Brian Hobaugh at SEMA with 1973 Camaro and Later Wins Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge

Jan 14, 2013

Behind-the-scenes at the starting line - Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge

If you attended the 2012 SEMA show last November, you may have spotted an orange 1973 Camaro with a flat black stripe down the center in the Wilwood Brakes booth. This beautiful project is owned by Brian Hobaugh, the shop manager at Car West Elite in Freemont, CA.

Brian has been exhibiting at SEMA for 8 years, and a whole lifetime of experience in the automotive industry. Brian started working at AAA as a field inspector when he graduated college, and then moved on to Car West Elite in 2002. Car West specializes in high-end bodywork, and is affiliated with a number of dealerships, including Mercedes Benz, Lexus, and Porsche. Car West did all of the bodywork for this build, with Brian managing the entire project. Brian explained, “The hardest part of this build was the flares, getting the size and shape I wanted was difficult.”

Some last-minute tips from TV personality Bill Goldberg as Brian prepares to race

K&N built a custom intake for Brian focusing on the tube-design and cone air filter. K&N’s Intake Engineer Bert Heck commented on the build, “When Brian brought his vehicle in; it had a filter clamped on the end of the throttle body and the car made 501HP. We fabricated a one-off intake that would now use one of our large cone filters with a radius adaptor to help improve air flow. We made sure the new intake system not only looked like it belonged in the vehicle but it performed like all of K&N’s products. After the new intake was powder coated and reinstalled, we dynoed the vehicle again and it made 516HP at the wheels.”

Brian Hobaugh takes off at the start in the Road Course Hot Lap

Before this Camaro, Brian had owned a number of cars, which include a Buick Regal, Corvette, Lexus GS 430, and a Tow Rig - each equipped with a K&N Air Filter. Brian’s first car (a 1984 Chevy Camaro) was the main inspiration which turned him towards K&N. “I wanted to get the most out of my 305 high-output motor, and at 190HP at stock it just wasn’t cutting it. I installed a Flowmaster exhaust system, Edelbrock headers, an aftermarket computer system and I was trying to get as much filtered-air as possible so I bought a K&N Air filter I saw in a magazine ad.” Brian has been using K&N for 25 years.

K&N fabricated a custom intake for Brian, giving him extra performance

Brian was first inspired to build this Camaro by his father. He grew up watching his dad race his Camaro against others as well. After SEMA, Brian took the car to the Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada. He ended up placing 1st for the Road Course Hot Lap, and 2nd in the overall race.

Brian not only races this car, he also has the car featured in numerous muscle car magazines including Camaro Performers Magazine - due to publish February 2013. Brian Plans on building a 1966 Comet in the future, and continue to race his Camaro, as well as, his father’s Corvette.

Vehicle Modifications:

K&N Fabricated Performance Air Intake System
Maier Racing front upper/lower A Arms
Spindles
Sway bar
Maier Racing 3 link rear suspension
Maier Racing roll cage
JRI Shocks
Mast Motorsports LS3 Engine
GForce 4 speed Transmission
Speedway Engineering Ford 9” rear end

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Many vehicles like Brian Hobaugh's Camaro, Sam Piazza’s 2012 SEMA Build , 1969 Hellcat Camaro at SEMA and Pilot Transport Camaro at SEMA 2012 get the opportunity to shine at SEMA.

More pictures of Brian Hobaugh's Camaro pictured below: