The Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational is an exclusive competition designed to exhibit and test the performance, durability and styling of up to 50 of the best street machines in the world. Among these were a handful of exhibition cars also challenging in the competition.
The event is held immediately following the SEMA show at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada. The SEMA show is known for having the newest custom builds and the best rides featured in various booths. It is one thing to see these cars under red carpet, and under the indoor lights, but to hear these muscle machines fire up and see them run on the track is another.
Past story from Issue 2…
We arrived in Pahrump around 7 a.m., everyone was unloading and prepping their cars, while others were chatting with their morning cup of coffee in hand. We were surprised at the amount of big rigs and trailers present. This had a big event feel that was really laid back.
The morning started with the drivers getting briefed on the events for the day which include the Baer Brakes Speed Stop Challenge, Ridetech Street Challenge Autocross, BF Goodrich Hot Lap Challenge and the Speed by Spectre Design/Build Challenge. The Invitational is scored on cumulative elapsed time in the driving challenges and on design.
Rod Kinnan in the black Factory Five ‘33 coupe was the first causality of the day when he lost it in the dirt, though the damage looked worse then it was. The quality and detail that goes into each ride is amazing and one can only feel bad to see them busted, broken or beaten. Seventeen of the competitors did not finish, most due to cooling and engine problems.
This year’s winner was Bruce Cambern in his ‘66 Shelby Cobra, believed to be the last original-owner 427 Cobra other then Carroll Sheby’s personal car. Bruce sweeped all of the driving challenges. Barry Blomquist won the Design/Build Challenge with his ’62 Corvette. Barry’s ‘Vette is a show car with lots of hand-formed aluminum and carbon fiber.
We look forward to next year’s event which promises to be even more exciting, bigger and possibly include a caravan from Vegas to Pahrump.
Photos and story by Nikki and Gabe Garcia
~Sunday Slacker Magazine
Photo from the 2009 event.
