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Spectre Performance at 10th Anniversary 2017 OUSCI Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Shot of FM3 Performance Marketing CEO/President, Jimi Day out at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Jimi Day, President and CEO of FM3 Performance Marketing and OUSCI Director of Racing

This year, the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational celebrates its 10th Anniversary. The event, OUSCI, immediately following the SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is the brainchild of Optima’s Director of Product Development and Marketing, Cam Douglass. Along with veteran racer and President/CEO of FM3 Performance Marketing, Inc. these two gentlemen changed the way many builders, vendors, and attendees look at SEMA today.

The “Invitational” has become the ultimate street car event by which a participant can earn his or her way in on points garnered at qualifying events. OR by receiving a golden ticket invitation, at the SEMA show, should your badass built streetcar capture the attention of the likes of Cam himself or partner Jimi Day.

SHot of the 1965 Candy Tangerine Chevrolet Corvette owner/driver by Greg Thurmond in Optima Alley

Greg Thurmond's 1965 Candy Tangerine Chevrolet Corvette - SCAR in Optima Alley at SEMA

And this year it seemed as though it was bigger than ever. The stakes were higher, the competition was stiffer and the drivers were ready to rock and roll.

Predicting a full week that began with a midnight load into Optima Alley at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the OUSCI participants spent time with their sponsors and other competitors. They attended SEMA build unveilings, stood in line to meet some iconic and legendary movers and shakers in the automotive industry. They attended educational seminars and mixers hosted by SEMA’s 10 diverse councils learning and exploring all the workings that SEMA has to offer. They took part in OPTIMA’s most recent virtual reality experience at the OPTIMA Booth and even made appearances of their own at OPTIMA’s Annual SEMA Press Conference. Finally, these competitors would endure the gut-wrenching critique of the judges for the Lingenfelter Design and Engineering segment the first of five segments of this monumental event. Seriously this was a big deal! You can bet they were all itching to get out to Las Vegas Motor Speedway to see if the improvements they made to their rides would actually make a difference in their final position when it was all said and done.

Photo of SCAR in the 2015 SEMA Show Spectre Booth

SCAR sitting front and center at the 2015 SEMA Show in the Spectre Performance Booth

This year, OUSCI saw a couple big changes starting with event format. The drivers would have the bulk of Saturday dedicated to autocross. The field was divided into their respective classes; GTV (Vintage), GTS (Sports Car), GTL (Lights), GTE (Electric), GTC (Compacts), GT (think Heavyweights like Camaro, Mustang, etc.) and to keep things fair, they would race in multiple run groups throughout the morning and afternoon in side by side competition. After a full day of Detroit Speed & Engineering Autocross to prove these drivers weren’t simply slapping license plates on race cars, the competitors would prove the car’s roadworthiness in the Lucas Oil/MAV TV Road Rally.

Photo of Greg and Scar just after the big SEMA Show and his first OUSCI

Greg Thurmond with SCAR in 2015 post SEMA Thrash

On Sunday, the participants would compete in the Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop and Falken Tires Hot Lap Challenges throughout the day, pushing the limits of braking and suspension in multiple run groups on road course and speed stop sessions, culminating in the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational group photo and awards ceremony. One very exciting and very welcome change is the addition of the Class Cups awarded to the “Top Dog” in each class at this incredible event. Yes, that means not just one award, that means 7 very happy award winners.

Shot of Lynda Jacobs behind the wheel of Wimpy on the autocross at OUSCI 2017

The midwest sweetheart, Lynda Jacobs in "Wimpy" on the autocross track at OUSCI 2017

In fact, the 10th Anniversary of OUSCI saw a very diverse field of more than 100 competitors with the largest field in OUSCI history; the GTV Class with 34 registered drivers!

Spectre Performance had great representation at OUSCI this year in the GTV Class with returning competitor Greg Thurmond in his 1965 Candy Tangerine Corvette Stingray Resto-Mod known throughout the pro-touring world as SCAR. Along with midwest sweetheart, Linda Jacobs and her incredible Spectre Performance-equipped 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle affectionately named “Wimpy”. Both Greg and Linda came to the 10th Anniversary ready to race with their “A” Game.

