OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car Vette Vs Lambo

June 2020 • By Nestor Cabrera, photos courtesy of OPTIMABatteries.com

Robert DeuPree, ’13 Lamborghini Galardo leading Scot Spiewak ’03 Corvette

When we see incredible machines packed with all the best parts and latest technology, we wonder, like many of you, if they perform as good as they look. Well, our friends at OptimaBatteries.com had the same thought so they conceived an event that would answer that question. In 2008, OPTIMA Batteries’ Cam Douglass and FM3 Marketing’s Jimi Day set out to find the ultimate street car from the crop of amazing vehicles displayed at the annual SEMA Show. As a result, a handful of cars were awarded a golden ticket and invited to congregate at Spring Mountain Motorsport Ranch to battle it out. 

Since that inaugural event Optima has not only continued to search for the Ultimate Street Car (OUSC) from the collective of SEMA vehicles but has opened the contest up to anyone who thinks they have what it takes to compete with the best of the best. The OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car presented by Advance Auto Parts was launched in 2014 with a 10 event series held at various tracks across the US. The event now comprises the majority of the entrants for the OUSC along with a few one-off entries from other events; with the final 10 vehicles being selected from the SEMA show.

So what does it take to be the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car?  Unlike most motorsports events, being the fastest or getting the best lap time does not ensure victory. OPTIMA devised a series of five challenges to determine the winner. These Challenges are:

Austin Barnes, ’09 Corvette

1: Cars in Lingenfelter Design and Engineering are judged on various criteria such as construction and modifications that enhance the look, performance and functionality of a stock vehicle while maintaining or enhancing daily drivability.

Eric Sheely, ’72 Corvette

2: The Lucas Oil Road Rally determines a vehicle’s ability to be driven on the street. This isn’t a closed circuit course but a 25- to 100-mile long pre-determined street course. The Road Rally is not a race and drivers must obey all state and local traffic laws.  

David Carroll, ’75 Datsun 280Z

3: The PowerStop Speed Stop challenge tests the car and driver’s ability to accelerate through a series of tight turns and stop at a designated spot. This is a timed challenge and the two key components are traction and braking ability. Since this is a timed event, maximum points are awarded to the lowest time.

Chad Sage, ’16 Porsche GT3RS

4: The QA1 Autocross is one of the most challenging portions of the event. It tests the driver’s skill and ability to negotiate through a technical course with tight turns and slow speed maneuvers. This is a timed event and the fastest lap, i.e. lowest time gets the highest score.

Matthew Mielczarek, ’70 Chevy C-10

5: The final element is the Falken Road Course, which challenges the machine and driver to maneuver through a purpose-built race course designed with technical turns and straightaways. Like the autocross event, the goal is to achieve the lowest time.

Jake Rozelle ’03 Corvette

Once all these challenges have been completed points are tallied and a winner is crowned. The Search for the Ultimate Street Car qualifying series consists of seven classes so that just about any type, style and level of competition vehicle has a home to race in.

Scot Spiewak ’03 Corvette

The OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car series will only have seven qualifying events this year. Two events are already in the books, however, if you think you and your car have what it takes to be crowned the Ultimate Street Car, then you have five more events to give it a go.

Darren Friedman ’20 Corvette

2020 Event Schedule:

• March 14-15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas NV.—Completed

• May 29-30: Willow Spring International Raceway, Willow Springs CA.—Completed

• July 11-12:  Pikes Peak International Raceway, Colorado Springs, CO.

• July 25-26: Atlanta Motorsports Park, Dawsonville, GA.

• August 14-15: Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI.

• September 19-20: NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, LA.

• October 10-11: NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY.

The finals will be in Las Vegas, as always, the weekend after the SEMA Show: November 7-8.

For more information visit www.driveusca.com