If you are a fan of GM’s fantastic LS engine platform, or have an LS-powered car, or heck, just love cool car shows in general, then Holley’s annual LS Fest should be on your automotive bucket list.
Of course, Holley’s LS Fest is much more than just your standard car show. Yes, there is a Show-N-Shine competition, but there is also drag racing, autocrossing, a dyno challenge, drifting and even an engine swap contest.
In 2014 the LS Fest will be celebrating its fifth anniversary, and Holley says the dates will be September 5-7, so mark you calendars now. As always, Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY, will be the host facility.
Here’s what Holley has to say about this year’s festivities:
LS Fest continues to be the only event in America where you can bring your custom LS powered vehicle and participate in the following events: autocross, drag racing, dyno challenge, engine swap challenge, show-n-shine, the 3S Challenge, countryside cruise, drifting and more. All of these performance disciplines can be enjoyed in one venue over the course of the three day event.While a good portion of the competitive field is always bolstered by late model F-bodys and Corvettes, they are not the only vehicles at LS Fest. The event is for any vehicle with a GM LS engine installed between the frame rails. The 2013 LS Fest brought in everything from LS swapped rock crawlers, import drift cars, street rods, trucks and much more.As the 2013 LS Fest unfolded, it was Danny Popp who emerged Grand Champion in his C3 Corvette Stingray, atop the 97 cars competing for the Grand Champion title. Grand Champion participants compete in the largest variety of events at LS Fest looking to be crowned the best all-around street machine. Competition was fierce as only seven points separated first from second place. Brian Finch took second with Kyle Tucker nabbing third.
LS Fest would not be the same without serious drag racing, and the classes continued to grow in numbers for 2013 with well over 200 cars competing. David Adkins took home the win in the brand new 1/8th mile Pro LSX class with an ET of 4.54 seconds at a speed of 162.86 MPH with Mike Brown winning the exciting Drag Radial class and running 7.074 at 209.04 MPH. Drag racing results for all classes are available for viewing on the LS Fest event website.
LS Fest has held a Drift Challenge for the last three years and 2013 was the most action packed yet. Several drifters with lightweight, caged LS powered imports as well as a drift prepped Pontiac GTO competed in tandem competition for a cash prize. This year Dan Savage, an LS Fest veteran, piloted his LS powered Nissan S13 to the top podium spot.
The autocross is a great place to test your technical driving ability behind the wheel of your performance car. Danny Popp laid down the best autocross time of the weekend with a 35.851 to be the autocross champion while Johnny Cichowski and his home built LS powered 1999 Mazda Miata emerged the victor in the exciting Autocross Shootout.
The Car Craft Engine Swap Challenge introduced new rules in 2013, increasing the amount of time it took two teams to shoehorn LS engines into two identically prepped, never before seen cars. Teammates Adam Leigh and Pete Eskew from Missouri had what it took to complete the job in just one hour and forty seconds to beat out Kelium Griffin and Mike Edwards from Alabama on the opposing team. 2014 Engine Swap Challenge rules and entry details are yet to be announced.
To keep up with announcements, check the LS Fest web page here.