May 2021

Southern Californians are known for their catch phrases, from “rad” to “gnarly” and the 80s staple “for sure!” But when you are sick of the daily 9-5—yes you do have to actually work—the quickest retreat and catch phrase you are sure to hear is “VEGAS BABY!”

Yes—enthusiasm and fist pumps in the air followed by a speeding ticket for traveling well above the posted speed on that lonely stretch of I-15 come as no surprise, but we all know what’s on the other side of the darkness: A city famous for keeping all their secrets and inhibitions bottled up so you can go home and pretend you spent the weekend at a convention and playing blackjack with the fifty dollars you told everyone you took with you.  This trip wouldn't be happening if it weren’t for the fact that one of the great annual events was taking place during the time when our country is trying to return to some form of normalcy: LS Fest West!

The first LS Fest event was held in 2010 at Beech Been Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky and from its onset, it was a huge event— so big that, in 2017, Holley decided to do what the pioneers had done over a century ago and go west. In its 5th year— well, technically 4th if you don’t count 2020— LS Fest West has brough together all the good, bad, and ugly that are powered by this most versatile of powerplants. 

We could label LS Fest as a motorsports event—I mean, there is a lot of that is going on from autocross to off-roading—but it is everything in between that makes it more than just a motorsports event. It has become a lifestyle festival, with something for everyone. The catch is: you have to like LS powered cars. If you notice I haven’t been using makes and models for these cars, the reason is that unlike the brand that the LS bears, the cars are as diverse as they come.

You ever hear the saying “I’d rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy?” Well how about if that Ford is powered by a Chevy? I honestly don’t think there is anything wrong with the latest family of Ford V8, the Coyote is a very capable engine, but I think the attraction to the LS is probably in its simplicity. We spotted just about every make and model you could stuff an LS in, from BMWs to Mini Coopers, Nissan 240SX drift cars to crazy 4X4 Jeeps on 40” tall tires. The list of cars that did not come equipped with an LS definitely surpassed those that came OEM.  

A festival isn’t one without the fans and using current technology fans could pre purchase tickets online—no gate sales. Fans where be temperature checked and required to wear face covering but even with these minor inconveniences they came in numbers. Not only was it good to see fans but it was also encouraging to see so many young fans. LS Fest might just be the shot of NOS the automotive world has been waiting for to get younger people back into the car culture.

In case you missed the action, you can get results for all the different motorsports disciplines that were competed at LS Fest West here:  https://www.lsfest.com/9892-2/

If you are a fan of motorsports or just cool cars then LS Fest is where you need to be.  If you couldn’t make it to the West edition, you can still make it to the original one, which will be held on September 10-12, 2021 in Bowling Green, KY.