Holley’s LS Fest West

Since the inception of Holley’s LS Fest, motorheads west of the Rockies have been pleading with the hosts to bring their wildly successful event westward. This spring the Holley folks acquiesced, choosing the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the home for their new event, LS Fest West.

The LS Fest (based upon GM’s ubiquitous LS platform) is truly a scrumptious smorgasbord of automotive wonderfulness. It includes autocross, road racing, drifting, off-road, dyno challenge, car show and, most important to those reading this magazine, drag racing.

The drag racers were a truly eclectic bunch. If an LS could be shoehorned within the frame rails, it was in the pits. Additionally, the class system devised by Holley created a home for just about any wheeled configuration. There was a passel of new, high-dollar ’Vettes, Camaros and Cadillacs, and their owners weren’t at all bashful about throttling their rides as if they were rental cars. Also among the competitors were a bunch of traitorous LS-equipped Ford Mustangs.

The drag racers were a truly eclectic bunch. If an LS could be shoehorned within the frame rails, it was in the pits. Additionally, the class system devised by Holley created a home for just about any wheeled configuration.

No matter the genre, especially drag racing, participants were deadly serious about competing, but the fun quotient was very high. All involved judged this inaugural event a roaring success. Well over 400 cars rolled through the gates, and if the level of enthusiasm was an accurate gauge, you’d better be making your lodging reservations for next year’s LS Fest West pretty quickly, or you’re gonna be sleeping in your car.

---