Autoblog

2012 One Lap Of America starts today

Chris Paukert — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:02:00 EST

Yes, it's spring time in Indiana, and although Jim Nabors won't be singing ahead of the drop of the green flag, it's time for another One Lap of America.

Having been part of the timing and scoring team for well over a decade, we tend to see a lot of the same faces and sheetmetal year in and year out, though there's always a steady stream of newcomers. Every few races, however, there seems to be a bumper crop of new cars that show up as old ones get tired and drivers find something different to play with. This is clearly one of those times, perhaps brought about by the dominance of the Nissan GTR over the last several years. As a result, there are a glut of the Japanese supercars in the fold, along with other noteworthy new models including an Audi TT RS, a BMW M5 and 1 Series M Coupe, not to mention a factory-prepped Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. As ever, there's a brace of Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette models of various vintages, along with a Dodge Viper or two and a Ferrari 430. There's even an E-Series ambulance and an incredible sounding Honda Odyssey, also running with factory support.

Unfortunately, one key classic will be notably absent from the paddock this year: Brock Yates. Father of One Lap Of America and the legendary Cannonball Run that spawned it, Yates' health has been deteriorating due to Alzheimer's. Yates' son, Brock Jr. has been ably running the event for many years, but this is the first time that Senior won't be in attendance.

As has become the usual, this year's event kicks off in South Bend, Indiana at title sponsor Tire Rack's massive headquarters with a wet skidpad event. The motley crew of madmen and their motors will then jog down the road a few miles to the South Bend Motor Speedway (a paved oval) before hoofing it over to Autobahn Country Club's road course in Illinois. After that, it's off to a string of road courses starting with scenic Pacific Junction, Iowa, for the Mid America Motorplex, then on to Oklahoma's Hallett Motor Racing Circuit before heading to High Plains Raceway in Colorado. After that, it's off to Motorsports Park Hastings in Nebraska followed by a trip to Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. Then it's over to Wisconsin's legendary Road America before the sleepless and bedraggled horde stumble back into South Bend next Saturday, May 12 for a final dry skidpad event. Got all that? If you don't, you can check out a map here.

As we'll be working the event, we won't have the ability to give you daily updates on the rally's progress, but if you're interested in keeping tabs on the action, check out One Lap Of America's official website and Facebook page, both of which figure to have live updates as the race gets underway this morning. In the meantime, you can check out our massive gallery above. It doesn't have every one of the roughly 75 that are scheduled to race, but if you are new to One Lap, it'll give you a good idea of the automotive diversity on display.

We'll see you in 3,300 miles or so, if not sooner...

2012 One Lap Of America starts today originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 May 2012 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM denies rumors of bankrolling Cannonball Run redux

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM, Celebrities, Rumormill

General Motors may not be handing over cold-hard cash to fund a remake of Cannonball Run after all. Detroit News DC Bureau Chief David Shepardson announced via Twitter that GM has denied the rumors, saying that there isn't even a script to go with the speculation. Those words came from Tom Henderson with GM communications.

Buzz that GM would step past the typical product placement role and into full-blown financial support of a film hit the wires late Tuesday evening. A report from New York Magazine indicated that Guy Ritchie may be helming the project with Brad Pitt serving as the lead talent. Of course, that same report also mentioned Ben Stiller as a possible star as well. Those sound like two very, very different movies.

While we're fine with a remake of Cannonball Run, we're a little apprehensive about what could amount to a two-hour long advertisement for GM metal. No one likes watching a movie where every main vehicle is from one brand or another, especially when the film specifically focuses on an illicit race. Who wants to see a Spark square off against an Equinox?

GM denies rumors of bankrolling Cannonball Run redux originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 One Lap of America: No. 3 Porsche 911 GT2 outlasts all comers

Chris Paukert — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Racing

2010 One Lap of America - Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's running of the One Lap of America wrapped up this weekend after a tidy 3,480 miles, and after a one-year absence from the top spot on the podium, a Porsche 911 has emerged victorious. The No. 3 GT2 (shown above) of Doug Wilks and Leh Keen outlasted all comers, including the No. 4 Nissan GT-R of Catesby Jones and Jose Collado that finished in second place, and the No. 5 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 of Danny Popp, Todd Rumpke and Jeremy Herzberg.

