we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—if you’re a fan of anything and everything LS, you need to attend the Holley LS Fest. Held, yet again, in Bowling Green, Kentucky over the second weekend in September (7-9), the 2012 Holley LS Fest built upon the success of previous years, taking the LS lifestyle to the next level with large crowds, enthusiastic racers, and an action packed schedule that kept fans moving across the gorgeous Beech Bend property all weekend long. Threatened by rain—for the third year in a row—early Friday attendance was again impressive, with the all-LS pits filling up fast as the racers and crew members arrived. And while the drag racing fields still had a little room left in the ladders come Sunday, the street, drift, and autocross crowds managed to take up the slack, filling the circle track with car after car, and packing over 80 cars into the True Street cruise. Along with fantastic head-to-head competition, enthusiasts were treated to an excellent two-day car show, a large and well-arranged manufacturers midway, an exciting engine swap challenge, and open pits filled with friendly racers to check out their favorite rides up close. Whether you were there with us or not, make sure you check out our coverage of this killer event and then head online to the GMHTP YouTube channel to see the exciting video footage. We’ll see you next year!

"Is that rain? It looks like rain… wait, maybe it was just a – nope, nope that’s rain. Oh no, that’s a ton of rain. Everyone get under a cover, here it comes. Damn it." And rain it did, for the better part of an hour, right in the middle of Saturday’s qualifying session at the 6th Annual LSX Shootout held at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana. For a brisk October weekend, a little rain wouldn’t normally be such a big deal – after all, the LSX Shootout doesn’t feel like a race unless we’re up way too late to get it finished – but it wasn’t storm one that had racers bothered, it was the super cell that was behind it, poised to drench Indianapolis and the three major cities around it for all of Sunday and Monday. It was time for the racers, spectators, and NMCA officials to make a tough decision. Do we attempt to dry the track tonight and run the entire race on Saturday or do we gamble it all, call the Saturday portion of the race, and hope that Sunday is better? Hope wasn’t the popular choice, as every radar in the area indicated a massive washout on Sunday, and a Monday morning showdown wasn’t really what anyone wanted.

For the past five years, a diehard group of racers has gotten together for a great time and awesome racing. They call it the LTX Shootout, and we’ve been lucky enough to follow along with each and every event since its inception five years ago. The early days were spent in Kansas City, but the move to Bowling Green, Kentucky offered a great, central location and the parts-killing traction of Beech Bend Raceway Park.

Rounding Gurney Bend, the Killer was on a mission. We had just nailed turns 4 and 5, hitting the apexes perfectly, and I was busy applying throttle and unwinding the wheel when I clicked the Camaro into Fourth gear. It was pulling hard now, with the braking zone markers coming up fast on the left side of the track. Throttle off, brakes on, pedal directly to the floor. “Uh, Matt, we don’t have any brakes…” Yep, the moment every road racer fears had just happened to me. The brake pedal dropped all the way down to the sheet-metal, no braking effort could be felt at all, and the STI Killer was heading right into the hairpin at well over a hundred miles an hour. “DOWNSHIFT!” yelled Matt, who was simultaneously tightening his 5-point harness and wondering why he agreed to instruct me on this session. From Fifth gear, Second seemed like the next best choice, even if it meant over revving the engine and locking up the rear tires. The noise that followed was incredible, as was the feeling of the ring gear shearing teeth off of itself while trying to deal with the massive load we had just placed on it. But the Camaro was slowing down now and the wall wasn’t as close as we thought. Past the turn-in we went, heading down into the runoff area that Sebring kept for this exact reason. Twenty miles an hour now, another downshift, slowing even more, and the brakes are finally coming back around. I hadn’t taken a breath since this debacle started and my heart was beating at what felt like 2,000 beats per minute, but we were alive and the Camaro was still in one piece. The rush was incredible and the only thought left was, “I hope we can fix this and get back out on track soon!”

It seems like no matter how many pages of event coverage we have it is never enough. Here are some extra pictures of the 2012 Holley LS Fest in Bowling Green, Kentucky that didn't quite make the cut for coverage in the February 2013 issue of GMHTP. Check out the action at Beech Bend Raceway, including two of the baddest nitrous-sniffing LSX cars on the planet that squared off for the GMHTP Shut Your Face Race. On behalf of the staff, we thank all those for participating including Mike Meeks and Bryan Black who put on a great show.