This is the third consecutive year that Spectre Performance team driver Greg Thurmond made the big show. You might remember in 2015, Thurmond’s Vette sat front and center in the Spectre Performance booth at SEMA where it did indeed catch the eye of possibly tens of thousands of SEMA show goers. More importantly, he nabbed a golden ticket invite. For 2016 and 2017 Thurmond raced his way into OUSCI and has been a force in the GTV Class each time, bringing home an 8th place GTV overall finish at this years OUSCI. When we caught up with him he shared that the Detroit Speed and Engineering Autocross, “was a bit tougher for us this year and finished up 11th in the GTV Class,” Thurmond said. However, he was rather pleased with his success at the Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop securing a 6th Place position in his class.

Photo of Lynda Jacobs in her 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle, "Wimpy"

Jacobs 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle Wimpy

Husband and crew chief, Chris Jacob’s, had this to say about his and Lynda's experience at OUSCI, “This year's event had it's ups and downs, but we had a great time. Lynda constantly improved and her Chevelle performed flawlessly. Always great to head home with a car that just requires a wipe down.” But Lynda’s no stranger to OUSCI. In fact, this was her second go-round behind the wheel but her first driving this new and improved OUSCI format. Also a GTV Class competitor, Lynda has proven she can throw down with the best of them. Maneuvering her Chevelle with ease and confidence Lynda would come away with a fantastic finish and was one of only three female competitors. That’s definitely something to brag about!

This year OUSCI saw the crowning of a new Grand Champion, Ken Thwaits in his 2006 Mitsubishi EVO. The racing was tight and the competition worthy. Ken also took the GTL Class Win.

Photo of Jacobs at grid for the Falken Tire Hot Lap Challenge

Jacobs at grid for the Falken Tires Hot Lap Challenge

Additional class champions are:

GTV: Larry Wood, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

GTS: Austin Barnes, 2010 Dodge Viper

GTL: Ken Thwaits, 2006 Mitsubishi EVO

GTC: Scott Budasalich, 2006 Honda S2000

GTE: Matthew Scott, 2017 Hyundai Ioniq

GT: Bryan Johnson, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

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Suzy Bauter Brings Her 1963 Rambler Wagon to the 2017 Spectre SEMA Booth

Click the image to see an interview with owner and builder of the Rambler, Suzy Bauter

Click the image to see an interview with owner and builder of the Rambler, Suzy Bauter

If in addition to “Spell Check” there was a program that determined whether the words in a sentence actually fit together it would definitely spit out “Rambler-Station Wagon-Pro Touring-Autocross.” But that hasn't stopped Suzy Bauter from turning what she thought would be a daily driver into the meanest Rambler that’s ever annihilated a cone.

Starting with a solid, straight 1963 Rambler American 440 Station Wagon, complete with engine in the back of the wagon, Suzy started by having the flathead 6 rebuilt. With all of 130 horsepower and a three-on-the-tree gearbox, Suzy took the Rambler out to autocross with her husband and ace autocrosser Rodney Prouty. Rodney, by the way, is well-known for killing cones in his “Plain Jane” 1968 Camaro.

So Suzy’s Plan A wasn’t working, so it was time to move to Plan B.

The intake assembly was pieced together from components available in the Spectre catalog

Easily spotted are the Spectre intake components that easily fit within the confines under the hood

That involved gutting the car, re-positioning the car on the frame (more in a minute), replacing the front end with a first generation Camaro subframe and the rear suspension with a full IRS from a fifth-generation Camaro, then stuffing an LS V8 under the hood, a full seven inches rearward from stock. Oh, and they did all of this by themselves in their two-car garage.

The Camaro front clip is supplemented by Global West upper control arms and Detroit Speeds lower control arms.

By 1963 parent company AMC, was holding on for dear life. They tried to squeeze as many models out of common components as possible, which is how Suzy ended up with a wagon with a 99-inch wheelbase but 100-inches between wheel well centers. As the plan was to flare the fenders to the extreme, that inch would cause problems. So the wheelbase was stretched to match the car.

The flares are steel with smoothing achieved with a professional body shop filler

The Flair Witch Project was completed inside the Bauter-Prouty family garage

Under the hood, the 5.3L LM7 V8 currently produces around 360 horsepower with its Edelbrock carb conversion, but it sounds like Suzy might be expecting a supercharger under the Christmas tree. Other mods include a Spectre fuel rail, fuel regulator, and crankcase breather. According to Suzy “there are no aftermarket parts available for a 1963 Rambler” so thankfully Spectre offers a wide range of intake components to custom-assemble a high-flow system. The LS is backed by a 700R4 with a TCI valve body, driving back to a fifth-generation Camaro differential.

