Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/one-lap-2010-the-weekend-that-was/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/one-lap-2010-the-weekend-that-was/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/one-lap-2010-the-weekend-that-was/#commentsFiled under:


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


Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs Inc.

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMW Performance SchoolBmwPerformanceSchoolbrock yatesBrockYatescannonball runCannonballRunfeaturedgateway international racewayGatewayInternationalRacewayHallettmid americamid america motorplexMidAmericaMidAmericaMotorplexone lapone lap 2010one lap of americaone lap of america 2010OneLapOneLap2010OneLapOfAmericaOneLapOfAmerica2010Road AmericaRoadAmericatulsa raceway parkTulsaRacewayParkTue, 04 May 2010 12:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19463058/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/04/one-lap-2010-the-weekend-that-was/19463058/article-detail.xml 19463058 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/01-one-lap-part-deux-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/01-one-lap-part-deux-630.jpg <![CDATA[One Lap of America 2010: The warm-up]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/one-lap-of-america-2010-the-warm-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/one-lap-of-america-2010-the-warm-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/one-lap-of-america-2010-the-warm-up/#commentsFiled under:


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


Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs Inc.

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 one lap of america2010OneLapOfAmericaBrock YatesBrockYatesCannonballcannonball runCannonballRunelkhart LakeElkhartLakegateway international racewayGatewayInternationalRacewayhallettmid america motorplexmid ohiomid ohio racewaymid-america motorplexMid-americaMotorplexmid-ohiomidamerica motorplexMidAmericaMotorplexMidOhioMidOhioRacewayMotor TrendMotorTrendnelson ledgesNelsonLedgesnew jersey motorsports parkNewJerseyMotorsportsParkOne Lap 2010One Lap of AmericaOne Lap of America 2010OneLap2010OneLapOfAmericaOneLapOfAmerica2010road americaRoadAmericaTire RackTireRacktulsa raceway parkTulsaRacewayParkFri, 30 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19460475/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/30/one-lap-of-america-2010-the-warm-up/19460475/article-detail.xml 19460475 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/onelapday1---01opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/onelapday1---01opt.jpg -1 2