In the world of LSX racing, things are always changing. While last season marked the birth of a four-race series, many racers were left wondering how it would do over the long haul. Would we be at the same tracks? Would cars keep showing up? Would anyone build a new entry? As we close the books on the second race of the season, the answer to these questions seem to be getting clearer. For one, we’re still on the four-race schedule and at the same tracks, although the Atlanta date had changed to June 1st through the 3rd, and the event was taken over by the crew at our sister publication, Chevy High Performance, in conjunction with the NMCA and Scoggin Dickey Parts Center.

Yes, race fans, the time is almost here. The Chevrolet Performance LSX Shootout is returning to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana, to celebrate the sixth year of the event from October 11-14. The National Muscle Car Association has been working tirelessly to improve the event, and this year the field of LSX racers is tighter than ever. For those participating in the four-race series, the Shootout is the culmination of a year's worth of hard work and the last chance to grab the title. For others it will be either a homecoming of old friends and acquaintances, or their introduction to LSX racing. And what a place to do it. A combination of top-notch facilities and track prep, along with a central location just outside a major U.S. city chock full of culture, makes Indy the perfect backdrop for a major racing event that even the whole family will enjoy. It is no coincidence that various NHRA race teams call Indy home, to say nothing of other motorsports and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.

When the U.S. Congress passed a resolution citing July 13 at National Collector Car Appreciation Day, the powers that be a parent company Source Interlink Media decided to host an open house at all three of its editorial locations—Tampa, Florida, Irvine, California, and Los Angeles—to celebrate.

They say time flies when you're having fun, which means it must go into warp speed when you're trying to get a race car ready for an upcoming season. That's right, the LSX Challenge Series is already back upon us and the season opener, which took place over St. Patrick's Day weekend in sunny Bradenton, Florida, has already come and gone. Racers had just five short months to prepare for the opening round of competition and for many, the time off and short winter season just wasn't long enough to get everything together. Because of this, many feared a low car count, and the Internet chatter leading up to the season opener sounded nervous, but with over 20 LSX cars on the property by Thursday afternoon, all of those fears were put aside.

Let's kick off the season right with an old fashioned beer and BBQ! GM High-Tech Performance is hosting a party track-side at Bradenton Motorsports Park on Friday, March 16th between 6 and 8pm to celebrate the new season and first race of the series. Come hang out with your fellow LSX'ers and the editors of GM High-Tech, the first 200 guests will enjoy free food and beer compliments of SCT Performance. All LSX racers, family and crew are welcome. There will also be a raffle of some pretty cool LSX prizes including a GM Pro Racer software package with X3 programmer and an SF3 programmer from SCT Performance. For more information on the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series and the Florida event log on to http://www.NMCAdigital.com/LSX or call 714/444-2426.

Year after year the Buick faithful flock to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the annual GS Nationals, an event that has been a staple of the Buick racing community for more than 31 years. While a slowing economy and aging enthusiast base may seem like important factors in any discussion relating to overall event turn out, the week of October 17-23, 2011, proved that you just can't ever count these racers out, as new classes have been added to the event and the ladders have continued to fill up, aging community or economy be damned. And while you may be tempted to think that the GS Nationals is just the same event over and over, that couldn't be further from the truth, as we were on hand to talk to a couple of relatively new racers with all-new cars as well as veteran sportsman rocking brand new hardware for 2011. Everywhere we turned racers were posting up blisteringly quick elapsed times, lowering personal bests and class records as if the turbo Buick scene had just begun.

Like the previous year, a storm was brewing on the horizon, but it certainly didn't stop any of the action at Beech Bend Raceway or put a damper on the many LS enthusiasts in attendance for the Holley LS Fest. In fact, on the final day of drag racing eliminations, the crack staff managed to hustle the racers along and get the finals finished up just in the nick of time. In between Friday, September 9th and Sunday, September 11th, though, the crew at Holley managed to cram as much action as you can imagine drawing a diverse crowd of LS-transplant import drifters, slammed Chevy trucks, crazy swaps you'd never think of, six-figure Pro Touring and G Machines, autocross nuts, car show polishers, and drag racers to Bowling Green, Kentucky. A virtual whose who of the G Machine crowd and the LS drag racing community were all in attendance as well as the many onlookers that came to watch it all unfold. Follow along as we show you the highlights, including GMHTP's Shut Your Face Race.