As you may recall, a GT-R took the checkered flag last year, but persistent spark plug issues in the orange-and-gray #1 prevented a repeat performance in 2010. The massively tuned No. 39 BMW 325is of Anthony Magagnoli and Kevin Kreisa was impressively consistent, coming through in fourth place after the carbon fiber-bodied #23 Corvette Z06 of Danny and Kyle Corcoran suffered catastrophic engine failure on a transit stage to drop out of the top five. The failure was particularly unfortunate for Danny Corcoran, known as "Mr. One Lap" to his fellow competitors, as he was participating in his 20th - and likely final - event.

Other standout performances included the heavily modified #54 Honda Civic Si of Jonathan Weir and William Chan, with that car beating out far pricier machinery to finish eighth overall, winning the Econo Car class in the process. Also posting solid results was the No. 124 Mazda5 of Richard Fisher and Jason Saini (ringing up in 15th place) and the No. 20 Porsche Panamera Turbo of Bill and Todd Treffert. The bone-stock Panamera was but a couple of weeks old and barely broken in, yet it turned in a robust performance, including a launch-control aided quarter-mile time of 12.08 seconds in Tulsa, the sixth quickest time among all cars.

This year featured a robust crop of first-time One Lappers, suggesting that, despite America's continued difficult economy, America's toughest road car challenge has a bright future ahead of it.

For full race results, check out OneLapOfAmerica.com, and for event-by-event coverage, visit our friends at MotorTrend.com.

Gallery: One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was

Gallery: One Lap of America 2010: Day One

2010 One Lap of America: No. 3 Porsche 911 GT2 outlasts all comers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was

Chris Paukert — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

One Lap of America 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're still purring along on One Lap of America in our BMW Performance School-provided 335d and 550i sedans, but while there have been zero mechanical issues for the timing and scoring crew, the event is starting to take its toll on competitors' cars, as well as their drivers.

The returning #1 Nissan GT-R of Steven Rankins wasted no time staking its claim to the lead once again, posting the best results at Friday's wet skidpad event (a startling .962 g) at the Tire Rack in South Bend. After negotiating some overachieving thunderstorms on the way through Wisconsin, the #1 GT-R (above) would follow up that performance with the second-best time at Road America in the first event, trailing only the #3 Porsche 911 GT2 of Leh Keen and Doug Wilks. Dan "Mr. One Lap" Corcoran finished third on the 4.1-mile circuit in his carbon fiber-bodied Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

In the second Road America event, the #3 Porsche GT2 again mopped up, with the #4 Nissan GT-R of Catesby Jones and Jose Collado taking second and the #5 Corvette of Danny Popp rounding out the top three.

The racers noted above may be the lead sled dogs, but everyone at Road America spent the day talking about Howard LaFever and his #69 2010 Cadillac CTS-V. LaFever managed to walk away from a massive rollover crackup in the first event after overcooking the car in Canada Corner. The longtime One Lapper bounced across Turn 12's gravel trap at triple digit speeds, through a catch fence and over a concrete barrier, where the car landed in a crumpled heap on its roof (pics here). Miraculously, LaFever escaped uninjured, only to leave the track in search of a replacement vehicle. He would turn up shortly thereafter in a newly purchased white Chrysler Crossfire, a car in which he can run the rest of the event but not accrue further points. By the day's end, other cars were claimed by Road America too, although not as violently as LaFever's CTS-V. Mechanical maladies befell a Mitsubishi Evo, the sweet 1968 Dodge Charger (fuel pump), as well as a Corvette Z06 and a Mustang GTS. Thankfully, most are not permanently hobbled, showing up further down the road.

