Four Stars for the Lone Star State’s First LS FEST
Andreanna Ditton
Everything is bigger in Texas, even LS Fest, as the Texas Motor Speedway welcomed LS-enthusiasts of all stripes into the sweltering summer heat to revel in some GM-powered thrills for Holley's inaugural LS FEST Texas. Like all LS Fest events, including LS Fest West in Las Vegas and the original LS Fest in Bowling Green, KY, the unifying feature is a commitment to the LS engine, no matter the package it arrives in, and there were definitely some crazy packages.
Featuring 1/8-mile no-prep drag racing on Texas Motor Speedway's Pit Road sponsored by Boost District Superchargers and LSX Magazine, Holley and Super Street sponosored Auto-Cross, the Hooker Blackheart AND LS1Tech.com Car Show, Westen Champlin Redneck Burnout Contest, and Dink's Dyno Werx/Bangshift.com Dyno Challenge, the event had all of the trappings that make an LS Fest a celebration of power and performance, packaged in that versatile engine.
To accomodate the not inconsiderable heat, Holley skewed the main competition events later in the day, giving drag racers, drifters and spectators a chance to escape the beating sun by kicking off competition after 4:00 p.m. and running until nearly midnight. However, AutoCross started earlier and the intrepid drivers had their vehicles prepped and ready, if not idling, much earlier in the day.
Car show entrants, also an eager bunch, started to display their vehicles as soon as participant gates opened and as usual, there were a wild bunch of LS swaps including a sweet Jeep Laredo (you're welcome for the pen, guys!), and a monster of a pickup that was so lifted the engine was out of sight, but not out of mind.
Misters in the midway helped spectators withstand the sweltering conditions during the daytime, but the absolutely smoking hot compeition couldn't be denied. Of course, for those competing for the Grand Champion Title, the heat was just one more thing to surpass.
Grand Champions were crowned in three categories: Late Model Class (1990 and newer); Vintage Class ('89 and older), and Truck Class. To compete, a single driver in a single vehicle needed to compete in drag racing, autocross and the 3S ( “3S” stands for speed, stop, and steering) challenge on the Auto Cross course. Each element is timed, and the drivers with the fastest combined times were declared the winners.
So, congratulations to:
Andy Voelkel driving a Lingenfelter C8 Corvette, Late Model Series
Jared Leisinger driving his 1964 Chevrolet Corvette roadster, Classic Series
Rob MacGregor driving Bill Holt’s 1986 Chevrolet C10 , Truck Series
For more coverage, and winners of the individual events, check out Holley's Motor Life page.
No Prep Drag Racing - Photo Courtesy of Holley
It's Texas, tacos are a must and Torchy's tacos at TMS, even more so.
Feel that sweet, sweet mist...
Centering the LS Fest Texas decal on the windshield is an art form
I assume since it made it into the show, there's an engine in this thing.
