Ultimate Street Car returns in 2024 as ‘Ultimate Tuner Car’.
All cars wishing to enter will meet at Yass on Thursday 11th April at 11am, then drive to Cootamundra Airport to perform various tests.
ABOUT
The “Ultimate Street Car” originated as an award we gave inside Drag Battle and GT-R Challenge for the quickest car that drove to the track.
In 2019 we decided to expand Ultimate Street Car into its own event, run alongside Drag Battle and GT-R Challenge, thanks to the help of our friends at Cars from Japan.
The event this year will run on the 11th and 12th of April, inside the 2024 Tuner’s Edge Drag Battle and Platinum Racing Products GT-R Challenge event at Cootamundra Airport.
With so many people claiming their car is a “street car”, we wanted to create the ultimate test and see who really does have the best one.
We have multiple criteria that will enable some cars to excel in one area over others, and, level the playing field.
A good street car isn’t just about a number on the board, but how well it drives and how good the overall package is.
SCORING
Elapsed Time
Mile Per Hour
Lap Time
Drivability
Engineering
Presentation
20 POINTS
20 POINTS
20 POINTS
20 POINTS
10 POINTS
10 POINTS
CATEGORIES
The competition is split into two categories to help level the playing field:
PRE 2007 – For cars built up until December 2006
POST 2007 – For cars from January 2007 onwards
There will be a 2WD and 4WD winner in each category as well as an outright winner.
JUDGING
The judging is broken down into 6 categories and points will be given on a sliding scale rather than ranked from 1st to last.
For example - in ET, the slowest car would get 0 points while the quickest would get 20 points. Each competitor’s times are then scaled within the slowest and quickest time to get their points.
It is possible that half of the field could score 19 points and above if they are close. This means cars score more on their outright performance rather than ranked performance in the group.
CRITERIA
1.ELAPSED TIME
Average of two best passes down the quarter mile.
You can do as many runs as desired but the average of the best three is taken.
2. MILES PER HOUR
Average of two highest MPH passes down quarter mile.
3. LAP TIME
Average of two best laps around the handling circuit set up at Cootamundra Airport.
This can be done by owner or another driver. Tyres can be changed to suit.
4. DRIVABILITY
Score from the drivability judge.
Andrew Hawkins will be driving each car on a course laid out within the airport to test the car’s street-ability.
How well and consistently does it take of from lights?
How well does it cruise?
How laggy or responsive is it?
Is the car comfortable and could it survive weekend traffic?
5. ENGINEERING
Score from the engineering judge.
Quality of workmanship is scored as well as how balanced the car’s modifications are.
Do the drivetrain and suspension match the performance?
Is it well thought out?
6. PRESENTATION
Score from the presentation judge.
How much presence does the car have?
Does it snap necks?
Is it neat?
Do its look match its performance?
Event format
Cars must meet at Yass Service Centre, approx an hour away from Cootamundra, at 11am on Thursday 11th April to leave at 12pm.
Cars must drive non-stop from there to Cootamundra. Any car that stops along the way will be disqualified, so ensure the car is full of E85 before leaving.
Once cars arrive at Cootamundra Airport, they will be cycled through the following:
Handling Circuit
Engineering and Presentation Judging station
Photography and Video Station
Drivability Course
Cars will then do solo drag runs on Friday as part of the 2024 Tuners Edge Drag Battle and Platinum Racing Products GT-R Challenge.
They can do as many runs as they like but the top two runs will be used to calculate the scores.
MEDIA COVERAGE
The 2024 Ultimate Tuner Car Challenge, presented by Cars from Japan, will have its own separate media coverage once again and we are expanding the coverage even further with more details on each car.
This feature is not only designed to showcase the cars themselves but also showcase the workshops and companies behind the cars.
We believe showing a car’s overall performance and reliability is just as important as showing the “best pass” down the strip.
ELIGIBILITY
The event is open to all registered cars that meet the Drag Battle and GT-R Challenge “True Street” rules and regulations.
Cars must enter the 2024 Drag Battle or GT-R Challenge and there is no additional charge to do the Ultimate Street Car event.
Cars that are entering for the sole purpose of Ultimate Tuner Car will have relaxed rules on the minimum ET normally required to enter Drag Battle.
Check the rules and regulations here
TO ENTER
Select the option to enter Ultimate Tuner Car on checkout with your Drag Battle or GT-R Challenge online entry.