Click through to the jump to continue reading.

Gallery: One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was

Continue reading One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was

One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Lap of America 2010: The warm-up

Chris Paukert — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

One Lap of America 2010: Day One - click above for high-res image gallery

Spring has sprung and we're at the Tire Rack in South Bend, Indiana, which can only mean one thing: the start of another One Lap Of America.

Every year we tell ourselves we're crazy for embarking on another one of these eight-day 'round-the-country exploits, and for over ten years now we've been signing on to help run the event on the timing and scoring crew. And could you blame us? Every year, a great bunch of people gather together at the behest of none other than Brock Yates, and they bring with them all manner of machinery to compete on race tracks across the nation.

This year's event starts off as usual, with a wet skidpad event at the Tire Rack, with the racers moving on to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for stints around Road America, one of the country's most historic and challenging roadcourses. After the time trials at RA, it's off to Mid America Motorplex, a fine 2.2-mile long roadcourse off in the middle of ~~nowhere~~ Pacific Junction, Iowa. On Monday, the racers will visit the surprisingly quick and engaging Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma, followed by some drag racing at Tulsa Raceway Park. The next day will find the competitors at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis for a 1.6-mile road circuit. From there, it's on to Mid Ohio on Wednesday, a circuit that needs no introduction. The increasingly bedraggled competitors will then make the drive to New Jersey Motorsports Park on Thursday and then jog back to Ohio's Nelson Ledges for the last roadcourse events on Friday. After that, the teams will filter back to the Tire Rack in South Bend for the final event, a dry skid pad (weather permitting) and to unwind at the awards banquet on Saturday.

Got all that? Said another way, it's another action-packed week that's sure to test the racers' mechanical, mental and intestinal fortitude.

Click through to the jump to read on.

Gallery: One Lap of America 2010: Day One

Continue reading One Lap of America 2010: The warm-up

One Lap of America 2010: The warm-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver's newest project car: The Ambivalence. So what should they do with it?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Etc., Police/Emergency

You want to know what car guys do in the Midwest? Look above. That's the Ambivalence. In another dimension, it was a mild-mannered Ford Econoline E-350 ambulance doing laps in "Northern Ohio meth-country." Car and Driver, claiming to be seeking nothing more than "a cheap diesel," took possession of it and had it wrapped by the folks at Avery Denison with graphics that closely resemble the ambulance from Cannonball Run (right).

But the story for which this lifesaver was required got quashed, so now the Ambivalence - so called to deter allegations of paramedic impersonation - is looking for something to do. C/D says plans are up in the air, but we're sure you can help them come up with something worthy. If it involves a Peterbilt, a Trans-Am, a Lamborghini and Daisy Duke - or just Daisy Dukes - we won't complain.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Car and Driver's newest project car: The Ambivalence. So what should they do with it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donna Mae Mims, first female SCCA winner and Cannonball Run vet, dead at 82 [w/VIDEO]

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Celebrities

Donna Mae Mims - click above to watch the video after the jump

The automotive world lost its iconic "Pink Lady" on October 6 as Donna Mae Mims died of complications from a stroke at the age of 82. To car enthusiasts of a certain age, Mims was best known for her early racing career and for her penchant for pink helmets, pink jumpsuits, and pink cars usually emblazoned with the phrase "Think Pink." That predilection earned her the nickname, "Pink Lady" from her admirers.

After buying a Fuelie Corvette with her husband in the late Fifties, Mims got the racing bug. She had been a secretary at Yenko Chevrolet, the legendary Pennsylvania dealer that churned out specially souped-up super Chevies back in the Sixties and Seventies, and along with a few coworkers she decided to go racing. She also moved into the Yenko sports car division to help develop their cars.

It wasn't long before she racked up her first win driving her Corvette in B Production at the Cumberland Nationals in 1960. By 1963, she was driving a pink 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite that had incidentally once been owned by Polio vaccine developer, Dr. Jonas Salk. That car carried her to the championship in 1963, the first national championship recorded by the SCCA for a female driver. Besides the championship-winning Bugeye Sprite, Mims at one time or another also owned a pink Corvette, Corvair, Triumph TR3 and an MGB.

