The AutoHack

May. 16, 2006 - One Lap Insanity

Posted in On the Road

I just got back from the enormous Tire Rack facility in South Bend, Indiana.  The final act of the Cannonball One Lap of America was played out there this past Saturday.  If you’re unfamiliar with the One Lap, it is basically a week long, 5000 mile rally with timed stages at various race tracks around the country.  Competitors drive large distances, and spend an insane amount of time in their “race” car only to perform a few laps at the chosen tracks.  If it sounds like a week of hell, you’re probably right.  Those of us who have completed a lap or two like to say that it is an event you hate doing, but love having done-- if that makes any sense.  My brother and I competed in the One Lap in 1995, 96 and 97, and many times during those events we asked ourselves why.  The minute the event was over though, we started planning for the next year.

 

The king of American automotive journalism, Brock Yates, is the author of the madness.  A quick look at the overall standings proves that this year’s event concluded in typical, scratch your head, One Lap style.  While insane horsepower and huge tires tend to help, more than any other racing event that I know of, driver skill is the biggest deciding factor for who comes out on top.  A Civic Si in fourth place beating out Nobles, Vipers, Corvettes, and Porsches?  Certainly!  How about Chevy HHRs and Honda minivans ahead of AMG Benzes?  Anything goes.  The One Lap is truly a contest of skill, luck, and preparation.  Many high horsepower cars tuned to the nth degree simply don’t last the entire race.  Many less than skilled drivers in expensive rides find themselves backed into Armco or simply struggling to keep up with the more fleet footed drivers in their high strung sport compacts.  The One Lap of America is brutally honest in that way.

 

Top 50 Finishers of the Tire Rack 2006 One Lap of America sponsored by Car and Driver:

1     1 Porsche           996 TT            SSGT1 BB        7095
2    25 Chevrolet        Corvette Z06      SSGT1 BB         6595
3     8 Mitsubishi       Lancer Evo 8      MidPri Sed       6520
4    71 Honda            Civic Si          Econo Car        6475
5     6 Subaru STi       Top Speed         MidPri Sed       6470
6     5 Ultima           GTR               SSGT1 BB         6300
7    31 Noble            M400              SSGT1 SB         6235
8    43 Subaru           STi               MidPri Sed       6155
9     7 Subaru           WRX STi           MidPri Sed       6115
10    33 Noble            M400             SSGT1 SB         6010
11    10 BMW              M5               Luxury Sed       5960
12    12 Porsche          996TT            SSGT1 BB         5940
13    42 Chevrolet        Corvette         SSGT1 BB         5940
14     4 Chevrolet        Corvette Z06     SSGT1 BB         5845
15     2 Dodge            Viper            SSGT1 BB         5690
16    49 Dodge            Daytona CS       SSGT2 SB         5665
17    36 Porsche          911 Turbo        SSGT1 SB         5475
18    14 Dodge            SRT-4            MidPri Sed       5340
19     9 Jeep             Grand Cherokee   S U V            5330
20    15 Porsche          930              Vint For         5230
21    53 Mazda            RX7              SSGT2 SB         5150
22    38 Volkswagen       Beetle TDI       Retro            5110
23    74 Dodge            SRT-4            MidPri Sed       5045
24    41 Subaru           WRX-STI          MidPri Sed       4890
25    56 Mercedes-Benz    E55              Luxury Sed       4845
26    19 Chevrolet        Corvette Z06     SSGT1 BB         4825
27    66 Chevrolet        Camaro Z28       Vint Amer        4825
28    20 Ford - SVT       Shelby GT500     SSGT2 BB         4815
29    44 Dodge            Neon             MidPri Sed       4795
30    27 Porsche          997S             SSGT1 BB         4765
31    50 World Class Mot  Ultralite        SSGT2 SB         4740
32    17 Ultima           GTR              SSGT1 BB         4695
33     3 Hennessey        Viper            SSGT1 BB         4660
34    47 Chevrolet        Cavalier         Econo Car        4590
35    24 Chevrolet        Corvette Z06     SSGT1 BB         4560
36    60 Mini             Cooper S         Retro            4550
37    37 BMW              M Coupe          SSGT1 SB         4525
38    69 Dodge            Charger SRT8     Luxury Sed       4390
39    57 Dodge            Magnum SRT8      Luxury Sed       4335
40    13 Dodge            Viper RT/10      SSGT1 BB         4315
41    65 Dodge            Viper SRT/10     SSGT1 BB         4145
42    59 Jaguar           S Type R         Luxury Sed       3965
43    68 Datsun           280Z             Vint For         3935
44    48 Chevrolet        HHR              Retro            3935
45    87 Subaru           STi              MidPri Sed       3760
46    81 Ford             Focus            Econo Car        3740
47    58 Cadillac         CTS-V            Luxury Sed       3700
48    72 Honda            Odyssey          S U V            3585
49    30 Mercedes-Benz    CLK500           SSGT1 BB         3480
50    18 Porsche          GT3              SSGT1 BB         3310
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