Live

It's official - the 8 days, 3,601 miles, and 21 competition events that make up the Tire Rack One Lap of America are in the books and The OneLapCamaro is the 2012 Vintage American Class Champion!

The dry skid pad went OK - not great but we got through it - with (an unofficial as of now) 0.908 G which is better than we've ever done but there is more to be had... maybe next time...

Awards ceremony is coming up and the a quick trip to Grant Park and we're going to finished here. Wow, what a week!

I'll work on a more complete overview over the weekend but for now that's it for live updates from the 2012 Tire Rack One Lap of America.

Special thanks to RideTech, Baer Brakes, OPTIMA Batteries, Touchstone, HRE Wheels, Currie, Centerforce, SpeedTech and of course the Pozzi's. And thank you to everyone who has supported our charity this year - The EvenStart Foundation for Children of Calgary!

Thank everybody!
James and Carl
The OneLapCamaro Team

Saturday morning at Tire Rack headquarters in South Bend... One more event to go and then we'll be done the 2012 Tire Rack One Lap of America!

A quick update from a long day...

As expected, Road America was a heck of a challenge. The morning session was my first time out on the track and I ran it conservatively, trying to learn the track and keep the car in one piece. Mission "accomplished" I ran a "slow" time but got to see the track. As expected I finished 2nd on class - well back from the 1st place car.

In the afternoon I went out hoping to improve and, once again mission accomplished. I picked almost 6 seconds per lap and finished in 27th overall and 1st in class. Even better - the OLC ran its best ever time on the track.

We headed out from the track as soon as we could, hoping to beat Friday rush hour in Chicago.

Well, sooner or later our luck was bound to turn and shortly before the Illinois border BOOM! One of our trailer tires blows. We got safely pulled over and thanks to a trailer full of tools managed to get the tire changed on the side of the insanely busy interstate in less than 4 minutes! We looked at the other tire and decided to seek out a WalMart to replace it as well. Fortunately there was one about 7 miles down the road and we were on our way within about 20 minutes.

Right in time for rush hour in the windy city.

45 minutes to go 8 miles.... Yech. We sidetracked to Joliet and took the long way home.

Good news is that we're safe and sound in Joliet and looking forwards to the final event tomorrow at the Tire Rack!

First run on Road America is in the books. Wow - this track is fast (and I will admit, scary)!

My strategy coming in this morning was to take it relatively easy this on the first run, get to know the track, and push a little bit harder in the afternoon. For the record, I'm going to stick with that explanation when I see my times...

The honest truth is that this track is scary fast and intimidating as heck the first time you see it. 150 mph in to turn 1 in 5th gear followed by bumping off the rev limiter in 4th heading down the next straight and, eventually, the long and twisty back straight in toward Canada corner.

We'll see how this afternoon but I'm hoping for 2nd in class, at best, and I'll take whatever I can get at this point...

Car is prepped - now for the driver...

Well we are on the road headed to Plymouth, Wisconsin for the night before heading to the historic Road America for the final road course competition events tomorrow,

We've finished our first run at Brainerd International Raceway and all I can say is... Wow!

A mile long straight, a 140 mph turn and a whole lot of fun. Probably the fastest I've ever driven on any track, anywhere (ORR excluded), period. Also probably the most frightening wait as well. The car was really well suited for the course, felt strong and finished in one piece. I'm not sure if it was enough - there was more there if I pushed myself - but wow! Passed the car ahead of me at the end of the second lap - which messed my time up a bit - but I'm hopeful it gets us second in class at worst.

And for those who are in on it... I broke my rule... 6th baby...

Don't look Lightning... Don't look...

Well we're rolling up I-80 around 40 miles west of Des Moines on our way up North to Brainerd, MN. The GPS is showing a 1:30 arrival time but the GPS doesn't worry about food, gas, and mother nature. I'm guessing 2 AM but am hoping for a break.

First major incident on the race came early this afternoon... On the autocross...