One Lap Of America?

I may have an opportunity to be a passenger for the race this year. Has anyone done this race?

http://www.onelapofamerica.com/

7 days, 3,000+ miles, and a slew of bonzai cars. It looks grueling even from just a ride-along standpoint.

IIRC there was a magazine that published a series of articles about it, but the name of the magazine currently escapes me .

BoxheadTim wrote: IIRC there was a magazine that published a series of articles about it, but the name of the magazine currently escapes me .

I know some of the mega-conglomerate interconnect magazines did some stories on it. I've been reading up on team blogs and other places. It looks both brutal and awesome at the same time.

slefain wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: IIRC there was a magazine that published a series of articles about it, but the name of the magazine currently escapes me .

I know some of the mega-conglomerate interconnect magazines did some stories on it. I've been reading up on team blogs and other places. It looks both brutal and awesome at the same time.

The joke was that GRM did it. Someone rode with Andy Hollis. I want to say it was Alan. There was another recent thread about this... i'll dig it up for you.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/challenge-cars-at-one-lap-of-america/60117/page1/

Do it. I did 10 years ago and still talk about

slefain wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: IIRC there was a magazine that published a series of articles about it, but the name of the magazine currently escapes me .

I know some of the mega-conglomerate interconnect magazines did some stories on it. I've been reading up on team blogs and other places. It looks both brutal and awesome at the same time.

Facepalm.

I'll jack this thread since I don't think I ever got a response in the other one: How difficult/costly was the liability policy, and what exactly is it meant to cover?

Do they still require that you have Michelin tires on your car?

if you pass up that opportunity may i be next in line for it?

I have a friend who has been doing it for years. After the first time, he was addicted. For myself, the truly limited amount of track time is a big deterrent. If just being around wildly high end machinery and the sort of people who aren't afraid to wad them up appeals to you, then yes, it is quite an experience. He's made a lot of interesting friends doing it. I've declined his partnership offers because I can better utilize that amount of money for more track time/racing with my normal cast of characters, whom I can better relate with. It's a unique event, but not for everyone.

Poopshovel, I left a public comment on your profile in answer to your liability question and just so you know, it is not that expensive nor hard to get. The extra liability is to protect you, me and the event in case something happens on the public highways. Having a bunch of cars running around the country "cleverly disguised as racecars" can add a level of complexity to a highway incident. Knurled: It has been a long time since we required Michelin tires though many teams run them. All tires for the event have to be sourced from an approved list from the Tire Rack and teams get a 25% discount off their already low prices. Ddavidv: One Lap is not a series of track days but a week-long competition with all levels of cars and drivers on some truly great tracks.
Slefain, if you join us, it is a great time with some amazing folks, and of course, some really fast cars.

Do it

My buddies ran in the Vintage American class in '98 & '99. Came in 3rd in class in '98, 4th in '99. They had a great time, and I know would love to do it again, once life interference gets out of the way.

I want to do it at some point, but it's not in the cards (or budget) this year.

I'm really glad to see GRM take up One Lap.

Thanks for the clarification, Brock. My brother and I have already committed to each other to do 2014. Kind of waiting to see what everyone else does to determine whether we'll have a $2014 entry, or something a little more "comfortable."

From what I gather from the website, the grouping/passing rules are such that an on-track "incident" involving 2 or more cars is pretty unlikely. Is that a safe assumption?

We make every effort to insure that passing is rare during the week with a rough seeding to start and then lining up each day according the the results of the first roadcourse event. Thereafter, it is the responsibility of all the teams to work it out between themselves and those around them in the various run-groups to fine-tune the order. It works pretty well and yes, on-track incidents are rare and in 30 years we've never had a car-to-car event. Passing happens and it is the responsibility of both parties to make it safe.

I know we're amped to host the autocross for One Lap on the first day at Grissom.....

In reply to mtownneon:

We did it in 83 when it was a real real long drive and a heck of a lot of fun.

Got to me Mr Shelby for the first time at that event.

Do it, you will talk about it for a long long time,

is there going to be a Groupon for One Lap?

Wow, a reply from Brock Jr. himself!

I'm going to lean on my boss as to why I need to do this trip. I think it will be great editorial plus I'll meet a ton of people. I'll be on the hook for food and hotels, and I'm not quite sure how they are defining "passenger" yet.

I did the race years ago, and even covered it for some video projects. (I seem to recall laying on the side of a road a few miles outside Wyoming, NY helping one team get a late 70's/early 80's white Camaro running again...) Amazing experience, definitely should be on any car guy's bucket list.

When I did it, there were no hotel nights, so sleeping was a big logistical issue. I am still designing the ideal One Lap car in my head. Something like a 500HP Volvo wagon, M5 wagon...

pinchvalve wrote: I did the race years ago, and even covered it for some video projects. (I seem to recall laying on the side of a road a few miles outside Wyoming, NY helping one team get a late 70's/early 80's white Camaro running again...) Amazing experience, definitely should be on any car guy's bucket list. When I did it, there were no hotel nights, so sleeping was a big logistical issue. I am still designing the ideal One Lap car in my head. Something like a 500HP Volvo wagon, M5 wagon...

I know there was a V8 Volvo in '04....

I had to turn down a drive last year in a top 10 car, and still regret it! Maybe one day, it is a bucket list.

I have a friend that has done it for the past 5 years or so and loves every minute. They ran top 5 last year with a very stock car, this year they are upping the game considerably. It's addictive I've heard, so it worries me a bit to take part. That and Targa are on my top fo the must do lists!

slefain wrote: I may have an opportunity to be a passenger for the race this year. Has anyone done this race? http://www.onelapofamerica.com/ 7 days, 3,000+ miles, and a slew of bonzai cars. It looks grueling even from just a ride-along standpoint.

Worth. It.

Also, here's a story that some magazine somewhere published on the 2012 running of the event:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/many-cars-one-lap/