Besides her fondness for the color pink, Mims was also known for her blonde hair, good looks and aggressive driving, always charging and never letting the boys push her around during her 14-year racing career. The legend of the Pink Lady was cemented when Mims took part in the inaugural Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, better known as the Cannonball Run, back in 1972. Her all-female team included teammates Judy Stropus and Peggy Niemcek, who raced in a 1968 Cadillac limousine wearing tight-fitting shirts and pants, and no bras. It was a ploy to hopefully get them out of any legal entanglements along the way. Adrienne Barbeau (admirably) portrayed Mims in the 1981 classic, "The Cannonball Run."

After retiring as a racer, Mims could still be found at numerous SCCA events, volunteering to work the starting grids at races like the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and Championship Runoffs. Fun-loving till the end, Mims' dying wish was that following her passing, her body would be displayed seated behind the wheel of a pink 1979 Chevrolet Corvette during the visitation at her funeral. A group of about 40 Corvettes participated in the procession from the funeral home in McMurray, Pa. Godspeed, "Donna Amazing," our beloved Pink Lady. Be sure to click past the jump for a video celebrating Mims' extraordinary motorsports life.

[Sources: The Associated Press; WAPT | Image: Steel Town Corvettes]

Continue reading Donna Mae Mims, first female SCCA winner and Cannonball Run vet, dead at 82 [w/VIDEO]

Donna Mae Mims, first female SCCA winner and Cannonball Run vet, dead at 82 [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Lap of America 2009 - The flag drops...

Chris Paukert — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

2009 One Lap of America - Day 1 - Click above for a hi-res gallery

Greetings from Joliet, Illinois, home of the Autobahn Country Club. We're on board with Brock Yates' One Lap of America, one of America's toughest motorsports challenges. Over the course of eight days, 63 drivers of all talent and experience levels will take to a range of motorsports facilities across the country in a wide variety of machinery. There's something for everyone here, from mainstream American performance iron (a passel of Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros, along with a Mustang or two) to niche exotics (Ultima, Lotus Exige) to Japanese cars (including a nifty Mitsubishi Galant VR4), a gaggle of Porsches, and more BMW M cars than you can shake a stick at. Heck, there's even a GMC Jimmy, a stunning Nissan Altima Hybrid SEMA entrant and a Fifties rat rod.

In truth, we One Lappers assembled yesterday in breezy, chilly South Bend, Indiana at Tire Rack's massive facilities. The competitors met up to receive a driver's meeting, technical inspection, and a full slate of sponsorship decals, along with the usual final tunings and bench racing sessions. The actual racing didn't start until earlier this morning, however, where the competitors made use of the retail giant's 200-foot skidpad - with the sprinklers on. You can read all about what happened over Motor Trend (they're one of the event's main sponsors), but suffice it to say that one of the two Nissan GT-R entrants (not pictured) at this year's event stunned the assembled throngs by recording 0.953G, a handsome figure considering the soaked tarmac.

This year, competitors will travel some 3,265 miles between today and next Saturday before circling back to South Bend next Saturday. Along the way, the racers will take part in an autocross event at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, then roll to Greenbrier, Tennessee to take on the Highland Rim Speedway oval. After that, it's off to Alabama's Talladega Gran Prix on Monday, with a long haul (over 600 miles) down to Florida's legendary Sebring International Raceway. After that, it's time for a bracket drag racing session at Gainesville Raceway, and then on to Daytona International Speedway. Come Thursday, there's a tidy 440 mile run to Kershaw, South Carolina, home of Carolina Motor Sports Park, and from there, the racers slip over to BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg. Doubtlessly looking a bit worse for the wear, the survivors will then motor 560+ miles to Pennsylvania's Beaverun Motorsports Complex. The bedraggled racers then make the final 240-mile transit back to South Bend for a final (hopefully) dry skidpad event and a final banquet and trophy award ceremony.

