see the decibel meter used next year.

or maybe a weight limit (3000 lbs w/ driver)

note: i also saw the cobra w/ R-compound tires mounted (autocross?) ... talk about bringing a butter knife to a gun fight. you guys didn't stand a chance.

probably should have had him in the demo class anyway

[tazzz25906112]

Hey everybody wants to win,,,, but Hell I'll settle for being at a first class event like this and having the privilege to run against such an iconic car like that!!!!

You know he'll kick butt, but heck there is no shame in loosing to something like that guys. The whole thing is freedom of expression and a show/road car,,,right.

Now the Cobra is pretty much boarder line car given it's race bread history, but they did run them on the road back then and I'd much rather have the freedom to chose and express than the regulations and rules....

[CarlC]

Hey everybody wants to win,,,, but Hell I'll settle for being at a first class event like this and having the privilege to run against such an iconic car like that!!!!

I completely agree Albert.

[Steve1968LS2]

It was also too loud. I'd like to see the decibel meter used next year.

It really wasn't any louder than Big Red was the year before.. lol

[Vegas69]

It was also too loud. I'd like to see the decibel meter used next year.

Larry, come on buddy...... If it's to loud, you're to old. Or something like that.

[Matt@BOS]

Just saw the show today. It was really fun to watch. So what are you guys doing with your new found celebrity status? I know Steve used his fame to get a couple chevys into a Ford show yesterday

while watching everything over it became pretty apparent that the Cobra was far more race car than street car, and out of everyone else's league, not to mention the driver advantage. Not sure what to do about that though. I also remember during sema that there were was a bit of grumbling at first about having cars like the R35 GTR, Bentley GT-Speed and the C63 AMG run. Ultimately I think having those cars out there on the track might have been one of the best things to happen for our little crowd, especially given the TV coverage. The incorporation of the late model uber-high tech cars at the event let people like Steilow, Rupp and the Pozzi's and the DSE crew, among others, prove the strength of their engineering and design concepts. While no one has questioned the concept behind pro-touring builds, that is the ability to make an older car live up to the all around capability of a late model sports car, I think many, including myself have at times questioned how well our cars live up to what appear to be some rather lofty goals. There aren't many, if any other events that are publicized which actually stack pro-touring cars up against their late model sports car counterparts. Before optima, I'm not sure anyone figured a first gen Camaro, no matter how modified, would be able to turn in a superior lap time to a GTR, AMG car or track dedicated car, like the K&N Infiniti. So, despite the Cobra's victory, I have to think that this program is some of the best advertising that companies like DSE and ridetech could hope to receive, and I hope to see a few more late-model cars mixing it up next year, maybe push the envelope a little farther, if you will.

I just hope next years event isn't marred by drama like this years, and doesn't become too competitive in successive years, because I'd love to have an opportunity to run our car in the competition (we can all dream right?), despite the fact that I'd only be capable of getting out of my own way.

Matt

[79-TA]

It had a dry sump 427 FE engine and Bruce said it was somthing like 900 hp.. cool stuff.

The problem with the Cobra was that it was in a different class in terms of weight.

The typical pro-touring car is a mudane street car turned into a handling car. Take Jackass or Penny for example. Those are ill handling car that through the use of aftermarket parts are made to handle.

The Cobra was build AS a race car.. and then made better from there. I should have won and was a bad ass mofo for sure.

Personally I didn't feel that it really was a street car.. could it be driven on the street? yea, but with open side pipes, no windshield, race gas and all that it didn't fit into the spirit of the event. Even the owner stated that it was taken off "street duty" back in 1970.

There was also the driver issue, but nobody protested it so it is what it is.

It was the best handling car there, no doubt

Pointing our facts isn't "whiny".. it's how the event is adjusted for next year. If a bunch of Cobras are going to show up then there's no point in our cars trying to beat them. It's just physics.

Uhh, Steve, when I talked to Bruce he said something about an all aluminum big block displacing over 550 ci! That was far from your ordinary FE 427 Cobra!

[Steve1968LS2]

Uhh, Steve, when I talked to Bruce he said something about an all aluminum big block displacing over 550 ci! That was far from your ordinary FE 427 Cobra!

That's just what I heard.. if it was a 550 ci aluminum dry sump engine then we were even more screwed.

The point is that cars like ours have zero chance against what's pretty much full on track cars.

Again, the Cobra was built as a race car and then taken even farther. Our cars were built as basic transportation and we're trying to make them handle.. we start off at a disadvantage that can't really be overcome, well not without turning our cars into race cars. Even then the Cobra has an inherent advantage, especially in weight.

It's all a moot point.. the Cobra was let in and it deservedly won, this conversation mainly goes towards what should be let in next year. Keep in mind that two key words in the event is "Street Car".

[Larry Callahan]

Larry, come on buddy...... If it's to loud, you're to old. Or something like that.

It's supposed to be a "streetcar" event and there is no way you could get away with anything as load as that on the street. I'm fine with all the noise in the world from a race car.

[Vegas69]

The problem is that car was easily streetable. It didn't sport a full rollcage. I'm sure it was on race gas but that would allow 100 miles on decent tank and a light foot. The weight is the biggest deal.

[tom_a]

I was amazed by the Z06. Was it able to keep up with the competitors no problem, or was it just certain spots on the track it would catch some footage. Doesn't seem like it would have the juice to run with the LS9 camaro or the cobra.

The camera car was a ZR1 not a Z06. The guy driving it was from Mother's I think. He could wheel that car pretty good. I only saw about 3 cars that made him sweat. Those were the top three winners.

[Steve1968LS2]

The problem is that car was easily streetable. It didn't sport a full rollcage. I'm sure it was on race gas but that would allow 100 miles on decent tank and a light foot. The weight is the biggest deal.

He wouldn't last 5 minutes trying to drive around my town.. too loud.

Add in that they took it OFF the street back in '70 (plus the driver deal)... like I said, bad ass car but in a whole other class..

I guess we could now argue that Big Red is a "street car".. lol

In any event it was a GREAT time and I can't wait for next year.. like I said in the show "great people and badass cars".. What's not to love?

[41565 chevelle]

The ZR1 was is owned and driven by the owner of Mother's, Jim Halloway. The guy can wheel for sure. I think he is leading/lead/won a SCCA class for Team Mazda and is building an absolutely unreal, propane powered "ProPain" Chevelle that I believe will be done shortly. It was at SEMA 2 years ago in the Mother's both and has gone back under the knife for an updated engine and re-engineered suspension. Watch for it on the PowerTour this year.

Think we need to film it from the air next year!!!