{"id":21448,"date":"2012-12-12T22:41:44","date_gmt":"2012-12-13T05:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/?p=21448"},"modified":"2013-10-10T23:33:26","modified_gmt":"2013-10-11T06:33:26","slug":"hot-rod-diversity-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Optima Invitational &#8211; Hot Rod Diversity Training"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fhot-rod-diversity-training%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F12%2FOptima-shootout-race-after-sema-6.jpg&amp;description=Optima+Invitational+%E2%80%93+Hot+Rod+Diversity+Training\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Optima Invitational \u2013 Hot Rod Diversity Training\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Optima Invitational \u2013 Hot Rod Diversity Training&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\" data-text=\"Optima Invitational \u2013 Hot Rod Diversity Training\" data-desc=\"More than just Camaros and Mustangs at the OUSCI (Click to see any picture full size) If you're in the corporate world, you've heard about diversity. You've probably had some training on it so you can be more sensitive or some other nonsense like that. \u00a0The way I see it, different strokes for\" data-image=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6.jpg\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><h2>More than just Camaros and Mustangs at the OUSCI<\/h2>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21449\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Every kind of hot rod and road race car represented!\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6.jpg\" alt=\"hot rods, scca racing, road racing\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6-150x63.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6-300x126.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-6-575x243.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n(Click to see any picture full size)<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in the corporate world, you&#8217;ve heard about diversity. You&#8217;ve probably had some training on it so you can be more sensitive or some other nonsense like that. \u00a0The way I see it, different strokes for different folks and that&#8217;s never been more true than in the rides we choose. Am I right?<\/p>\n<p>At the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (damn that&#8217;s a long name!) the race car diversity was on overload! Shown above, all racing in the same event: 3rd place finishing 2003\u00a0Mitsubishi\u00a0Evo (yellow one barely visible),\u00a01967 Pontiac, 2013 GTR, , a 2012 Audi RS5, 2012 Fiat Abarth, 1986 Porsche Carrera, and some others you&#8217;ll see in another photo.<\/p>\n<p>Right up front and a great example of diversity is the Pontiac. How often do you see this motor at an SCCA race?<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-10.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21449\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Bigm bad, blown Pontiac motor at OUSCI\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-10.jpg\" alt=\"hot rods, scca racing, blown pontiac motor\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This blown 1967 Pontiac Firebird owned by Mike Ardito made hot laps on the track, did the autocross, the road race&#8230; and I think held it&#8217;s own in the performance and design competition!<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-7.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21449\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Classic Mustang set to race a Lamborghini? \" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-7.jpg\" alt=\"hot rods, scca racing, autocross, lamborghini\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Todd Faust&#8217;s 1966 Mustang leads the way for this ridiculously diverse set of cars&#8230; the screaming orange Lamborghini is a 1500 HP twin turbo model from Underground Racing. <a title=\"Underground Twin Turbo Lamborghini Dream Ride \u2013 Just Lucky\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/underground-twin-turbo-lamborghini-superlegger\/\" target=\"_blank\">Details on the Lamborghini here.<\/a>\u00a0Behind him is Rob McGregor in his <a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"No Limit go fast C10 chassis parts\" href=\"http:\/\/nolimit.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">No Limit Engineering<\/a> 1970 Chevy C10 pickup. Rob&#8217;s truck performance was overshadowed by his generosity for the \u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"The greatest casualty is being forgotten\" href=\"http:\/\/www.woundedwarriorproject.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project<\/a>. More on that later. All the way in the back is Dave Pulley&#8217;s 2010 Shelby GT500.<\/p>\n<p>Young and old, exotic and working man&#8217;s truck. It&#8217;s a melting pot of hot rods! Who was the top finisher in this group? The Mustang took 12th overall followed by Rob&#8217;s C10 in 15th!<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-1.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21455\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Inspection for the Optima Invitational Mustangs and Camaros\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-1.jpg\" alt=\"ford mustang, vintage camaro\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-1-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-1-575x381.