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It has been a very busy race season for Spectre driver Greg Thurmond, competing in Goodguys Autocross, NMCA West Autoctross, SCCA, the Optima Series and several Camarillo Autocross events.

The race to win the Hotchkis Cup was held over a two-day autocross event hosted by the Racing Byrds. NMCA West is held four times a year at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California. Eighty to ninety competitors bring out some of the most competitive built, pristine vehicles to race over the two days, trying to prove that they are the fastest driver.

NMCA West Hotchkis Autocross brought out several competitive drivers as they all fought for the ultimate title, the Hotchkis Cup.

Greg Thurmond entered the 2016 race season by storm in his 1965 Corvette named SCAR. Greg's season has been filled with race events including Goodguys, NMCA, SCCA, the Optima Series and several Camarillo Autocross events. Downtime isn't part of Greg's vocabulary. When he is not racing he is the man behind GTS Customs, working on customers' Corvettes and various other makes/models. Greg's work can be found in his own Corvette, from the precision bodylines, wide custom fenders and eye catching orange paint that he completed in time for its debut last SEMA.

Some people may think Greg Thurmond is out of his mind for racing such a beautiful piece of art, but for Greg, he would not have it any other way. Greg's desire to perform better, improve as a driver and represent his sponsors is always seen when watching him at the track. The level he has achieved in the last five months of racing has resulted in some notable finishes and now him taking podium.

Greg did exceptionally well both Saturday and Sunday, maintaining a podium finish on both race days.

The NMCA West Hothckis Autocross was not an easy win. With temperatures reaching well over 110 degrees and track conditions melting as the heat index increased, competitors had to be prepared for anything. From problems with overheating vehicles to dehydrated drivers, one could easily be forced out of the competition early due to unavoidable circumstances. Luckily Greg was not one of those drivers, racing his way through the heat and making his way to the top of his class.

Not only did Greg race his way into first place on Sunday, he finished within the top five drivers overall for the entire weekend.

Aside from the poor weather conditions, competition in the Classic Muscle Class was tough. Saturday brought out several pro drivers including autocross instructor Casey Cronin and his 1972 Vette along with SCCA competitor Richard Trujillo and his 1969 bright green Mustang. This did not stop Greg Thurmond from battling his way into the top three, resulting in a second place finish and less than a half of second off of the top time in his class.

The Hotchkis Autocross recognizes official times on both Saturday and Sunday. Competitors have the option to compete in both days or just one. The heat on Saturday resulted in a handful drivers dropping out of the race come Sunday. The NMCA West June Autocross event had been sold out long before the event. Those who chose not to attend Sunday's event opened new spots for waitlist drivers to enter the competition. This meant a handful of new drivers and more competition come Sunday.

Greg also took the lead in the Classic Muscle Class Sunday, resulting in a first place finish in his class.

The Racing Byrds make sure that the two-day autocross is fair for both Saturday and Sunday competitors. In order to do this, the track is reversed and drivers who ran Saturday must now run the track the opposite direction come Sunday. Several drivers including Greg Thurmond arrived early to prep their cars before the heat set-in. A drivers meeting was held then the track went hot as drivers either buckled up or found shelter from the heat. Greg knew this was his last chance to grab the lead not only in his class, but overall.

In order to be eligible for the Hotchkis Cup, a driver must compete both Saturday and Sunday. After ten laps each day, the day's averages were calculated and combine into an overall score. The driver with the fastest and most consistent time of the weekend would be awarded the Hotchkis Cup.

As the final five contenders for the Hotchkis Cup were announced, Greg was recognized for his third place overall finish against forty-two other drivers.

As awards were presented Sunday evening, Greg Thurmond was called to the podium as the Classic Muscle Class winner. Greg maintained an 8/10th of a second lead over his wife Jane Thurmond and her 1964 Corvette, who placed second in the Classic Muscle Class and a full second ahead of the third place contender.

The Hotchkis Cup was still to be announced, as this would be the final award presented Sunday evening. The top five drivers were called to the podium, each eagerly awaiting the process of elimination. Out of forty-three Hotchkis Cup eligible competitors, Spectre driver Greg Thurmond took third overall in the lineup for the Hotchkis Cup. With a little over one tenth of a second from the overall leader Tom Kamman in his 2004 Corvette, Greg Thurmond ranked ahead of forty other drivers who had ran both Saturday and Sunday for the overall title.

