Optima Ultimate Street Corvettes
11-07-2017, 11:45 AM
#21
11-07-2017, 06:03 PM
#23
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St. Jude Donor '08
To the OP, thanks for all the pics. I am the driver of the yellow #88 C6Z in a few of your pics.
To the others in the thread, yes "most" of these cars are street cars. Some are pushing the envelope a little and many are not daily drivers, but we all have full interiors, HVAC, factory windshields, all factory lighting, horns, radios etc. All of the cars are also registered and insured.
My car has full interior, power windows, full carpet, door panels, factory Nav/radio, factory dash etc. There are a lot of mods, but aero is limited, we have to run 200 tw tires and you're heavily penalized for anything missing from what the factory car was equipped with.
I will refrain from giving my full opinion on an open forum regarding last weekend, but it was mathematically impossible to finish on the podium after the design and engineering segment was over. My design and engineering scores this year were 5th overall, 2nd overall and 3rd overall at the qualifying events I ran. This weekend I was scored 32nd overall and had the lowest raw score of the year.
Oh well, at least I got the national points championship, another jacket and another cool trophy to haul home. I am also proud of my wife for being the only woman to secure an invite based on driving skill. 2 other woman competed last weekend, but Carrie "RaceChick" was the only one to get in on merit.
RICH
Last edited by RichieRichZ06; 11-09-2017 at 07:19 PM.
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11-07-2017, 06:08 PM
#24
It's fun to watch because you have two cars launching at once.
11-07-2017, 06:21 PM
#25
I plan on running in the Optima event at Fontana and Vegas and LS Fest West next year, work schedule permitting. I hope to see you out there. It's fun to watch but now that I have a taste I just want to drive!
11-07-2017, 07:28 PM
#26
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Renting facilities like Road America, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, PPIR, Auto Club Speedway (Fontana) etc for 2 day events that use up their parking lots for auto cross and their road courses for Sunday's hot laps are not cheap venues. The entry fees are "only" $475, which I consider a bargain for a track day and "unlimited auto cross and speed stop runs, secure parking lots at night to leave your stuff in and TV coverage.
To the OP, thanks for all the pics. I am the driver of the yellow #88 C6Z in a few of your pics.
To the others in the thread, yes "most" of these cars are street cars. Some are pushing the envelope a little and many are not daily drivers, but we all have full interiors, HVAC, factory windshields, all factory lighting, horns, radios etc. All of the cars are also registered and insured.
My car has full interior, power windows, full carpet, door panels, factory Nav/radio, factory dash etc. There are a lot of mods, but aero is limited, we have to run 200 tw tires and you're heavily penalized for anything missing from what the factory car was equipped with.
I will refrain from giving my full opinion on an open forum regarding last weekend, but it was mathematically impossible to finish on the podium after the design and engineering segment was over. My design and engineering scores this year were 5th overall, 2nd overall and 3rd overall at the qualifying events I ran. This weekend I was scored 32nd overall and had the lowest raw score of the year.
There was drama associated with the weekend and comments from one judge made to other competitors regarding C6 Corvettes basically took us out of the running. Apparently he didn't like them and we suffered.
Oh well, at least I got the national points championship, another jacket and another cool trophy to haul home. I am also proud of my wife for being the only woman to secure an invite based on driving skill. 2 other woman competed last weekend, but Carrie "RaceChick" was the only one to get in on merit.
RICH
To the OP, thanks for all the pics. I am the driver of the yellow #88 C6Z in a few of your pics.
To the others in the thread, yes "most" of these cars are street cars. Some are pushing the envelope a little and many are not daily drivers, but we all have full interiors, HVAC, factory windshields, all factory lighting, horns, radios etc. All of the cars are also registered and insured.
My car has full interior, power windows, full carpet, door panels, factory Nav/radio, factory dash etc. There are a lot of mods, but aero is limited, we have to run 200 tw tires and you're heavily penalized for anything missing from what the factory car was equipped with.