While under the car, the couple installed 14-inch rotors and six-piston Baer Pro+ 6P brakes with 18x11 wheels from US Mags, fitted with P315/30ZR18 BFGs all around. Perhaps the most trick system on the car is the cutting-edge Viking Berserker ASM (Active Shock Management). It’s an intelligent system that collects data from yaw-rate to steering wheel position through a battalion of sensors and adjusts the damper valving up to 1000 times per second. All variables are adjustable through a laptop-based program, so the tuning can be adjusted for almost every handling state between runs, if needed.

The ginormous fender flares were formed and fitted in the Bauter-Prouty family garage as well, earning the nickname of the “Flare Witch Project” around the garage for the amount of toil required to get them fitted and blended properly. While all the cursing was going on in the garage, Suzy was inside sewing all new seat covers and carpets.

The interior also includes a harness bar from which to hang the shoulder straps

Suzy herself stitched the interior including seat covers and floor mats

The only work not completed inside the Bauter-Prouty garage was paint and final bodywork by Best of Show Coachworks in Escondido, California. Suzy gives high marks to the caliber of the work at Best of Show: “It was never supposed to be a pretty race car but it sure is now.”

Ask about their relationship Spectre, Suzy replied “We been loyal to Spectre for years. They supported us on our Camaro build and have become good industry friends.”

We’d love to report on how the gonzo ‘63 Ramb-aro faired in its first autocross, but that event is still to come. Suzy and Rodney had committed to having the beast on display in the Spectre Booth Number 22755 at the 2017 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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1966 Chevy Corvette from SEMA 2017 Has a Hidden Secret That Most People Don't Know

Click the video link to hear why the builder of this beautiful Corvette did such an atrocity

Click the video link to hear why the builder of this beautiful Corvette did such an atrocity

If cutting a split-window 1966 Corvette in half and widening it by over six inches is your idea of fun, here’s the car for you. The “Split Ray” was built by Scott Roth, of The Auto Shoppe, in Vermont with the goal of combining Italian supercar flair with a C2 to produce what he modestly calls “something different”. The judges at the Detroit Autorama agreed, selecting the “Split Ray” as a Great 8, one of eight nominees from the show eligible for the coveted Ridler award. And no wonder. The attention to detail is astounding from the Ferrari-like egg-crate grille, hand-formed aluminum bumpers, custom DOT-approved windshield, to the LS9 with bespoke blower cover and valve covers from EVOD Industries to give it the look of an updated Fuelie. EVOD also supplied the wheels, which appear to be knock offs, but actually hide a five bolt mounting. In case you’re wondering, the total effort was 22,000 man hours spread across a crew of nine over 17 months. Scott comments that “people don’t notice at first that the car has been widened.” Not surprisingly, the extra width makes the “Split Ray” appear more contemporary. The interior certainly is inspired by a newer era, with many C7 components. Asked why he chose Spectre for the “Split Ray”, Scott enthusiastically replied that “we’ve used Spectre filters in about a dozen builds. The filters work great, there are lots of options, and they’re easy to work.” Thanks for the kind words Scott, and congratulation on a truly stunning build. Watch the video to see more about the innovative “Split Ray”.

Under that custom blower cover sits an LS9 that breathes through a Spectre filter and custom intake

Under that custom blower cover sits an LS9 that breathes through a Spectre filter and custom intake

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Spectre Air Intake Kit Boosts Horsepower, Torque on 2013-2014 Ram Trucks

The Spectre 9005 includes a cast aluminum tube, heat shield and Spectre HPR 0891 air filter

The Spectre 9005 air intake kit fits 2013-2014 Ram pickups

If you own a 2013-2014 Ram 3500 or 2500 or a 2013-2014 Dodge Ram 3500 or 2500 pickup equipped with a 6.7-liter diesel engine and you want it to perform much better than it does, then you need to get the new Spectre 9005 air intake kit.

The air intake includes a cast aluminum tube, black powdercoated heat shield and a Spectre HPR0891 air filter and is designed with the physics of airflow in mind to outperform the factory air intake to improve engine horsepower, torque, and engine noise.

You may not be aware that factory intake systems are notorious for restricting airflow and thus inhibiting the performance of a vehicle’s engine. Replacing the factory system with the Spectre 9005 cold air intake ensures that colder air gets into the engine. Cooler air brings more oxygen and denser air into the combustion chamber of the engine and that results in more power. This is achieved because the air intake blocks the filter from the engine compartment so that hot air generated by the engine and other components does not mix with the cooler air being directed into the engine. Not only is horsepower and torque improved, airflow is also enhanced because the tube of the intake has been specially engineered to the proper size and diameter to produce the smoothest and straightest route for the air to flow in a 2013-14 Ram 2500 or 3500 HD.

The Spectre 9005 includes a cast aluminum tube, heat shield and Spectre HPR 0891 air filter

The Spectre 9005 includes a cast aluminum tube, heat shield, and Spectre HPR0891 air filter

The HPR0891 round tapered replacement air filter has been included in this particular air intake kit because it is designed to offer the specific airflow and filtration necessary for diesel engines. The non-woven synthetic material used in the filter’s medium is pre-oiled to capture and hold particles with minimal effect to the airflow. It is washable and reusable and will last for up to 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions until a cleaning is necessary.

In addition, Spectre offers the HPR4820 AccuCharge precision air filter cleaning and oiling system that is specially formulated to cleanse the filter so that it can be used over and over again for the life of your vehicle. If you drive 150,000 miles and change your regular air filter every 15,000 miles, then you are purchasing and discarding 10 filters. With the Spectre HPR0891 washable and reusable air filter and Spectre’s HPR4820 cleaning and oiling system, there will be no need for you to purchase another air filter ever again.

The engine used to power the 2013-14 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks is the latest version of the Cummins B Series family of engines. Designated the B6.7, the 6.7-liter L6 diesel engine produces 350-horsepower and 650-lbs.-ft. of torque. This particular engine succeeded the previous B5.9, a 5.9-liter (360-cubic inch) Interact System B straight-six engine.

The newer engine offers a larger displacement than the previous engine, features an increase of the cylinder bore and piston stroke to 4.21-inches and 4.88-inch stroke that results in a displacement of 408-cubic inches.

The Spectre 9005 is designed to replace the airflow restrictive factory air intake system

The Spectre 9005 is easy to install with common hand tools

The Spectre 9005 Air Intake Kit is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2014 RAM 3500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2014 RAM 2500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2014 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2014 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 RAM 3500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 RAM 2500 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models
2013 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP 6.7L L6 Diesel Engine - All Models

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Autocross Driver Suzy Bauter Builds a Pro-Touring AMC Rambler for 2017 SEMA Show

The Suzy Bauter 1963 Rambler will be on display at the Spectre Performance booth at 2017 SEMA

The Suzy Bauter 1963 Rambler will be on display at the Spectre Performance booth at SEMA 2017

In 1958, a young CEO named George Romney decided to kill off the Nash and Hudson brands in order to save American Motors from extinction. AMC’s car line was too outdated to keep pace with the big three automakers, so Romney spent what little money the company had, to develop a new compact car called the Rambler. Because the Rambler was based on an old Nash design, this left AMC with plenty of money to advertise the virtues of owning an economy car. By 1960, the Rambler was the third best-selling car brand in the United States, and Romney had become a household name in the process. Prior to AMC, no automaker had ever used their CEO as the public face for the company. This shrewd PR move allowed George Romney to convince Americans that his new Rambler was far superior to those “big, bulky, gas-guzzling dinosaurs”, which ironically earned him the nickname ‘dinosaur hunter’. Sales continued to soar, and Motor Trend described the 1963 Rambler American as “a straightforward, proven design with no nonsense - something for everyday folks.” More than 50 years later, a PR consultant named Suzy Bauter decided to buy a 1963 Rambler American 440 Wagon, and now she’s on a mission to convince people that a Rambler can outrun the dinosaurs on the autocross circuit.

Suzy regularly competes in autocross events with her 1968 Chevy Camaro

Suzy regularly competes in autocross events with her 1968 Chevy Camaro

As a little girl in San Mateo California, Suzy liked to hang out and watch her brother and his friends work on their cars. She took auto shop in high school but wound up with a finance degree working on Wall Street. Years later, she changed careers and started doing PR in the oil and gas industry. “I wanted a change, and I thought that PR would give me more time at home. But it really didn't.” She said. A few years later, her husband Rodney Prouty started competing in autocross events on the weekends, and Suzy would help him work on their 1968 Camaro. It didn’t take long for her to get hooked on the sport, and soon she was competing alongside her husband. 

