2012 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Qualifiers Announced

[XcYZ]

Now going into its fifth year, the OPTIMA® Ultimate Street Car Invitational, has evolved to become one of the most highly anticipated and widely covered events in the automotive performance world. Today, OPTIMA Batteries announces the first round of events that will serve as qualifiers to compete later this year. During the qualifying events, participants can earn the opportunity to compete in the now world-famous OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, which takes place annually in Nevada immediately following the SEMA Show.The 2012 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational qualifying events are:

• Run to the Alamo (San Marcos, TX): February 17-19
• Run to the Coast (Irvine, CA): March 9-11
• The OPTIMA®Faceoff at HOT ROD Power Tour* (Arlington, TX): June 9th
• The OPTIMA®Faceoff at Road America* (Elkhart Lake, WI): June 22-24
• Motorstate Challenge (South Haven, MI): July 13-15
• The OPTIMA®Faceoff at MPH Nebraska/ Sandhills Open Road Challenge* (Hastings, NE) August 8-12
• LSFest (Bowling Green, KY): September 7-9
• Silver State Classic Challenge* (Ely, NV): September 12-16
• Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Nationals (Norwalk, OH): September 21-23

Qualifying events are open to the public and offer a great way for automotive enthusiasts to preview the top talent thatwill move on to OPTIMA’s Ultimate Street Car Invitational. Each regional qualifying event will follow a format similar to the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational with a combination of segments to include autocross; road course; braking and acceleration; style & design competition and road rally; and additional activities, which will vary per event. The OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational implements regional qualifying events in order to increase diversity among vehicles, drivers and enthusiast segments. OPTIMA encourages all street-legal vehicle year, makes and models to participate.

“We are always humbled by the talent that comes out for our events. In addition to the skilled participants, it also brings awareness to the enthusiast dedication and passion within the aftermarket performance automotive industry,” says Cam Douglass, director of product development and marketing for OPTIMA Batteries. “If the regional events from last year are any indication of what’s in store for 2012, I think it’s safe to say that each of these events will turn out some amazing entrants.”

Some of the top placing competitors from the 2011 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational were discovered at regional qualifier events, including the Invitational winner Danny Popp, who was a regional qualifier from the2011 Motor State Challenge.

For more information on the qualifying events, the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational and ways to get involved as a participant volunteer or sponsor, please visit www.optimainvitational.com.

[Stuart Adams]

Cool. The improvement in times the guys and gals are posting from year to year are incredible. It's getting real competitive. Fun to watch.

[KPC67]

So anyone who qualifies at one or all above events will have a spot at optima?
I always thought it was not open to public, and I would never have a hope in hell....

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by KPC67

So anyone who qualifies at one or all above events will have a spot at optima?
I always thought it was not open to public, and I would never have a hope in hell....

Anyone who WINS one of those events qualifies.

I am curious how they choose the winner/qualifier of one of the many classes at the Silver State.

[56pickup]

I am going to try and attend the Optima faceoff at road america if my schedule allows. Just as a spectator

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Anyone who WINS one of those events qualifies.

I am curious how they choose the winner/qualifier of one of the many classes at the Silver State.

It is an Invitational so I will "assume" the promoters will choose what they feel is the best fit for their competition.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Sieg

It is an Invitational so I will "assume" the promoters will choose what they feel is the best fit for their competition.

There are plenty of at large selections for them to make (over 40?) so I think these events will have criteria laid out beforehand so it isn't an arbitrary decision.

Every one of those events seems clear to me as to having a "winner" except the Silver State.

[Sieg]

52 OUSCI Competitors for 2011

9 Regional Qualifiers including the SSCC for 2012

SSCC has the Unlimited and 14 speed classes 95-180, and two High Noon Shoutout classes.

[GrabberGT]

Anyone have any details on this event?

The OPTIMA®Faceoff at HOT ROD Power Tour* (Arlington, TX): June 9th

[James OLC]

SSCC was a qualifier in the past as well. Polly - the overall winner received and invitation and Tom in his '37 Ford PU was chosen as well. The SSCC invitation isn't as simple as declaring a winner based on finishing position (either overall or by class) since there is no requirement for SSCC entrants to be street legal in any way, shape or form.

It's not really any different from the other qualifiers - once Finch wins the first one he's entered in, the invitation goes to the highest finisher who meets the criteria of the OUSCI at the next one he wins. Same as Mary at Heidts last year - Stielow won (and had an invite) so Mary gets the event invitation.