NMCA West Hotchkis Autocross will revisit the Auto Club Dragway in September of this year. Between now and then Greg has several more events lined up for the '65 Spectre Performance sponsored Corvette. We can only guess that when September comes around, Greg Thurmond will race his way ahead of his competition once again, possibly achieving an overall win and a chance to be named recipient of the Hotchkis Cup.

Brian Finch's 1971 Camaro started its winning streak back in 2010 and has continued to grow in popularity throughout the years.

Brian Finch is a name many recognize in the pro-touring community. From businessman to car builder, weekend racer, event coordinator, and the several other hats he wears, Finch has made quite the name for himself over the years. Brian Finch has been a long supporter of Spectre Performance, so it was no surprise when he joined the Spectre Performance race team for the 2016 season. Finch's racing history started long before the rise of the pro-touring era, but the 1971 Camaro took the world by storm as Finch started his winning streak in 2010.

Driver Brian Finch was one of the original Spectre Performance sponsored racers, supporting the brand name for several years before officially joining the Spectre racing team.

Finch has earned several wins including multi-time champion at the Goodguys Autocross, Holley LS Fest, and the Optima Series. The Kurt Urban 427ci-powered Camaro has undergone a lengthy list of changes over the years from different color schemes to swapping powertrains. With those changes, Finch grew in popularity, not only because of the Camaro, but also because of his driving skills. Before long, Finch was featured in shows and magazines like Power Block TV, R U Faster than a Redneck, Super Chevy magazine, Hot Rod magazine, and many others.

The Spectre Performance sponsored Camaro would compete in its first Optima Series event for the 2016 at NCM Motorsports Parkway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Though this would be Finch's first Optima event for the year, this was not his first time behind the wheel during this race season. Finch finished off the 2015 season racing in the Baja 1000 for BFGoodrich only to jump back behind the wheel of his 1971 Camaro in 2016 for the BFGoodrich Are You Driver Enough Program. From there he continued to participate in events such as Cruisin' the Smokies in Tennessee, the Goodguys Nashville Autocross, the Midwest Muscle Car Challenge, and the NSRA Mid-American Street Rod Nationals Autocross in Georgia.

Though this would be Finch's first Optima Series Race for the 2016 season, he has competed in several other series throughout the year.

So how does one win an Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car Race? There is a lengthy checklist many drivers formulate before a race like Optima. From vehicle setup, driver ability, car preparation, and execution, a lot can happen that can bump a driver out of first place. Years of experience behind the wheel of the Spectre Performance sponsored 1971 Camaro have helped Finch adapt if problems arise or course conditions are not ideal.

In order to win his class, Finch has to place in the top three of all the Optima race segments.

Optima's Search for the Ultimate Street Car at NCM Motorsports Park presented the not so ideal conditions once again. Though it did not rain like the last Optima event, the overwhelming heat index posed a threat to both competitors and their vehicles throughout the weekend.

Per Optima's rules, the white 1970 Camaro ran in the GTV or Vintage class. There are rules detailing weight restrictions for this class, but Finch's Camaro was not affected by these guidelines. There are various awards given at an Optima Race including the overall winner, overall class winners, segment winners, and the Spectre Spirit of the Event winner.

Spectre Driver Brian Finch took home the win in the GTV Class at Optima's Search for the Ultimate Street Car Bowling Green Race.

After two days of racing and completing five race segments including the autocross, speed stop, road rally, design challenge, and hot lap challenge, the scores were in to see who would be the Ultimate Street Car at NCM Motorsports Park. With four classes and one Spirit of the Event winner, there are only four Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) tickets that were awarded during the Optima Bowling Green ceremony Sunday evening. Points are accumulated throughout the five segment events, ranking drivers in their final standing for the weekend. Finishing top in each category will help a drive take podium come Sunday evening, though the final results do not always favor the driver who was the fastest. With the Design Challenge and Road Rally to consider, drivers must complete and rank high in these two categories in order to move into a podium position.

Finch declined his invitation to race at OUSCI immediately following SEMA as he preps to go for his third Baja 1000 win for team BFGoodrich this November.

It was obvious after day one that Finch was probably going home with a podium win, but the question was if he would take the overall win for the GTV Class. As Sunday came to an end and awards were announced, Spectre Performance driver Brian Finch was announced GTV Class overall winner and OUSCI Invitee.

Unfortunately, Brian Finch had to pass his invitee to second place winner Jim Stehlin and his 1973 Camaro. Brian, who is a two-time Baja 1000 Baja Challenge Class champion, will be racing for his third win this November with the BFGoodrich team. Though he loves racing his 1971 Camaro and will continue to do so throughout the 2016 race season, Finch's passion for Baja has grown over the years and his desire to excel in that sport resulted in dropping out of the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational grand finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this November.

