One Lap of America’s coming up, what would you enter?

Colin
By Colin Wood
Apr 19, 2022 | One Lap of America

Photography Credit: Tom Suddard

Sure, not all of us have the fortune of being able to compete in the Tire Rack One Lap of America Presented by Grassroots Motorsports–this year's event is slated for April 30-May 7–but if you did get the chance, what car would you enter?

[The 3500-mile contest that isn’t about the cars | One Lap of America]

A low-slung coupe or a cushy SUV? Powerful heavyweight or a lightweight momentum car? What about front-, rear- or all-wheel drive?

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Comments
Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/19/22 1:03 p.m.

It's basically a tarmac rally with really, really, really, really, really long transit stages and really, really, really short special stages. So, yeah. Rally car.

But I can't drive well enough to bang off a quali lap on a strange track after only a couple of laps (or ever, but we won't talk about that) so I'm going to lose anyhow. So then it all comes down to surviving the transits. And that means comfort.

So:

 

msterbeau
msterbeau New Reader
4/19/22 1:26 p.m.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

The beauty of the human race is that logic can mean different things to different people.

The downfall of the human race is that logic can mean different things to different people... 
 

pres589 (djronnebaum)
pres589 (djronnebaum) UltimaDork
4/19/22 1:28 p.m.

I agree with Keith's line of thinking.  New Ecoboost Mustang with a manual trans should do it.

Cactus
Cactus HalfDork
4/19/22 1:29 p.m.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I'll co-drive. I've got a fair bit of experience wheeling entirely unsuitable cars around a road course.

bobzilla
bobzilla MegaDork
4/19/22 1:53 p.m.

If I was to pick a car to do it I'd go comfort over speed. Like..... an Azera or Sonata/Optima. But for now, I'll just take the E36 M3box

 

 

Sonic
Sonic UberDork
4/19/22 1:57 p.m.

When we did this a few years ago we had the same philosophy as Keith, so we bought a Mercedes CLS63, a car designed to cross continents in comfort and pace.   It was amazing, we said that we won all the transits, and had more sleep than we expected.   The car did a great job on track, commensurate with our skill. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/19/22 2:16 p.m.

Yeah, I’d also go to win the party. Take Keith’s Caddy and, if needed, install good shocks, brake pads and give it an alignment. (I ran Konis on my '75 Catalina wagon–totally worked.)

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/19/22 2:18 p.m.

It's got brand new shocks! Not much aligning to do with that stick axle. The brakes might need a little attention but hey, it's only 3 laps and you don't HAVE to do them all.

rslifkin
rslifkin UberDork
4/19/22 2:26 p.m.

I'd probably take the E38, throw some better brake pads on and stuff as much tire under the fenders as I could (at least square 275s, if not bigger).  Or at least as much as the front end can handle without becoming too obnoxious on the transits. 

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
4/19/22 2:37 p.m.

After doing the event in 2018, I came out to spectate for 2019.  I saw genius from a team of Canadians from Toronto.  

2018 Dodge Durango SRT.  A capable vehicle but the genius was the 20ft toy hauler/camper they towed behind it.  Warm, dry and comfortable at the tracks would go a long way to reduce fatigue.  Genuine food preparation would also reduce fatigue.  Less loading and unloading of the car constantly...just unhook the trailer.  

A Dodge Durango SRT has a towing capacity of something like 8,000 lbs so I imagine pulling it behind for transits didn't add that much fatigue.  

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