2010 One Lap of America now running...

[LOWDOWN]

Starting last nite, and running through next Saturday, is a nutball driving event known as the Tire Rack One Lap of America, Presented by Motor Trend Magazine.

An outgrowth (some would say a "maturing"...) of the original Cannonball Run, both conceived from the fertile mind of Brock Yates, the One Lap has run continuously, annually, since 1984. Originally conceived as a Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rally, the early years were run on a course that was roughly a circumnavigation of the Lower 48, checkpointed variously, with stop-offs at famous/familar racetracks for a lil HPDE-style "exercise". Scoring heavily leaned toward the TSD results, with additional scoring points given for each entrant's relative Finish in each on-track event (1st got 5 more points than 2nd, who got 5 more than 3rd...). John Buffum and Tom Grimshaw, former National Rally Champions, played here very successfully through 1993, winning the Overall event several times.

In 1991, the overall distance travelled was reduced from 7-8,000 miles/event to approx. 4400, that year. Gruelling 1000 mile/day drives previously "enjoyed" were magically reduced by roughly half, and one planned overnite stop was included, something never considered previously. Entries rose, along with national interest, while vehicle repairs, physical toll and overall expense dropped. The "half lap" model was a solid one, and has continued since, although some years have included routes to the West Coast and back to the Mid-West, sometimes nudging 6,000 miles in total.

Vehicles (4 wheels required - no semis please) are Classed by Type (Sedan, Pickup/SUV, Sports/GT etc.) and by MSRP (Under or Over $35K). NO TSD, although a cursory "checkpoint" or two are included. Sanctioned by SVRA. It's NOW allllll about on-track performance, with 5 or 6 vehicles at a time, staggered by 10 second-or-so handicap starts. A drag race or two included, Bracket-style. An Autocross or two. Mostly Roadcourses. Mostly BIG-named tracks...Road America and Mid-Ohio, to name but two this year, Daytona-Sebring-Road Atlanta-Charlotte-Pocono-Las Vegas-Infineon from past years. Modifications are virtually unlimited, and Class-based "Specials" abound (1-Series BMWs with M3-M5 components and beyond not unheard of).

There is basically only one car-based Rule: Tires, which must be readily available from Tire Rack with a DOT treadware rating that excludes R-compounds and such (brought in to preclude Buffum's arrival, one year, with hand-cut European Michelins of unheard-of specs...).

This year, there is ONE Gen-5 Camaro, entered by my friend Robert Dubler from Waltenschwil, Switzerland. A perennial entrant, Robert is a genuine Swiss chocolatier with an enviable stable of Chev-based performance cars (one-of-two '68 L88 Corvettes that ran the '68 24 Heures de Le Mans, for instance...). This the 3rd One Lap for Robert in a Camaro ('93-Calloway, '99-SLP SS), and his '10 2SS is headed for Switzerland at the conclusion of this event. Other than a wheel-and-tire swap and "racy" pads, it's bone stock. A true test of it's "relativity" to the real-world King Kongs others will be armed with.

Corvette is once again well represented by Ron Adee ('09 ZR1) the only driver to win the One Lap, Overall, in a Corvette ('03-Corvette's 50th Anniversary), Dan Corcoran (running for the 20th consecutive time) in his former VETTE Magazine "Project One Lap Z06" World Challenge-appearing '01 c/f Widebody with massaged LS7 power (2nd Overall in '06), and Nationally known/ranked Corvette "hotshoe" Danny Popp and in his massaged and thoroughly understood '08 Z06 with LS7. Others are likely as well. Corvettes make for a "fun, competitive ride" without severe mods, which may be performed at the expense (no pun intended...) of reliability. After all, "To finish 1st, you must first finish"...

With the event run at this time of year (Spring rains abound, generally...), AWD has been the "hot set-up". Since '04, no RWD car has won Overall. A Porsche Turbo (5-consecutive-time winner Mark DaVia, '04-'08) and NISSAN GTR, last year, have ruled. Unless chased away from the track by a tornado (don't laugh...they've been seen!), whatever weather is present at "showtime" is what you race in...drags excepted. And standing water has been experienced...which, in and of itself, IS quite an "experience", at speed... Remember, 1st wins, 2nd minus 5 points, 3rd minus 10 points etc., so a 50th because your car has an "off" is devastating to your Overall chances, let alone Class standing...and that is where/why the AWD has dominated, recently...

This year? It's just barely started...so "Stay Tuned"...

For updates:

http://onelapofamerica.com/history/results.shtml?y=2010

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6644828/...ack/index.html

[bigredbusa]

My next door neighbor put clear bra on this car and another for the race

[Sax1031]

Damn those GTRs can put up crazy skidpad numbers on wet pavement.

[LOWDOWN]

Robert Dubler and friends, in the lone '10 Camaro running the One Lap, are solidly in 17th Overall (after 17 of 20 total events), and easily leading SSGT2/BB class. This is a very credible performance, by car AND driver, considering the 2SS is near showroom-stock, wheels/tires and pads excepted. Robert had less than 1,000 miles total seat time (and ZERO track miles/time!) in the car before the start in South Bend and was in the 50s, Overall, in the first event, the Wet Skidpad. Quite a performance, since!

For those familiar with the ever-escalating level of entries, each year, in the One Lap consider this: In 1999, Robert entered a similarly-equipped new SS against a much lower caliber overall field, drove the wheels off that LS1 version, and finished 19th Overall.

He's already 17th, with 2 events tomorrow at Nelson Ledges (a track Robert's familiar with...) and the finale Dry Skidpad back at Tire Rack on Saturday AM (probably NOT a highlite for this car).

I can guarantee you the cars (and drivers) above him, currently, are of much better abilities than those above him in '99.

So take pride in knowing this Gen5 Camaro we all know and love can truly haul the mail!!

[Christiancoach]

I almost entered this year. Scheduling just wouldn't fit. Expect to see me in it next year!

[LOWDOWN]

If you run your Holden, you'll likely be placed in Mid-Priced Sedan class...Under $35,000 MSRP (G8 GT as a fair counterpart). In that class, you'll find evil EVOs, stunning STIs and all manner of souped up tuner sedans. A very tough playground for RWDs...

One thing IS "for sure"...you'll never forget the experience!

[Christiancoach]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

If you run your Holden, you'll likely be placed in Mid-Priced Sedan class...Under $35,000 MSRP (G8 GT as a fair counterpart). In that class, you'll find evil EVOs, stunning STIs and all manner of souped up tuner sedans. A very tough playground for RWDs...

One thing IS "for sure"...you'll never forget the experience!

You are exactly right. Doing it is more of a celebration of a personal achievement and a chance to have an adventure. Of course, getting to drive my car all out on some of the best road courses in America is a bonus as well!

[Rallysport]

One lap of America sponsered by MOTOR TREND!? That's funny. I wonder what ol Brock Yates (of Car & Driver fame) thinks about this? It was his brainchild back in the 70's while toiling at C&D, as I recall.

[2010 SSRS]

wow

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Rallysport

One lap of America sponsered by MOTOR TREND!? That's funny. I wonder what ol Brock Yates (of Car & Driver fame) thinks about this? It was his brainchild back in the 70's while toiling at C&D, as I recall.

Yates is still the major domo, while son Brock Jr. runs the day-to-day. When Senior left CandD, they stayed on for one more year as presenting sponsor, then Motor Trend snapped up the "vacancy"... All that history from '84 forward warranted someone's sincere participation, and PR...

An overview of OLOA is included in the original post.

This is NOT M/T's first go-round, this year...