Regardless if it is pavement or dirt, you will continue to see Spectre Driver Brian Finch take the podium as he continues to compete throughout the 2016 season. A huge congratulations to Finch and the best of luck to him as he starts to prep for the upcoming Baja 1000 race this fall.

The NMCA West Hotchkis Autocross is one of the only pro-touring race series that acknowledges trucks as an individual class.

Ever wonder what it takes to navigate a 4,000lb brick around a racecourse made from cones and win? Spectre Performance driver Brandy Phillips did just that in the PCHRODS C10R at the NMCA West Hotchkis Autocross. Though racing is not new to Brandy, sitting behind the wheel of the PCHRODS C10R has not come natural as she takes to her second year racing the truck in the pro-touring race series.

The Spectre-sponsored C10R would be competing at the NMCA West June event for the first time with its new 383 cubic inch stroker motor.

Since its debut at the 2014 SEMA Show in the Spectre Performance booth, Phillips and the C10R have participated in events such as the NMCA West Hotchkis Autocross, Goodguys Autocross, SCCA, and the Optima Series. The first year was spent sorting the truck, testing the prototype suspension, and working out the bugs. When reflecting on that year, the truck had great success overall, earning awards at several race events and car shows.

During Phillips participation in the 2015 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational she noted a lack in horsepower on the track portion of the event. This lead Phillips to questioning if the C10 would ever be as competitive as some of the other vehicles she competed against including C2 and C3 Corvettes, first and second gen Camaros, and various other classic muscle cars.

Though reluctant at first, Phillips decided a motor swap was necessary in order to keep up with her competition at bigger track events

Since there are only a handful of trucks running the pro-touring race circuit, many of the events that Phillips participates in do not have a designated truck class. Instead, the C10R typically competes in the Classic Muscle Class, which includes various years of older vehicles (each event includes a different year range). In order to get the C10R on the podium, Phillips recognized that she needed more power. "We've sorted through the truck and its handling capabilities are very comparable to that of a first gen Camaro, but we were lacking power, which was hurting us on big course events," Phillips commented.

The complete motor install will be featured in an upcoming issue of Street Trucks magazine's Builder Guide.

Luckily her needs were answered when ATK Performance engines teamed up with PCHRODS, working together to build a new, bigger motor allowing Phillips to not only increase horsepower, but also increase torque. The result was a freshly built 383 cubic inch stroker motor that would allow Phillips to keep up on the straightaways at big course events in addition to more torque to help off the starting line and around the corners on an autocross.

The NMCA West Hotchkis Autocross at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California would be the first race event with the new motor. Last year Hotchkis Autocross event coordinators, the Racing Byrds, announced a Truck Class, which would allow Phillips to compete against other trucks over the two-day event. This class typically includes a handful of Silverado's, some El Caminos and any other makes and models of trucks that wish to compete.

It was difficult for Phillips to predict how the weekend would fair considering the unbearable temperatures and a freshly built motor. Friday was used as a test and tune, making sure the motor ran smooth and the suspension was dialed in. Once Phillips and her crew confirmed that the truck would be ready for Saturday's race, it was time to focus on the track, memorizing the course and finding the right driving line.

"The difficult thing about driving a truck is that the line is not always the same as it would be for a Camaro or a Corvette. The truck is much wider than both, which can present problems around turns and through slaloms," explained Phillips. "Sometimes I even question myself how I get through the maneuvers out of course. Luckily the truck likes to dance around the cones as I keep my fingers crossed not to hit cones. I am told I like to kiss cones, which can result in a two-second penalty per cone if I am not careful."

Phillips did exceptionally well throughout the weekend, considering the track was fast, but extremely technical.

The Hotchkis Autocross recognizes participants both Saturday and Sunday, though Sunday concludes the overall awards throughout the weekend. Phillips participated in the two-day event, running a total of ten laps each day. Once ten laps were complete and times were in Saturday evening, it was announced that Phillips maintained an almost three second lead over second place, earning her a win in the Truck Class.

Spectre Driver Brandy Phillips took first in the Truck Class both Saturday and Sunday, in addition to placing 17th overall among forty-three drivers.

Sunday would present itself with a new set of obstacles as Phillips struggled to keep the C10R running throughout the day. Problems with the tune kept the truck from idling at the start and finish. Phillips fought a hard battle throughout the day as they made small adjustments each session out, though her times were not improving. It was not until the last session of the day when she gave it everything she had left in her and the truck, resulting in her fastest time of the day. Phillips had managed to put herself a full second ahead of second place Mike Sullivan in his 1965 El Camino.

