What Was the Greatest Challenge Build of All Time?

Thought I'd give you guys a preview of an article I'm working on for the magazine because I'm pretty excited about it.

End goal: Identify the top 10 Challenge cars of all time. We have over 15 years of results and incredible builds, but which ones performed better than the rest? It's kind of like Fantasy Challenge.

Since we don't have results spreadsheets from any of the early years, I've been punching into an Excel doc every team and car that has entered the $2000 Challenge over the years, along with their scores in the event's 3 categories. Those entries will be ranked using a unique scoring system that will allow an even playing field to compare times and scores, taking into account the different autocross course lengths over the years.

Bonus: This will also finally gather all of the Challenge results over the years into one archive for your convenience.

So, any guesses as to who has built the best Challenge Car? (We don't know for sure yet, either. Still punching in numbers.)

I'd say odds are good it had a Hong Norr sticker on it.

It's high time you update, or add to this list- https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/25-choice-challengers/

It's 7 years old now. There has been as many challenges after this article as before.

Corvette sucker car is still at the top of my list. Wartburg too.

In reply to alfadriver:

This article is supposed to be an updated (but slightly different and more complete) version of that article. Instead of us picking our favorites, we're seeing who could have won if all the cars competed in their prime at the same event.

Oh and we're not just ranking the top performers. All Challengers will be present in the complete rankings.

Ed Higginbotham wrote: Oh and we're not just ranking the top performers. All Challengers will be present in the complete rankings.

As it should be- at least one of the 25 never even ran, but it's still one of the coolest projects of all time.

mazdeuce wrote: Corvette sucker car is still at the top of my list. Wartburg too.

I'm partial to the Wartburg too, and honestly this year's parking lot build could be in my top 10. Also the Team Alavanche Datsun

Maybe not the best of all time but very high on the list...Jeep XJR.

I was there for those years and it left a significant impression on me. It still amazes me today mostly because it did so well the things that it seemed it was not built for.

To see a Miata do as god and Mazda intended is one thing but to see the XJR perform is more of an unnatural act. Like witnessing something great.

The Gutty Honda/Subaru was amazing also. This was a car that is more amazing in person than it is in pictures. It was all in the little details.

My vote would be for the Zamboni.

Of course, Sucker Vette and Zamboni!

Lets not forget Hasse's frame swap on a classic 49er.
The full story

Also Scaries

The Bat Van !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Mongrel Motorsports Monster Miata was the first Challenge car that really blew my socks off. The attention to detail on that car was amazing.....amazing enough that it prompted us to change the rules!

I'll also never forget the first time Andy Nelson competed. He fired up that Nova and everyone in the paddock knew the game had changed.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Of course, Sucker Vette and Zamboni! Lets not forget Hasse's frame swap on a classic Mercury Led Sled. Also Scaries

Jhaas (rip) car was a 49 chevy

Joe Gearin wrote: The Mongrel Motorsports Monster Miata was the first Challenge car that really blew my socks off. The attention to detail on that car was amazing.....amazing enough that it prompted us to change the rules! I'll also never forget the first time Andy Nelson competed. He fired up that Nova and everyone in the paddock knew the game had changed.

The yellow BMW was as detailed.

I hope someone has a video of Andrews first Autocross on the GP track somewhere...

Bryces AWD Hybrid Fiero of Destiny is high up my list too...if only because the story behind actually getting it to Gainesville was as cool as the car itself. Too bad it caught fire before it could truly be competitive (IIRC?)

The Mongrel 2002 in $2002 was incredible! The level of fabrication and custom machine work that went into the car was astounding.

I think it would be interesting to see each categories top 10 as well.

One of my top concourse memories is John hiring cheerleaders and a DJ for his presentation. It was incredible and proved the concourse is just as important as the performance categories.

John Brown wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: The Mongrel Motorsports Monster Miata was the first Challenge car that really blew my socks off. The attention to detail on that car was amazing.....amazing enough that it prompted us to change the rules! I'll also never forget the first time Andy Nelson competed. He fired up that Nova and everyone in the paddock knew the game had changed.

The yellow BMW was as detailed. I hope someone has a video of Andrews first Autocross on the GP track somewhere...

Didn't someone send out a CD of that event? I seem to remember getting one.

I've never been to the Challenge - but the ones that stick in my mind as a long-distance observer are the Sucker Vette and the Mongrel Miata. Also, Batvan.

In reply to 2002maniac:

You have a grate point. But with a name like your's. I don't think I can trust you on this on

The Warburg was a legendary creation, but that year the condor e30 was just wicked fast and could turn.

The Warburg did complete The Trifecta of Crap!

The BatVan was the best non-runner in the history of the Challenge. Hands down.

The Nelsons first car, the drag missile swiss cheese Nova was a harbinger of things to come. 10 seconds for $2000?

I'm going to third Bat van. Could a non runner make the top ten list?