1 Lap Blog update

[WestTexasS2K]

Check out our blog from the 1 Lap. It is not complete but has the first 4 days on there. There are some good pics and more details on the trip than I had posted earlier. We are working on updating it. It just takes alot of time to compile pics and convert and upload to the website. Plus we have to catch up on all of our work now that we are home. http://www.organicracing.com/mainblog.html I will let you know when we get the rest finished. Loren

[Kitcat]

Is this year's lesson that reliability trumps power?

[slngsht]

nah, the lesson is start earlier

[Al N.]

Loren-

 

I would love to know what the transit stages are like (besides entailing diff changes!) in terms of pace and driving style.

 

I ask because recently on Jalopnik.com, there was a flap over the conduct of drivers at Gumball (where two non-participants were killed) and Bullrun (where a whole bunch of drivers got arrested for goodness knows how many moving violations).

 

I brought up One Lap (mostly due to your involvement) as an example that lets people get their kicks out on track, and people replied that you have to drive pretty fast in the transit stages to keep up/make time checks.

 

Would love to know your thoughts.

 

-Al

[WestTexasS2K]

Where as the Gumball and Bullrun are first to get there wins type race the people take stupid risk and drive very reckless. On the 1 Lap of America aka Cannonball Run has gotten away from that type of racing because of liablility and the poor publicity that those stories generate. As Brock Yates was saying at this years send off, There are about 35 million more cars on the road than there were in the 70s when he started the Cannonball Baker Memorial dash. So about 25 years ago they changed to the format that they have now. It doesn't matter how fast you make your transit legs there are no points assessed for that. The only points come strictly from track events. There are not even check points on most events you can take what ever route you want. As long as your at the track when your run group goes then your good. If your late they will asses a penalty points for missing your run group. It is of intrest to note that Brock and Brock Jr call every state law enforcement agency and tell them the days that we are coming thru. This is to discourage people driving stupid. Kevin and I drive between 75-80 95% of the time. There were occasions this year going thru Kansas that was really open and no traffic we kicked it up to 85 or so. If it is reported that you are driving reckless you can be kicked out of the event. Has this ever happened, not to my knowledge one of the participants got stopped for over 140 this year and he finished the event and it was known that he got the ticket. We find steady and consistent is far better than blasting down the road at 120. You have to stop for fuel more and it is hard on the car. We want the car to last the event. We don't stop for food we eat when we fill up and go to the restroom. We find that a pit stop on the side of the road is much faster than pulling in to a station. It never fails someone will come up and start asking questions and your there for 15-20 min. That was one of the main reasons we put a nurse tank in the trailer we had a spare 21 gallons that we could transfer to the car to minimize stops. We often beat people to the hotel or were there soon after them even if they passed us like we were standing still.

 

Another reason is I cant afford a felony speeding ticket, I will lose my job no questions asked. The reward of an extra hour of sleep does not justify the expense to me. And luckily my co-driver feels the same.

 

It is a really fun event and should be tried by everyone. It has a really good record too. No one has ever been killed or seriously injured in the race during its 35 year history. There are a few minor fender benders but usually not 1 Lap participants fault. Last year a girl got hit in the rear by a Mack truck on the Chicago turnpike. Considering that the participants covered a combined total of 460,000 miles this year and no on road accidents says something. Especially considering the sleep deprevation everyone is going thru. It is really important to sleep when you can and when driving the instant you start feeling drowsy pull over and switch. At the end of a long day it is not uncommon to switch drivers every 20 min or so. If it get to where you cant go for 20 min we just pull over and take a nap for 30-1hr and hit the road again.