Optima’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car
OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car is a safe, fun and high-profile national championship event for street legal performance vehicles. The challenge puts competitors through a unique blend of tests of each vehicle’s performance, street-ability and engineering workmanship. Partnering with SpeedTour to host the competition at five events in 2023, OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car incorporates five key components—road course, autocross, acceleration & braking competition, a road rally, and design & engineering. With vehicles separated into different classes, each class winner from every event will then go head-to-head for a shot at the overall win when the competition concludes in Las Vegas during the SEMA Show.
The road course competition is a timed event that establishes the ability of the car and driver to negotiate a variety of turns and straightaways in the shortest time. Very simply, this is the test to see how closely a street car can perform in real road racing conditions. The road course competition is purely time based with the lowest time receiving the highest score.
The acceleration and braking competition establishes the ability of the car and driver to accelerate, negotiate tight turns, and stop in a designated spot. Traction and braking are the key mechanical tests, while timing and car control are driver tests. The acceleration and braking competition is purely time based, with the lowest time receiving the highest score.
The road rally is the single event that establishes the ability for the vehicle to be driven on the street. Routes will typically be 25 to 100 miles long and may include stops. The road rally is not a race and all traffic laws must be obeyed. Vehicles must be compliant with safety and environmental laws and regulations. Bonus points will be accumulated for the weekend competition and the series.
Finally, design & engineering. All vehicles entered into OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car competition will be judged on their construction and modifications that enhance the look, performance, and/or functionality of a stock vehicle, while maintaining or enhancing the daily drive comfort features and accessories. A panel of judges will use exacting criteria to evaluate and rate each car.