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dig this shot from the early morning inspection line. New Mustang, 1st and 2nd gen Camaros followed by a fantastic looking 1966 Chevelle owned by Cole Quinn.<\/p>\n<p>Staying in the morning&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-4.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21455\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Lined up ready to race at the Optima Invitational\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-4.jpg\" alt=\"1979 pontiac trans am, vintage GTR, rx7\" width=\"575\" height=\"382\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When could you see this group at a race, car show or other? Maybe diversity isn&#8217;t nonsense? Up front is Ben Therrien&#8217;s 1995 Skyline, who smoked pretty much any time I saw him under boost; Then there&#8217;s the massive-tired 1979 Pontiac Trans Am owned by Pedro Gonzalez followed by an RX7. Rotary or V8 in there?<\/p>\n<p>Wrapping things up and get&#8217;n in line for a group shot:<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-8.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21455\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Two of the winners at the OUSCI\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-8.jpg\" alt=\"Ridetech 33, wilwood camaro\" width=\"575\" height=\"382\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Up front in the photo and in the race, it&#8217;s Brian Hobaugh&#8217;s 1973 Camaro outfitted by Wilwood, then Bret Vokel&#8217;s Ridetech 1933 Ford Coupe. These guys placed 2nd and tied for 3rd. Bret partnered with Rob McGregor to help the <a rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"The greatest casualty is being forgotten\" href=\"http:\/\/www.woundedwarriorproject.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project<\/a>. Between the two of them, they donated almost $10k to the cause. Amazing\u00a0generosity.<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least, rolling cross-pollinated\u00a0diversity:<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-9.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21455\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"LS powered Nissan 240SX at the OUSCI\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-9.jpg\" alt=\"V8 240SX, LS 240sx, ls powered Nissan 240sx\" width=\"575\" height=\"382\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With an LS motor providing motivation, it&#8217;s hard to beat, but surprisingly, Jesse Vaughn&#8217;s 1997 240SX didn&#8217;t hit the top 25. Next year!<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;d I miss? I still need to post a picture or two of my favorites&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nick Licata&#8217;s 1940 Ford built by Troy Ladd<\/li>\n<li>Dale Akuszweski&#8217;s 1964 Sunbeam Tiger (who finished 18th!)<\/li>\n<li>Mark Bowler&#8217;s 1970 Ford Tornino (Big bad and pretty darn fast!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Yea, I still lean towards the old and hot rod-like rides, but as an event of any kind, the Optima Invitational had it all. Great, really world class SEMA cars, competitive racing action and a great group of guys driving their hearts out all day!<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-2.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[21448]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-21455\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"The driver's meeting\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Optima-shootout-race-after-sema-2.jpg\" alt=\"optima invitational driver's meeting\" width=\"575\" height=\"382\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">See all of the <a title=\"SEMA Super cars on the track with Optima\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/tag\/2012-optima-invitational\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"broken_link\">2012 Optima Invitational Stories &amp; Pictures here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fhot-rod-diversity-training%2F&amp;media=&amp;description=Optima+Invitational+%E2%80%93+Hot+Rod+Diversity+Training\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Optima Invitational \u2013 Hot Rod Diversity Training\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Optima Invitational \u2013 Hot Rod Diversity Training&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/hot-rod-diversity-training\/\" data-text=\"Optima Invitational \u2013 Hot Rod Diversity Training\" data-desc=\"More than just Camaros and Mustangs at the OUSCI (Click to see any picture full size) If you're in the corporate world, you've heard about diversity. You've probably had some training on it so you can be more sensitive or some other nonsense like that. \u00a0The way I see it, different strokes for\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Email More than just Camaros and Mustangs at the OUSCI (Click to see any picture full size) If you&#8217;re in the corporate world, you&#8217;ve heard about diversity. You&#8217;ve probably had some training on it so you can be more sensitive or some other nonsense like that. \u00a0The way I see it, different strokes for different [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[384,19,378],"tags":[2105,1800,1169,1637],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21448"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21448"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22336,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21448\/revisions\/22336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}