Bruce,
Thank you so much for competing in our event the past two years. You have really forced all of our competitors to step up their game. I don't know that any vehicles are necessarily ruled out of future events at this point and there are actually rules in place regarding repeat vehicle entry:
3) Vehicles returning from a previous OUSCI event will only be considered for competition if the vehicle meets one or all of the following:
a) The vehicle has had significant upgrades that must include outwardly visible modifications. The car must look like a different vehicle from 50 feet. If you are unsure, send us “before-and-after” shots. We will tell you if the car looks different enough to be considered.
b) The vehicle has won an OPTIMA regional qualifying event in the current year by the owner or builder of record. That driver who won the qualifier must also be the driver at the OUSCI and meet rule #10.
c) Vehicle won the previous year’s OUSCI (overall winner) and meets the current rules.
d) Race committee may award special dispensation to no more than (5) vehicles per OUSCI.
Rule #10, for the curious:
10) The registered owner or builder of record must drive the vehicle during all events. Builder of record must be an identified individual that is not a professional driver. Builders of record must be identified and approved by OPTIMA before 10/15/2010. No competitive professional drivers will be allowed to compete for awards or the Ultimate Street Car title. As a rule of thumb, the builder of record must have had responsibility for at least 70% of all modifications to the vehicle. A painter, suspension tuner or motor builder is not considered to be a builder of record if they performed only those specific duties on the vehicle. A person who completed ALL of those duties may be considered the builder of record. If the owner of the vehicle is the person who contracted the build through many vendors then the owner is the builder of record. Typically the only person who qualifies as the builder of record is the owner or manager of a shop who modified the vehicle into its current condition from the condition in which it was purchased.
Any announcements regarding the date and network the OUSCI will be televised on will be announced on our Facebook page, as well as any information regarding possible DVD sales.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries