(Photos provided by Optima Batteries) – While it may not seem like it on its face, the speed stop challenge at the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational is one of the most intense and demanding portions of the event. The speed stop requires and intense knowledge of the cars going AND woah-ing capabilities. You need to hustle the car through the course and then get to the stop box (and stop IN the box) as quickly as possible without hitting cones or missing the box. It is a timed deal so it is literally all about the hustle.
As you will see in these photos from this portion of the event, no one was taking it easy. From just missing the cones to landing on the brake pedal like a wrecking ball, everyone was right on the edge of their talent and their car’s ability. It is certainly easy to see who has anti-lock brakes and who doesn’t, that is for sure. Obviously the modern cars are equipped with anti-locks but other competitors, notably Mark Stielow’s Camaro also have them. The dudes who are sideways, smoking all four, or counter steering to stay off the dirt? Yeah, they don’t have ’em.
This event also shows how the braking system is tied into all other aspects of a competition car. If the chassis is not right and the thing is nose-diving, unloading the rear tires and locking up easy that’s no good. If the tire compound it like iron, you’ll be on a slip and slide. If all things are right, you’ll minimize the weight transfer to the front of the car, maintain a straight line, and minimize lockup. If you think accelerating a car super hard at the drags is tough, try threshold braking on a car where you have to modulate the pedal to prevent from total lockup. That’s what most of these drivers were trying to do at Optima. Not easy!
HIT THE LINK BELOW TO SEE THE SPEED STOP CHALLENGE PHOTOS AND THEN CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR 2013 OPTIMA ULTIMATE STREET CAR INVITATIONAL PHOTOS AS WELL!
2013 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational – 
2013 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational – 
2013 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational – 
2013 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational – 
Love that Maverick!