Another change in venue had little affect as the car count grew in Indianapolis, Indiana to take part in the fifth GM Performance Parts LSX Shootout on October 6-9. Such a large influx actually surprised the NMCA, but thankfully they were able to scramble to provide pit accommodations to all those who needed it, utilizing Lucas Oil Raceway's spacious facility. Once the bugs were worked out, the NMCA and the Lucas Oil Raceway staff did a great job to keep things running smoothly despite a record number of crashes, oil downs, and even a fire. Thankfully these mishaps didn't keep the racers down either, and the spectators were treated to some incredible LSX racing to finish out the series. Follow along to taste the action as we look forward to seeing everyone next year!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen it is December and we have the 2012 schedule in hand. Get to work at preparing your cars because the Chevy Performance Parts LSX Challenge Series will soon be upon us. The first race will once again be at Bradenton Motorsports Park for the NMCA’s season opener, stay tuned for updates as GMHTP has some pre-race fun planned at its facilities in nearby Tampa, FL. Meanwhile the second race will be part of the Chevy High Performance Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. More details will be released soon on this exciting new event. The Holley LS Fest (Beech Bend Raceway) will be part of the festivities again, as the third points race. And of course the season ends at Indianapolis Raceway Park for the LSX Shootout.

"Brake, brake, brake... downshift, turn-in. Don't do that! Don't do that! OK, throttle, throttle... nice!" The STi Killer was flying down the front straight. "Wait for a point-by. OK, pass him!" As we dropped another GT500, we shot under the East Walkover and positioned the Camaro far right, just enough to get it set for Turn 1 before easing on to the big Baer brakes, shedding 50 or 60 miles an hour, one full gear and then turning in to the apex, a tiny spot obstructed by the inner wall and the turn itself. "Great, nice and easy...throttle on, squeeze it, brake, wait for it...turn in. Perfect!" Three turns down, fourteen more to go, and I am having the time of my life. Brock, my instructor for the weekend, may be having a different time over in the passenger seat as I ham-fist my way around the track, but he hasn't puked, prayed, tried to escape, or told me to pull over yet so I can only assume we're doing something right. Let's back up a second and talk about how we got here.

As the Associate Editor of GM High Tech Performance, I have had the privilege and opportunity to attend some of the greatest events in the country for fans of anything High-Tech. Depending upon the particulars, my travel itinerary, supplies, and agenda usually vary quite drastically from trip to trip. For certain events, my luggage contains button up shirts (ew!), business cards and pre-scouted locations, with carefully scripted events happening on a precise schedule and access being granted to places one could normally never enter (lucky!). For others, my luggage may contain little more than a racing helmet, a laptop and a notepad, flying into a test facility to check out the latest innovations in our hobby. However, for one annual event known as the LTX Shootout, I am relatively certain that I could show up with just my camera and a smile and come away with a fantastic story to tell. In fact, this year proved that if you were crazy enough you could show up completely naked (with a baby) and bathe in the hotel lobby during breakfast... Yeah, weird stuff happens every year at the LTX Shootout (random person driving backwards down the drag strip and asking for directions, anyone?), but that's only part of the reason it keeps drawing fans from across the country for the one-day event held at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY.

Round two of the LSX Challenge series brought racers and fans to beautiful Commerce, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, for the NMCA/NMRA All Star Nationals, April 14-17. If you weren't there, you missed out! Much like the season opener in Bradenton, many racers arrived at the track not knowing what to expect and much of Friday was spent cruising the pits looking for old friends and new racers alike. Many combinations that missed Bradenton were still being bolted together in trailers during opening day, although every racer we talked to was excited to see what the winter upgrades could do in competition.

March 18 to 20th couldn't have been a better time to be at Bradenton Motorsports Park for any LSX fan. Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center was covering the entry fee for all LSX racers, the weather was perfect, excitement was high, and you could even catch a glimpse of GMHTP's project cars amongst the many vendors pedaling hot LSX parts. The STI Killer was sporting some new shoes, and old "Greenie" was doing something it hadn't done in a while--see the light of day. One look at the pale skin evident on Thursday's event-goers proved that the many winter-sheltered bodies hadn't seen this sort of tropical sun in a while either. By Sunday, though, all that would change. Necks, faces, and arms then sunburnt and salty from sweat--it was definitely not winter anymore, and we were knee-deep in the 2011 race season. Buckle up LSX racers and fans; we have three more races to go and many memories to be created.

