Jane Thurmond Positively Represents K&N Air Filters at the 2015 OUSCI in Las Vegas

Female racer Jane Thurmond, and her 1964 Chevy Corvette named Scarlett, were chosen to represent K&N Air Filters at the 2015 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by K&N

A highly anticipated invitation only race follows the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada each year. Optima Batteries, in cooperation with the Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) puts on the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by K&N Performance Air Filters. Throughout the 2015 season, the USCA promoted nine K&N sponsored nationwide Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car events as an opportunity to qualify for a highly coveted spot in the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational.

The 2015 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by K&N was a bit more difficult for Jane Thurmond because her husband Greg was also competing and could not lend as much help

Female racer Jane Thurmond was chosen to represent K&N Air Filters at the 2015 OUSCI event. Jane races a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette nicknamed Scarlett. Jane and her husband originally built Scarlett as a show car, but it has morphed into a highly competitive street & track car. In 2014 Jane Thurmond earned a USCA Spirit of the Event award which got her into the K&N supported Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational for the first time. Jane had a lot resting on her shoulders going into the 2015 OUSCI, however her ability to keep calm under pressure, and her bubbly personality helped her sail through the weekend.

Jane, a mother of three, is married to Greg Thurmond who runs GTS Customs in Simi Valley, California. Jane began racing when she decided she'd had enough of waiting on the sidelines and wanted to do something more exciting. Her driving has progressed so much that she now teaches performance driving techniques to help others get into the sport. USCA events are broken into classes based on vehicle type, and skill level. However, the OUSCI does not make these distinctions and while this does make it tough for the underdogs, it did provide Jane Thurmond an opportunity to prove that she’s just as good a driver as the boys.

While most people got lost their first time on the 2015 OUSCI Autocross course, Jane Thurmond’s preparation paid off as she drove her way around the course flawlessly, not missing a beat

Jane Thurmond and her 1964 Chevrolet Corvette nicknamed Scarlett are able to excel in the OUSCI Speed Stop Challenge as Scarlett has been equipped with an anti-lock braking system

What would make the 2015 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by K&N Air Filters more difficult for Jane Thurmond was the fact that her husband Greg was also competing and would not be able to act as Jane’s trackside support. This was the first time the couple would be focusing on two separate vehicles by themselves. Luckily for Jane she isn’t new to racing and her past experience at the 2014 OUSCI, Camarillo Autocross, and the 2015 Las Vegas Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car race served her well.

Jane and fellow competitor Brandy Phillips spent over half an hour memorizing the autocross course beforehand. Luckily, the course was very similar to her hometown Camarillo Autocross set up that she races each month. So while most of the people got lost, Jane navigated her way around the autocross flawlessly, not missing a beat. She was part of the morning group and even with cold tires and poor track conditions she still managed some pretty quick track times; eventually setting her quickest laps at the end of the session.

Next up for Jane was the Speed Stop Challenge. There, competitors are tasked with navigating a portion of a short banked oval track as quickly as possible before coming to a complete stop in a 40’ stretch designated as the stop box, without going over. Jane and her 1964 Chevrolet Corvette nicknamed Scarlett are able to excel in this portion of the OUSCI as Scarlett has been equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Plus Jane has seemingly mastered the art of pushing her car to a precision stop.

Jane Thurmond hit the 2015 OUSCI road course portion of the event in her 1964 Corvette and immediately noticed that she was on track with larger, much more powerful cars

The next day, Sunday November 9th, 2015, is probably the most exciting portion of the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational event. Sunday’s competition consisted of the Hot Lap Challenge on the road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event was split into four groups and Jane was slotted into the Intermediate A group. Jane hit the course that morning around 9:30 and immediately noticed that she was on track with larger, much more powerful cars. Fortunately she and Scarlett held their own and put down some quick laps in each session.

At the end of the weekend, Jane Thurmond drove Scarlett to a 66th place finish out of 90 competitors. While everyone would like to go out and win, not everyone can or ever will. In fact, Jane’s primary goal was to go out and have a great time. The simple fact that more than 25% of the field experienced mechanical issues; some of them race ending issues, while Jane and Scarlett had zero mechanical issues all weekend is cause for celebration in itself.

At the end of the weekend Jane Thurmond held her own as just one of seven female competitors and drove her 1964 Corvette Scarlett to a 66th place finish out of 90 competitors

Secondly Jane wanted to do her best to represent her sponsors; and this doesn’t always have to be done in the winner’s circle. Janes electrifying personality makes her a natural when it comes to being on camera. More than once Jane Thurmond was filmed for the MAVTV coverage of the 2015 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by K&N Air Filters. Plus, regardless of how she placed being one of just 7 female competitors at the 2015 OUSCI is sure to encourage more women to try their hand at racing.

Jane and her husband Greg Thurmond are one of few married couples entering autocross and pro-touring competitions together, and at the same time, against one another. Greg’s bright orange 1963 Widebody C2 Chevy Corvette, which he unveiled at the 2015 SEMA Show, has aptly been nicknamed Scar. Naming his C2 Corvette Scar both compliments Jane’s car while at the same time provoking it, and should make for a great show as Jane and Scarlett eventually go up against Greg’s GTS Customs built Widebody ‘Vette named Scar.