With just 60+ cars in the field this year (as opposed to the 80+ vehicles in years past), it's clearly a down year in terms of attendance - a development readily attributable to the economy (it's admittedly hard to ignore to overlook the substantial cost associated with mounting an entry). However, there are some ace new competitors here and a lot of interesting machinery. Further, with the absence of five-time reigning champion Mark Davia and his Porsche 996 twin-turbo (whose wife is expecting), there's sure to be a new winner this year.

Full Disclosure: Yours truly is part of one of the two timing and scoring crews (I have been participating as such since 1999), so while I will do my best to bring AB'ers closer to the action, as a crew member, I will only attend a bit more than half of the events as we hopscotch the country in order to get ahead of the competitors and prepare the timing equipment and post the scores ahead of their arrival. As such, it is recommended that you check out Motor Trend and the official One Lap Of America website for the rules and the latest updates on the races.

Well, the cars on the false grid are set to go green, so I'm gone... until next time, please check out the massive gallery of 70+ high-res images below featuring most of the competitors.

Gallery: 2009 One Lap of America - Tire Rack & Autobahn

One Lap of America 2009 - The flag drops... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 May 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hold on a sec... BRABUS smart fortwo wins European Cannonball Run?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:46:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Budget, Europe, Green, Smart

Click image to enlarge

The Cannonball Run that takes place every year in Europe dpesn't have much in common with the Hollywood comedy it takes its name from. In fact, the goal of the modern-day race is not to finish in the least amount of time possible, but to finish with a specific average speed; 61 miles per hour, in the case of the 2008 event. So, while it may be initially shocking to hear that this year's race was won by a BRABUS smart fortwo, it actually makes sense considering that the smart was able to run the entire race averaging 35 miles per gallon. Therefore, while the other high-powered competitors were constantly stopping to refill their gas tanks, first-time competitors David Ward and Adrian Hull of the U.K. were able to motor along and wave as they gingerly passed them by. Score one for efficiency!

[Source: smart via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Hold on a sec... BRABUS smart fortwo wins European Cannonball Run?

Hold on a sec... BRABUS smart fortwo wins European Cannonball Run? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bullrun participants may have broken Cannonball NYC-to-LA Run record

John Neff — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Before the start of the 2007 Bullrun rally last Saturday in Montreal, participants Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collonis bet their fellow Bullrun buddy Jay Riecke $50,000 that they could beat the longstanding cross-country rally record of driving from New York City to L.A. set by Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough back in 1979 during the final running of the original Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. Heinz and Yarborough did the trek in 32 hours and 51 minutes in a Jaguar XJS.

Rawling and Collonis took the bet and immediately left the Bullrun rally headed for NYC. They got some sleep, stocked up on supplies and had their vehicle fitted with some video equipment to document the attempt. Their Ferrari 550 was already modified for the Bullrun to Key West rally with extra fuel cells and a spare tire, so they were ready to go. After nearly 32 hours of driving with no tickets, Rawling, Collonis and the Ferrari pulled into the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, CA. With an unofficial time of 31 hours and 59 minutes, the team appear to have beat the longstanding Cannonball Run record set nearly 28 years ago.

Our good buddy Ray Wert from Jalopnik, who is participating in the 2007 Bullrun Rally this year driving the #70 Cadillac ESV, tells us that Rawling and Collonis will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening to recount their record run. There's no word on how or when the trip will go from being unofficial to the new official cross-country rally record, but we assume the Bullrun organizers plan to edit together a nice piece of video after they sift through the many recorded hours of driving to show us all the proof.

[Source: Bullrun2007.com via Jalopnik]

Bullrun participants may have broken Cannonball NYC-to-LA Run record originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2007 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saleen serves up special 'Stangs for Cannonballers

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc.