Phillips would return to the podium once more Sunday evening to receive her second Truck Class win for the weekend. When Phillips was asked what she attributed her win to, she credited her crew, which consisted of several family and friends that weekend along with her amazing sponsors and everyone who has supported the PCHRODS C10R along the way.

"I am always amazed at the following my truck has. We had a rough start to our race weekend that resulted in us breaking down on the side of the road Friday morning while heading out to Fontana," acknowledged Phillips. "A cop pulled over, though his initial conversation did not include asking us if we were okay. Rather, he wanted to know if that was the truck that was on YouTube. Though I was a little disappointed that he was not there to help, I was flattered that he knew the truck and stopped to check it out."

The Spectre Performance sponsored C10 has had great success over the past two years. Regardless whether Phillips is in first or last, one thing is for sure; it will always have a following that supports not only the C10R, but also Brandy Phillips. She added that if you are ever in the area and attend a race event she is participating in, feel free to ask for a ride. The passenger seat is definitely one way to get a first-hand look at just how hard it is to maneuver a 4,000lb brick through a parking lot filled with cones.

Phillips is proud to represent Spectre Performance throughout the 2016 race season. To learn more about her and the C10R or other Spectre Performance sponsored drivers, sign-up for the Spectre Performance newsletter today.

The Spectre chrome fuse box cover is engineered to be as durable as it is attractive.

The designers of today’s muscle cars have stretched and pulled, added aggressive creases and folds, and updated these magnificent cars’ appearance to look like something from well into the future. While at first glance, the Camaro, Challenger, Charger, and Mustang have a passing resemblance to their 1960s forbearers, they appear much more carnivorous in appearance – as if they might eat the earlier models.

Even replacing the windshield washer cap on your 2010-2015 Camaro can have a positive impact on appearance.

Chevy’s muscle car’s exterior sheet metal, in our example here, is clearly based on the 1969 Chevy Camaro. Since its reintroduction into the Chevy product line in 2010, the Camaro took on a more aggressive appearance. The interior as well is a huge jump ahead from 1969. Even fans of Star Trek (whose final episode was broadcast June 3, 1969 or Star Date 5928.5, just for reference) would probably look on the current Camaro’s interior with awe, especially the dashboard and its wide-ranging functionality.

Where these modern muscle cars come up short against their earlier brethren is under the hood. While in 1969 the engine and any upgrade parts, ordered from the factory, installed by the dealer, or aftermarket, were in plain view when the owner of a Nixon-era Camaro popped the hood. Today you open the hood of a modern Camaro and you’re met with a nondescript sea of black plastic, with little to catch the eye.

If this is the dilemma you face with your 2010 – 2015 Camaro, Spectre has a solution for you. It’s a series of caps and covers, available in a range of finishes, that add luster and sparkle when you lift the hood at the next cruise night or wherever you like to show off your car.

Spectre brake line caps securely snap into place and tidy up the appearance of your Camaro’s underhood brake line fittings

These caps and covers are designed to fit directly on top of the OEM part so that you needn’t worry about an aftermarket replacement cap or cover stripping, failing, or leaking because Spectre components utilize the factory caps as their base. So you know there’ll be no interference with any mechanical functionality or cause any issues with your new vehicle factory warranty.

Add this stylish accent to your 2010 – 2015 Camaro air box without even having to remove it from the car.

Parts available today from Spectre include the following: 42752, a four- piece brake fitting cover set; 42753, a brake fluid reservoir cover; 42739, a five-piece cap cover kit; 42737, a fuse box cover accent; 42736, a washer fluid reservoir cap; 42734, a radiator cap cover; 42735, an oil cap cover; 42732, a brake fluid cap cover; 42733, a coolant reservoir cap cover; 42751, a dipstick handle cover; and 42731, an air box cover accent.

These components are designed and tested on numerous different Camaros to check fit, they’re heat tested both in the lab and on the road to make sure they can withstand the brutal environment under the hood, and finish testing is done to make sure the shine lasts through everyday driving and normal cleaning with approved products.

Furthermore, Spectre offers their covers in a wide variety of colors and finishes. You can choose from a sleek modern design, or a classic dimple finish. Both are available in a range of four colors: silver, chrome, black, and bronze. That provides 8 different options between finish and colors so that your Camaro will always stand out.

Just one click installs this cover over your original equipment dipstick.