Ah, the GS Nationals, a time-honored tradition that has gone on without interruption for 30 years and counting. Like the beginning of spring training, the changing of the leaves and the very first day of summer, the GS Nationals represent a yearly pastime that you can almost set your watch by. Unless, of course, you count the 2010 GS Nationals, which, on the event’s 30th Anniversary, almost didn’t happen. Now, it wasn’t for a lack of participation—you know how the Buick boys get—or a slumping economy, it was actually due to a freak flood.

This past weekend, March 18-20, marked the very first GM Performance Parts LSX Challenge Series race. While not the largest gathering of Gen III/IVs, spirits were still high and all signs point towards a large showing at the April race in Georgia. The NMCA put on a great show as usual, from the jet dragster to the unbelievable Outlaw and Drag Radial cars pushing the limits, and a bountiful manufacturers midway. The crew from Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center, the largest GM Performance Parts dealer, was (of course) on hand to show off its catalogue of LSX parts, and was even so gracious as to cover the entry fee for any LSX participants. Yes…that means any LSX that showed up to race, did so for free. And guess what? They are doing it again. Scoggin-Dickey will be picking up the tab for any LSX racer at the Atlanta Dragway event, April 14-17. So come on out and show off your LSX, the Bradenton event was proof positive that you don’t need the biggest bank account to go home with a trophy, some money in your pocket, and have a great time in the process. Stay tuned for full coverage in the August issue of GMHTP.

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October has come to be the deadline for every LSx racer in the country, and even some in Canada, to get their combination together and (hopefully) tested in anticipation of the GM Performance Parts LSX Shootout. This year was no exception; Tom Kempf was among many who thrashed right up until the last minute to get their car in racing shape and down to Gateway International Raceway, October 7-10. One Real Street competitor, Adam Preston (remember this name), actually had to drive all the way back (through the night) to Kentucky to grab a class legal front end for his Camaro in time for qualifying the next morning. Similarly, East Coast Supercharging was welding up one of (customer) Jay McCardle's cylinder heads just in time for the True Street cruise Saturday morning. All the effort, though, was certainly worth it to be a part of one of the best LSx races of all time at one of the best facilities in the country. As you'll read later in this story, records were broken and history was made.

It's hard to believe it has been over a year since the last LTX Shootout, but we are happy to report that the third annual LTX Shootout, which took place on September 4th, 2010 at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was a great success! If you have never been to an LTX Shootout in the past, I need to get you up to speed on some of the behind the scenes particulars. First and foremost, it is important to understand that some large organization or a massive sponsor doesn't put on the LTX Shootout. On the contrary, its own community, a group of obsessed enthusiasts whose common goal is to give the LTX community a place to race and a place to gather, foots the bill for this event. Secondly, you have to understand that racers at the LTX Shootout are also the event directors, often returning from a run only to trade their helmets for a radio, helping coordinate the event and keep the classes moving along.

Emboldened by its new ownership and spearheaded by forward-thinking individuals, the crew at Holley beat every other major organization and company to the punch in putting on an LS-only event last September 10-12 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Maybe it was sheer guts, given the economy, or maybe it was faith, but they did it and did it well. As the name implies, the Holley LS Fest was hell-bent on being the most fun automotive event ever. It was as if a bunch of smart, creative people sat in a room for days on end and just tried to top each other with new ideas for how to make the event better. Or perhaps they had simply been to so many shows over the years and had been taking mental notes until they had a fully hatched mega-show. Whichever the case, it was apparent that the fun spirit of the staff became infectious to the show-goers at Beech Bend Raceway who seemed less concerned with looking cool and winning prize money than helping each other out, making some new friends and having a good time. Take a look for yourself, and tell me this isn't an event worth attending.

Here's live photo coverage for you of the 2010 SEMA Show. As you can see from the photos below the 5th Gen Camaros had a strong showing for this year's show. Also check out some of the exclusive photos from the MT Proving Grounds.

If you’ve been dying to know what went down at Gateway International October 7-10, stay tuned for GM High-Tech’s in-depth coverage in the March 2011 issue on sale January 18th. Feast your eyes on a sneak peek of the unbelievable action from a blistering Outlaw Drag Radial class to the new Real Street class and one of the highest car counts ever in All Motor. Several 9-second cars battled it out for the Fastest 2010 Camaro title, as well as a diverse field of LSx powered cars and trucks. Every year this event gets larger and larger, and rumor has it that there is talk of expansion for 2011. Many records were broken, and lasting memories were made. It was our pleasure to be the presenting magazine for the fourth year in a row, and to continue to work with the NMCA and GMPP.