Two larger pics available by clicking image above

Saleen is on our radar again. While we enjoyed its new S331 Sport Truck, it's their Mustangs that we really like, particularly the Parnelli Jones Edition. So we were glad to hear about another new Mustang from this small manufacturer. This time it's a special version of the already unique S281 Extreme Mustang. A limited run of 25 "Ultimate Bad Boy Edition" Extremes has been built for use in the upcoming Cannonball Great American Run. We had a whiff of this particular vehicle a little while ago when a design concept brochure was somehow leaked onto the net. Now we have the details straight from the horse's mouth. As if the Extreme's 550 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque weren't enough, Saleen has found a way to extract an additional 50 hp from this motor, resulting in a nice round 600. The UBBE package includes the Extreme's Racecraft suspension, close-ratio six-speed transmission, 4:10 rear gearing with a Maxgrip differential, high-flow cooling system, 15" slotted and vented disc brake system, as well as unique black 5-spokes, special black-on-black paint, a gold dash plaque and the Cannonball decal package.

Cannonball Run World Events, Inc. (CRWE) commissioned the 25 cars and has even set aside one of these 600 hp 'Stangs for the winner of the event. The race will be a little different this year, with 400 cars starting from one of four different East Coast cities. It will be a 3,000 mile time-match rally, rather than a race. Lots of technical, but spirited driving will fill their days, while luxury hotels and celebrity parties will occupy their nights. Racers will make their way to Las Vegas, and parade to Los Angeles for the award ceremony. There will also be a final track day at Willow Springs Raceway for contestants. We hope to bring you some intimate coverage of this event, which starts at the end of July. A full press release can be found after the jump.

[Source: Saleen]

Gallery: Saleen S281 Extreme "Ultimate Bad Boy Edition"

Continue reading Saleen serves up special 'Stangs for Cannonballers

Saleen serves up special 'Stangs for Cannonballers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saleen building Road Rally edition Mustangs

Chris Shunk — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 08:51:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, Ford

In 1983 my family got cable. It was a pretty big deal. So big, in fact, that I remember the first thing I ever saw on cable, Cannonball Run. This summer the Great American Run returns, and with a pretty cool trophy for the winner of the ~~race~~ contest. Saleen is selling 24 of 25 limited edition Mustangs to contestants of the event, 11 of which have already been sold. Number 25 will be given away as first prize of the contest.

Since a Mustang isn't exactly a vehicle that's tough to find, this Saleen edition had to be something quite special. The V8 engine turns out a Shelby GT500-topping 600 HP and hauls to 60 in less than 4 seconds. The top speed is a ridiculous 200 MPH, which is amazing, insane, and very cool. Those numbers are pretty impressive for any vehicle, and with the Saleen name we think even Captain Chaos would love it. Oh, if the July 29 through August 4th race is making your mind wander, you can enter for $10,000. The run is limited to 400 entries.

With only 25 copies off the special edition Saleen Mustang, this is one exclusive ride. Not only is it a Saleen with 600 HP and a 200 MPH top speed, you can only buy it by participating in the race. Something tells us we'll see quite a few of these at Barrett Jackson next year, and number 25 will sell for some serious coin.

[Source: GT Spirit via Jalopnik]

Saleen building Road Rally edition Mustangs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cannonball heads for Holden territory

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 08:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Supercars

We're pretty sure that the last thing this great big spinning orb of ours needs is another 'rally.' But that isn't stopping Cannonball World Events from allowing those of you with too much disposal time and income from blasting across the great expanses of Australia.

The Cannonball Down Under will begin on May 7th, 2007, with 75 cars driving an estimated 4,000 kilometers over the course of several days. The organizers maintain that the chances of impending doom for both participants and bystanders are limited, as driver's average speed should be set at 100 KPH (62 MPH), hence the designation of a 'rally' rather than a 'race.' Sure.

The buy-in is set at 10-large in Australian green backs (are they even green?) and applications are readily available if you're over the age of 21.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Cannonball heads for Holden territory originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Travelogue - Trailer Queens and Kings of One Lap of America

Chris Paukert — Wed, 10 May 2006 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Motorsports, Trends, Etc.