The brake reservoir cover hides the enormous plastic tank and adds a dimension of style to your 2010 – 2015 Camaro. Add to it the brake reservoir cap cover and you’ve got a winning combination.

And even though these upgrades make a big impact when you pop the hood, they make only a small impact on your wallet. Over half of all the products in the line are priced at $15.99 or less, and the most expensive part is only $79.99, which is for the five-piece cap cover set. It’s pretty unlikely that you’d be able to add that level of under hood interest for that kind of budget.

But wait, we haven’t forgot Ford and Mopar fans. Under development are a series of caps and covers in the same colors for 2011 – 2014 Ford Mustang GT and 2009 – 2015 Hemi-powered Dodge Charger and Challenger. You can expect to see these products on the market later this year.

Applications

2015 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 F/I - All
2015 CHEVROLET CAMARO 3.6L V6 F/I - All
2014 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 F/I - All
2014 CHEVROLET CAMARO 3.6L V6 F/I - All
2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 F/I - All
2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO 3.6L V6 F/I - All
2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 F/I - All
2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO 3.6L V6 F/I - All
2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 F/I - All
2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO 3.6L V6 F/I - All
2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 F/I - All
2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO 3.6L V6 F/I – All

The Spectre 9035 air intake system will add horsepower and even more torque to your RAM 1500 V6 diesel pickup.

The RAM 3.0L EcoDiesel turbocharged V6 is the first light-duty, small displacement diesel engine developed for the light truck market. The engine features such sophisticated components as a block cast of compacted graphite iron and double overhead cam aluminum cylinder heads.

Spectre provides all components for an OEM-grade installation.

Integral in the development process was the inclusion of advanced clean diesel technology and B20 biodiesel capabilities. The result is a light-duty diesel engine that, when paired with the 1500 HFE model, provides the best fuel economy of any full-size pickup. While this award-wining engine provides ample torque and good fuel mileage, power is a rather lowly 240hp, 28 ponies less than a V6 Toyota Camry.

For 2014, 2015 and 2016 RAM 1500 diesel owners who are seeking both more horsepower and torque from their V6, there is a solution. For less than the cost of an upgraded electronic control unit or high performance exhaust system, a Spectre air intake system can increase both horsepower and torque in your RAM 1500 pickup truck.

Thanks to the heat shield and weather stripping that seals against the hood, the 9035 prevents hot air from the engine bay from being sucked into the engine.

And while you'll need an expert to recalibrate your engine's ECU if you add a high-performance module, there's no need to do so with an air intake system. Likewise, a performance exhaust will need to be installed by a muffler shop – at shop rates.

Instead, the Spectre 9035 air intake system for diesel RAM 1500 pickups brings performance increases that can be achieved by a DIY installation that takes about 90 minutes with simple hand tools and no need to re-calibrate engine electronics.

If you ever need a replacement air filter for the 9035 system, the part number for the filter is HPR9892.

How this works is that the Spectre 9035 moves the air intake away from the hot engine and protects it with a heat shield so only cold, fresh, outside air can reach the air filter. Cooler air is denser, carrying additional oxygen prompting your ECU to add more fuel, thereby increasing horsepower. You've probably noticed the effect when driving your truck on a cool morning.

The Spectre 9035 air intake system utilizes a seven-inch non-woven synthetic filter media to help protect your engine from harmful dirt, dust, and debris. In addition the air filter is available in three different colors: HPR9892B (blue), HPR9892K (black), and HPR9892W (white).

The system comes with a reusable air filter, intake coupler, and black powder coated heat shield to help prevent hot engine air from entering the intake inlet.

Spectre cold air intake systems come complete with all required clamps, screws, and bolts for the look of an OE installation. OEM brackets and hardware are used so that no holes need to be drilled, making for a quick and easy installation. The kit also accommodates all factory emissions and vacuum lines.

The 9035 intake fits the following vehicles:
2016 RAM 1500 3.0L V6 Diesel
2016 Dodge 1500 3.0L V6 Diesel
2015 RAM 1500 3.0L V6 Diesel
2015 Dodge 1500 3.0L V6 Diesel
2014 RAM 1500 3.0L V6 Diesel

You can view all the air intakes that Spectre Performance makes for these vehicles at the Air Intake Systems for the RAM 1500 page and Air Intake Systems for the Dodge 1500 page. You can view all the air filters for these vehicles at the Air Filters for the RAM 1500 and Air Filters for the Dodge 1500 page. You can view all the Spectre Performance products for any vehicle by using the Search by Vehicle tool and you can find a local Spectre retailer by plugging your location into the Spectre Dealer Search as well.