Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 9:38 a.m.
Ten track events in one week while covering thousands of grueling transit miles? Sign us up!
The event, of course, is the 2023 Tire Rack One Lap of America Presented by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. Built in the spirit of the original Cannonball Run, this week-long, 3500-mile event challenges p…
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In case you want to learn more about the history of One Lap, Steven Cole Smith was there for the very first one:
[When the Cannonball Rally went legit | The history of the One Lap of America]
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 9:55 a.m.
Greetings from the garage! I'm changing fluids and putting the last few things in the car:
Colin Wood said:
In case you want to learn more about the history of One Lap, Steven Cole Smith was there for the very first one:
[When the Cannonball Rally went legit | The history of the One Lap of America]
That’s good reading, and we owe a huge thanks to Brock Yates for the photo help. This was all back in the days of film. Brock sent me a box full of slides from the early days and said to have fun.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 1:33 p.m.
Just finished up at the vinyl shop! Looks half-finished because we don't get our number panels until we arrive at the event, but it's at least a start.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 2:02 p.m.
Next stop is Target, as I need to find a more suitable pit vehicle. The bike isn't allowed on track due to the battery, plus it's fairly big. A scooter will solve both problems.
Good luck, I did it back in 2019 and my god was it grueling, yet epic.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 2:20 p.m.
Scooter acquired, time for a quick photo stop then to the airport for my co-driver, Andy Hollis.
The graphics look good–bold, simple, fresh. Have fun at Targét.
Another benefit of the new graphics: I will no longer confuse you with the other white GTI in town.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 3:32 p.m.
Andy has been acquired! Forced him into a sit-down lunch before he hits the road.
Fluids changed, alignment checked/corrected, packing almost complete.
@Tom I am disappointed you're stealing my look. I wanted to be the cool hatchback on bronze wheels.
Looking forward to another One Lap thread. Let the games begin!
In reply to Tom Suddard :
Rock on and eager for more updates.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/2/23 4:20 p.m.
And he's off! Next stop? Nashville, where he's registered for a Track Night in America. Since Andy has never driven this car, he's going to do the drive to South Bend and get some track time in the process.
I once dreamed of flying into Daytona, helmet in hand, to drive someone else's race car in a grueling endurance motorsports contest.
Today that dream came true...mostly.
This isn't the car in the dream.
A little slice of Texas here in Georgia.
Oh and Tom...your DEF tank was low so I filled it. TDI's are awesome.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/3/23 3:34 p.m.
Hey it made it! Nicely done!
These images dropped today: new duds for BimmerWorld’s GTMore project car.
Tom O’Gorman shared photos of his ride, too, a 991.2 GT3.
There are certain curbs at Nashville SuperSpeedway that you're not supposed to hit, especially in a FWD car...cuz it'll send you onto two wheels.
Wheee!! Oops, sorry Tom.
So, some driving impressions:
Taut yet compliant on the highway. Great passing power and carves cloverleafs well.
On the track, the front tires are easily overloaded without constant attention. Braking is excellent, though the slotted rotors have that annoying rumble feel. Acceleration is solid but falls short of "rocket ship".
I have a couple ideas to try this week to see if we can get a little more rotation and get this thing off it's nose.
Tom Suddard
Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
5/4/23 9:33 a.m.
Andy just sent me this photo... waiting to hear if I'll need to bail him out tomorrow when I get off the plane.