A few years ago, some enterprising One Lapper that was short on lebensraum and/or tool space sourced a small trailer and a hitch for their racecar. The next year, what was a mere curiosity became a major piece of pit gear overnight, quickly evolving into a game of 'one-upsmanship,' a common theme among gearheads. What started out with basic little U-Haul types and little flat-bed steel-frames begat a full-blow trailer war, with One Lappers showing up with custom trailers painted to match their racecars, rigs capable of hauling bicycles for track recon laps and trundling about the paddock, etc. A few years ago, a particularly quick early 90's Ford Thunderbird sported a 'mini-me' version of itself in tow, with South Park figures at the helm. Though some of the rental trailers post warnings about traveling above 55 mph, we have it on good authority that the little load luggers 'remain rock solid right up until around 110 mph... that's when things start to get a little spooky.'

This year, trailers are once again out in force, with setups attached to everything from Truck/SUV class entrants to bespoke hitches and trailers on the backs of Vipers, 911s, and even that Ultralite Lotus Seven knockoff, making for an odd scene for passers-by on America's roads. Some have built-in tool racks, while we've even spotted a rig with a wireless Internet workstation and vehicle diagnostic equipment. In years past, a 1960's Corvette GS even had a sizeable auxiliary fuel tank with some aircraft-grade hoses running to the racecar itself.

This year's selections have become a little tamer, but trailers remain a major component of One Lap paddock life, enabling a large amount of tools, parts and detritus to be shuttled around the country, and we thought you'd like a quick peak at some of this year's entrants.

Click through to the jump, and enjoy.

Continue reading Autoblog Travelogue - Trailer Queens and Kings of One Lap of America

Autoblog Travelogue - Trailer Queens and Kings of One Lap of America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 May 2006 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Travelogue: 2006 One Lap Of America

Chris Paukert — Tue, 09 May 2006 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Daimler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Honda, Jeep, Lotus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, Porsche, Subaru, Volkswagen

Well, the fuse has been lit on the 2006 installment of the splendiforously-titled Tire Rack Cannonball One Lap of America presented by Car & Driver (better known as 'One Lap'), and as usual, your trusty Autoblog contact is on the scene. We had high hopes for 'live-blogging' the Cannonball Run offspring this year via daily updates, but circumstances have conspired against us. At any rate, for those not terribly familiar with the event, here's the (kinda-sorta) quick and dirty:

Brock Yates, patron saint of modern American automotive journalism and founder of the original 'Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash,' created a weeklong national road rally in 1984 for gearheads and their hangers-on. In its original incarnation, the event was a bleary-eyed run around the perimeter of these United States. In more recent times (1992-present), One Lap has evolved into a more sophisticated setup that sees racers drive from racetrack to racetrack around the country (the route changes each year), with stops at major and minor tracks along the way. The race is essentially a 'rung whatcha brung' event in which cars of wildly varying description and capability duke it out in different racing venues for overall and in-class wins. The beauty of One Lap is its simplicity-- if you can find a state willing to slap a license plate on it, it's okay by Brock. Racers must attend a couple of track day schools and meet certain rudimentary safety standards (helmets, SFI-rated firesuits, etc.) and run on tires purchased from title sponsor The Tire Rack, but everything else is essentially fair game.

Entrants test the durability of their rides, their backsides, and their mental states not only with long transit stages, but also a good cross-section of events -- everything from road courses to ovals to drag strips. Transit stages on public roads are not timed or scored events, though generally there is at least one passage control along the way to keep things 'on the level.' By way of example, a few years ago, One Lappers were treated to a dirt oval, proving once and for all that auto afficianados haven't lived until they've seen a Lamborghini Diablo spraying muddy roostertails up over the catch fence.

Click through to the jump for more One Lap of America, including dozens of photographs!

