Husband & Wife Team Competes in th Ultimate Street Car Series

This powerhouse couple will be representing Spectre Performance in their 1964 & 1965 Chevrolet Corvettes at Thunderhill Raceway for the first Optima USCA race of 2016

Though some areas of the United States are still suffering from harsh winter conditions, racers up and down the West Coast are preparing for this coming weekend’s first race in the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series. A race series that started in 2008 as a single event has expanded quickly into an eleven event series across the United States. The basic premise of this series is to prove you own the “Ultimate Street Car” with a registered, street legal vehicle. Additional rules have been included and modified over the years to eliminate full-blown race cars from participating while also equaling out the playing field. As the series continues to grow, so does the list of competitors. Over the past two years drivers from across the country have traveled to these Optima events for a chance to compete at the invitation only final showdown in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) is held every year immediately following the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. OUSCI started in Pahrump, Nevada, but moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2014. The event is by invite only. Invites include winners from previous events throughout the year along with a select few who are handpicked right before the SEMA show. Though eleven events may sound like plenty of time to win an invite, Thunderhill Raceway may be the only chance some competitors will have to earn a guaranteed a spot into the OUSCI.

Spectre Performance sponsored driver Greg Thurmond has used the winter months to dial-in his 1965 Corvette better known as “SCAR”

Just as other drivers are preparing for the upcoming race, Greg and Jane Thurmond have been making upgrades and changes to their pair of second generation C2 Chevrolet Corvettes throughout the winter season. The Spectre Performance sponsored team will not only be competing against each other, but with approximately 70 other competitors including vintage muscle cars, modern muscle, sport compacts and exotic vehicles. The event is broken down into four classes. Jane and Greg Thurmond will both compete in what is called the GTL or the GT Light Class. This class includes all vehicles that weigh-in at 3200lbs or less. Don’t let these cars fool you though. Some of the toughest competition in the series can be found in the GTL class. Though most of these cars are smaller in comparison, many of these cars come packed with a lot of power and a lot of grip.

Greg’s 1965 Corvette better known as “SCAR” was had its debut in the Spectre Performance booth at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 1965 Corvette is equipped with a Lingenfelter LS7 engine, Spectre Performance Air Intake Setup and RideTech suspension all sitting on a Newman Creations chassis. The 6-piston Wilwood disc brakes along with Falken 315/30/18’s on all four corners make this Corvette a top contender in the Thunderhill race.

Greg Thurmond finished his 1965 Corvette only a couple days before its debut in the Spectre Performance Booth at the 2015 SEMA show, leaving no time to test and tune before the OUSCI race

If you have seen Greg Thurmond’s Corvette in person then you may have noticed the quality of work that went into the build along with the multiple layers of paint that create a custom eye-catching piece of art. Many have asked Greg why he would take such a beautiful car to a track and beat on it after all that work. It is simple; this is what Optima’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series is all about. Drive what you built and prove it can perform under the ultimate test. This basic principal started the foundation of the Optima Series eight years ago and still remains the core concept today.

Jane Thurmond has accumulated quite a bit of seat time over the past year in her Spectre Performance equipped 1964 Chevy Corvette known as “Scarlett”

While Greg was making adjustments to his Corvette over the winter, Jane decided that her 1964 Corvette, known as “Scarlett,” also needed some improvements before the first big race. After a recent visit to Wilwood Disc Brakes, the 1964 Corvette was refreshed with a lighter, more efficient brake set-up. A set of new Falken tires were ordered for both Corvettes, leaving both Jane and Greg room for some last minute test and tune sessions before they leave to Northern California.

Though this Spectre Performance supported couple fully support each other’s addictive racing habits, it is the nature of the sport to be competitive. Jane has had quite a bit of seat time in her 1964 Corvette competing in several Optima Series events, Goodguys Autocrosses and OUSCI in both 2014 and 2015. While Jane was behind the wheel, Greg was in his shop working on SCAR. Greg was able to get some seat time in during the 2015 season including his Golden Ticket invitation to compete at the 2015 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational. Though Greg had no choice but to dial-in SCAR during the OUSCI, the winter months have allowed plenty of time for both Greg and Jane to set-up the Spectre Performance equipped Corvettes for the upcoming two-day race.

Although this couple supports each other’s racing addiction, Jane’s main competition will be pitted right beside her during the upcoming event

After a couple track days including a recent SCCA California Sports Car Club (CSCC) Solo autocross in Fontana, California, Jane and Greg are ready to represent Spectre Performance at the first Optima Series event. A great amount of time has been spent prepping these two Corvettes for Thunderhill. There are only two shots at an invite into the OUSCI in California, the first event at Thunderhill and the last event of the series in Fontana, California during early October. Competitors must complete five different segments including an autocross, a hot lap challenge, a speed stop, a design challenge and a road rally. Each segment helps competitors earn points, which will determine the final winners for each class Sunday evening.

This will be Greg’s first big race since OUSCI, racing his wife and several other competitors in the GTL Class for a chance to compete at the 2016 OUSCI

As the first event kicks-off the 2016 race season, winning the Optima’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car Thunderhill Raceway event would mean securing an invite early on for the 2016 OUSCI. Though Greg and Jane plan to represent Spectre Performance at other Optima races throughout the year, locking-in a spot to the OUSCI is the ultimate goal for both drivers. With the first Optimas Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series event only days away, we will stay tuned for more updates as Jane and Greg return from Thunderhill Raceway.

Since 1983 Spectre Performance has designed and offered unique, innovative, parts and components to fuel your car or truck obsession. Whether your fixation happens to be a classic muscle car or modern muscle, Spectre will help fuel your passion for performance. Please use the vehicle search tool to find additional vehicle specific parts, or browse the wide array of custom Spectre Performance products. If assistance is required please feel free to call Spectre Performance at 909-673-9800.