I will refrain from giving my full opinion on an open forum regarding last weekend, but it was mathematically impossible to finish on the podium after the design and engineering segment was over. My design and engineering scores this year were 5th overall, 2nd overall and 3rd overall at the qualifying events I ran. This weekend I was scored 32nd overall and had the lowest raw score of the year.
There was drama associated with the weekend and comments from one judge made to other competitors regarding C6 Corvettes basically took us out of the running. Apparently he didn't like them and we suffered.
Oh well, at least I got the national points championship, another jacket and another cool trophy to haul home. I am also proud of my wife for being the only woman to secure an invite based on driving skill. 2 other woman competed last weekend, but Carrie "RaceChick" was the only one to get in on merit.
RICH
11-07-2017, 07:55 PM
#28
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St. Jude Donor '08
I met you at the LS Fest West. I've got the silver 03 Z06. I talked with you on the phone after the event because I had transmission issues after the weekend. Thanks for the tips.
I plan on running in the Optima event at Fontana and Vegas and LS Fest West next year, work schedule permitting. I hope to see you out there. It's fun to watch but now that I have a taste I just want to drive!
I plan on running in the Optima event at Fontana and Vegas and LS Fest West next year, work schedule permitting. I hope to see you out there. It's fun to watch but now that I have a taste I just want to drive!
A panel of judges that are supposed to be unbiased towards other competitors judge the cars for their design and engineering. Basically if you have tasteful mods that are better than the OE parts, your score goes up and if you have a ratty car, the score goes down. If a judge has an issue with your car or you personally, they have the powers to virtually screw you out of the competition, which is what happened.
11-07-2017, 08:56 PM
#29
Burning Brakes
The D&E portion of the event weighs to much in the overall score. There is no way a car that has all the "required bits" that wins the 3 driving events and scores so low on the D&E to lose. It's totally biased and is used to pick whoever they want to win to win.
11-07-2017, 09:19 PM
#30
Great driving Rich. D&E is why I usually only make 1 Optima event per year. I need to spend whatever $$ I can afford making the car faster, not prettier. This pic is of Spiewaks Car and mine. He gets the better D&E every time...
11-07-2017, 10:57 PM
#31
Team Owner
Raftracer legacy in effect.
Optima and SEMA were tired of seeing "RAFT" being plastered all over the media after the slaughter occurred a few years in a row.
Optima and SEMA were tired of seeing "RAFT" being plastered all over the media after the slaughter occurred a few years in a row.
11-08-2017, 12:07 PM
#32
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I thought you user name looked familiar. We should be at LS Fest West again. That was a great event.
A panel of judges that are supposed to be unbiased towards other competitors judge the cars for their design and engineering. Basically if you have tasteful mods that are better than the OE parts, your score goes up and if you have a ratty car, the score goes down. If a judge has an issue with your car or you personally, they have the powers to virtually screw you out of the competition, which is what happened.
A panel of judges that are supposed to be unbiased towards other competitors judge the cars for their design and engineering. Basically if you have tasteful mods that are better than the OE parts, your score goes up and if you have a ratty car, the score goes down. If a judge has an issue with your car or you personally, they have the powers to virtually screw you out of the competition, which is what happened.
I'm an engineer (and obviously car enthusiast). If the lap timer says I got beat, I accept it, and try harder the next time in both my driving ability and my car's construction. If a "popularity contest" ingredient pokes its nose in the mix I just spend my hobby/track dollars elsewhere.
11-08-2017, 03:12 PM
#33
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St. Jude Donor '08
Sounds like the next closest thing to a car show (which is why I've never entered a car show in my life).
I'm an engineer (and obviously car enthusiast). If the lap timer says I got beat, I accept it, and try harder the next time in both my driving ability and my car's construction. If a "popularity contest" ingredient pokes its nose in the mix I just spend my hobby/track dollars elsewhere.