Continue reading Autoblog Travelogue: 2006 One Lap Of America

Autoblog Travelogue: 2006 One Lap Of America originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 May 2006 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2006 Gumball rally officially underway as German police impound four cars

Chris Paukert — Tue, 02 May 2006 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Government/Legal, Supercars

It isn't an official Gumball 3000 until the authorities start impounding cars. The annual event for car-loving millionaire scofflaws kicked off on Sunday in London, and various police forces around Europe have wasted little time in catching up with the cash-happy racers.

Wuerzburg, Germany authorities reportedly bagged 44 of the 120 Gumballers en route to Belgrade for various infractions, holding on to four of the racer's prized vehicles. No word on if any of the race's celebrity entrants have been ensnared, but somehow we figure that Snoop Dogg, Jodie Kidd, Hugh Hefner and their ilk can talk/photograph/autograph/buy their way out of any such issues.

This year's 3,000 mile high-speed, debauchery-laden Gumball will see stages in Europe, Thailand and the Western U.S.

More details can be found by checking out the Gumball's official website here, and CarDomain.com just launched its event coverage here (tip nod: Greg).

[Sources: MonstersandCritics; Gumball144.com; Gumball3000.com; CarDomain.com]

2006 Gumball rally officially underway as German police impound four cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 May 2006 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cannonball Run returning to U.S. this summer

Chris Paukert — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Trends, Etc.

The Cannonball Run is returning to America. Named for the highly illegal (and surely equally entertaining) Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash founded by Car & Driver vet Brock Yates, this celeb and party-soaked cross-country run is actually an unsanctioned offspring of the franchise started by the aforementioned elder statesman of automotive journalism. Yates himself still presides over the One Lap of America, the original's heir operating in a toned-down format that keeps the points-scoring events to a changing cast of racetracks around the nation.

In the past, the Cannonball's route has been something of a secret until the green flag drops, largely in hopes of minimizing legal wranglings and a level playing field for competitors. The 2006 iteration will actually be run under the Great American Run banner for one week, beginning July 29.

In an unorthodox development, racers will actually start the event in their choice of four U.S. cities: Atlanta, Miami, New York, and Washington D.C., with 16 checkpoints punctuating the 3,000 mile drives. Either way, the cars will all wind up in Los Angeles for the traditional debauchery-laden afterparty.

Interested? Find yourself an amusing car (preferably a fast one) and the $10,000 entry fee, and sign up to be one of the 400 fun-loving scofflaws.

[Source: Mobilmag.com; Star-Collector.net; Cannonballworld.com; OneLapOfAmerica.com]

Cannonball Run returning to U.S. this summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crazy BABE seeks bangers to mash from Big Apple to New Orleans

Chris Paukert — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Trends, Etc.

National road rallies are nothing new for North American enthusiasts. Brock Yates' Cannonball Run offshoot, the One Lap Of America has been plugging away in earnest for decades now. But for those without big budgets, trans-continental automotive hooliganism has remained somewhat less accessible.

Enter the BABE, or BigApple2BigEasy. Basically, it's a 'run whatcha brung' event from NYC to New Orleans on public roads. The catch? Competitors can only spend the princely sum of $250 on a vehicle. In other words, expect a parade of bangers, heaps, jalopies, junkers, and the stray basketcase.

The four-day event will be interspersed with 'challenges' which will likely take the form of scavenger hunts and the like. The event is not a race (Gumballers need not apply), but it is scored, and there are awards. The top team takes home $1,500, with the second place team netting $350, and the third-place finishers putting a $150 dent in their gas receipts/future chiropractor bills.

Trophies to be awarded will include 'Team to Hitchhike the Farthest' and 'Most Creative Repair Job.' Participating hoopties must be ~~forklifted~~ registered by April 30th, and the BABE requires a $250 entry fee.

Sounds like fun to us.

[Sources: BABE and IMCDB.org]

Crazy BABE seeks bangers to mash from Big Apple to New Orleans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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