“At a recent Goodguys event, Spectre had tents for us to pit at, and a big barbecue for everyb

“At a recent Goodguys event, Spectre had tents for us to pit at and a big barbecue for everybody"

“In autocross, we help each other out, we root each other on, we cookout in the campground, it really is a family. And I've been fortunate. I lived all my life in California and had a big motorsports family. Then a few years ago, we decided to move to Indiana and suddenly I had no more autocross family. I had to go to my first event by myself because my husband was working. And by the end of the weekend, I had five new friends, that are still my friends along with several more.” This immersion in the world of motorsports also inspired a career change, so Suzy left her job in the oil industry and started doing PR for motorsport companies like SCCA, Big Red Camaro, Evolution Driving School, Autocross Guys, and Pro-Touring.com. She continued: “Spectre has always been very grassroots in motorsports. They would pull their rig in, and you knew that they would be there to support you. Or just root you on. I will be a loyal Spectre customer for the rest of my life, just because of the support that they have given to my motorsports family.” 

Suzy's SEMA show car started life as a plain-Jane 1963 AMC Rambler American 440 Wagon

Suzy's SEMA show car started life as a plain-Jane 1963 AMC Rambler American 440 Wagon

Around the same time that Suzy started doing PR in the motorsports world, she also decided that it was time to build her own car. “I've been autocrossing our Camaro for a couple of years, and I decided that I wanted my own car. And I really wanted a wagon. I thought I wanted a Ford Falcon wagon because we had one when I was a kid. I thought: it's small enough, I can fit a V-8 in it. You know, make a cute little autocross car out of it. But Falcons became really hot the year that I decided I wanted one (2010). So, I started looking at alternatives, then I stumbled upon this Rambler on Craigslist.” She wound up buying a 1963 AMC Rambler American 440 Wagon, with a straight body, and an 80 horsepower 3.2L flathead 6 in the trunk. “Originally, I thought I would rebuild the flathead, put a little wider tire on it, and drive it with the three on the tree. But after about a year of autocrossing, I realized that the expected 125 horsepower of the rebuild, wasn't going to cut it. So, I have a beautiful restored flathead six still wrapped up in the garage.”

This 2017 SEMA Show car will be powered by a 5.3L Chevy V8 with a Spectre air filter and fuel rail

This 2017 SEMA Show car will be powered by a 5.3L Chevy V8 with a Spectre air filter and fuel rail

Suzy Bauter was not a mechanic or fabricator by trade, but she had helped her husband work on their 1968 Camaro over the years. “I'm fully capable of doing stuff like electrical and upholstery, and bolt-on stuff,” she said. For the Rambler SEMA build however, she’s had to get a lot more involved in the build. “We've moved across the country twice since I started building this car. When I talked to Spectre and they said they would put it in their SEMA booth, that was kind of the final push. This year was the year the car needed to be done.”

Suzy decided to replace the AMC straight-6 with a Chevy 5.3L V8, which she tuned to produce an estimated 360-hp. Some of the modifications include a Spectre fuel rail, fuel regulator, crank case breather, and a high-flow intake system. That’s backed up by a modified 700R4 transmission with a TCI Autocross valve body, and the whole drivetrain has been moved back into the firewall 7-inches to achieve better weight balance. Underneath, she and Rodney welded in a first-gen Camaro front subframe, complete with a custom suspension from Suspension Geek. A fifth-gen Camaro independent rear suspension and differential were used out back. And all four corners will be getting big Baer Pro+ 6P brakes, Viking adjustable coilovers, and 18x10.5 US Mags wheels wearing sticky BFG Rival S tires.

Suzy Bauter welding suspension components on her Pro-Touring 1963 AMC Rambler

Suzy Bauter welding suspension components on her Pro-Touring 1963 AMC Rambler

Because of the wide tires and suspension setup, significant fender flares had to be added. This will result in an aggressive Pro-touring look, which will be set off by a custom color scheme by Best of Show Coachworks. And since, as Suzy put it, “There isn't a single aftermarket thing for a ’63 Rambler wagon,” she’s adapted universal-fit components from Spectre, including the front spoiler, door handles, and the throttle cable.  

Thanks to its sub-3,000lb curb weight, low center of gravity, and autocross tuned suspension, the Suzy Bauter 1963 Rambler American 440 Wagon SEMA show car should be a serious contender when she begins campaigning it in SCCA Solo, Goodguys AutoCross, and Optima Autocross events across the Southeast and Midwest. We at Spectre can't wait to watch Ms. Bauter become the next 'Dinosaur Hunter' on the autocross circuit later this year. In the meantime, go check out her '63 Rambler Wagon in the Spectre Performance Booth at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Autocross driver Suzy Bauter plans to be the next Dinosaur Hunter with her little AMC Rambler

Autocross driver Suzy Bauter plans to be the next Dinosaur Hunter with her little AMC Rambler

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