I'm an engineer (and obviously car enthusiast). If the lap timer says I got beat, I accept it, and try harder the next time in both my driving ability and my car's construction. If a "popularity contest" ingredient pokes its nose in the mix I just spend my hobby/track dollars elsewhere.
I've always tried to defend D&E, but when you have evidence of bias it's hard to look the other way.
It's really unfortunate because the people out there racing at these events are some of the most talented, nicest and stand up racers you can find. We would definitely miss the other competitors if we chose to leave, but there are nice people in all forms of racing.
11-08-2017, 04:42 PM
#34
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2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I'm a little bitter over the whole thing, along with other politics that went on before the event so we're trying to also make the decision to stay with them or go elsewhere. We've spent tens of thousands of dollars to support, promote and run the series and it's disheartening to say the least. I ran some numbers and every C6 was scored lower in D&E compared to their average scores from the rest of the year.
I've always tried to defend D&E, but when you have evidence of bias it's hard to look the other way.
It's really unfortunate because the people out there racing at these events are some of the most talented, nicest and stand up racers you can find. We would definitely miss the other competitors if we chose to leave, but there are nice people in all forms of racing.
I've always tried to defend D&E, but when you have evidence of bias it's hard to look the other way.
It's really unfortunate because the people out there racing at these events are some of the most talented, nicest and stand up racers you can find. We would definitely miss the other competitors if we chose to leave, but there are nice people in all forms of racing.
11-08-2017, 07:07 PM
#35
Since I don't think it was addressed, from the pictures its just an autocross. But I believe they do a fully day on the full track, so its not the cost to rent the parking lot, its the cost to rent the entire facility.
11-08-2017, 07:29 PM
#36
I'm a little bitter over the whole thing, along with other politics that went on before the event so we're trying to also make the decision to stay with them or go elsewhere. We've spent tens of thousands of dollars to support, promote and run the series and it's disheartening to say the least. I ran some numbers and every C6 was scored lower in D&E compared to their average scores from the rest of the year.
I've always tried to defend D&E, but when you have evidence of bias it's hard to look the other way.
It's really unfortunate because the people out there racing at these events are some of the most talented, nicest and stand up racers you can find. We would definitely miss the other competitors if we chose to leave, but there are nice people in all forms of racing.
I've always tried to defend D&E, but when you have evidence of bias it's hard to look the other way.
It's really unfortunate because the people out there racing at these events are some of the most talented, nicest and stand up racers you can find. We would definitely miss the other competitors if we chose to leave, but there are nice people in all forms of racing.
11-08-2017, 07:43 PM
#37
All the photos I've posted are just from the autocross. They also did the speed stop and road course but I wasn't there for those events. The Vegas event is the Invitational, all the winners from the events around the country are invited to go to Vegas and display their cars at SEMA then race on the weekend. At the events around the country, there are a lot more "normal/streetable" cars.
Here are some of the other cars that were competing.
Here are some of the other cars that were competing.
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Pounder (11-10-2017)
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11-08-2017, 07:47 PM
#39
Burning Brakes
When representatives from sponsors are the judges of the D&E then complaining to them will fall on def ears. Complaining to the higher ups of the series i believe will be futile as well being they see the money coming in from the sponsors and the money they get from the competitors is secondary. Unfortunately I know that Rich is not the only person looking at possibly taking their business elsewhere. I remember at the first Optima event held at Laguna Seca 4-5 years ago one of the judges wouldn't even bother looking at a friends car because its i Mustang and their business was centered on Chevrolet. It's been an ongoing struggle with the D&E since being introduced to the Optima series.
11-08-2017, 09:11 PM
#40
Burning Brakes
That's just the tip of the ice burg in terms of differential treatment between competitors. Issues were presented to the race director and they were dealt with as they have been in previous years...
It's easy to get over being pissed, but losing a little respect for the series is much more disheartening.
It's easy to get over being pissed, but losing a little respect for the series is much more disheartening.
D/E is the only way they could stop you guys
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Pounder (11-10-2017)
