This event is historic. 2009 will be the 26^th running of OLOA. In the early 1970s, Brock Yates, senior editor of Car and Driver magazine, created the infamous Cannonball Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, a no-holds-barred race from NYC to Redondo Beach, California. The movies Cannonball Run and Smokey and the Bandit II reference this famous race. Since racing on public highways has fallen out of favor since the 1970’s, there is no true modern day equivalent. One Lap of America is the next best thing.

“The Tire Rack One Lap of America is
the toughest 8 days of racing
featuring the fastest street-legal cars on
America’s most challenging racetracks!”

OneLapOfAmerica.com

This is an 8 day event that pits man and machine against delirium and fatigue. Just finishing is an accomplishment. The One Lap tour includes over 100 drivers, covers 3,369 miles, visits 10 race tracks and allows little time for sleep in cheap motel rooms. The venues include some of the greatest race tracks in America, including Bluegrass, Talledega, Sebring, Daytona, BeaverRun and Gainesville dragway. The event starts and finishes with wet and dry skidpad events at the TireRack headquarters in South Bend, Indiana.

There are some unique rules for OLOA. Competitors are limited to a single set of street tires. The car must be driven for the entire event. Tow trucks and support vehicles are not permitted. In terms of performance modifications, the sky is the limit in any of the classes. We will be competing in the mid-priced sedans and wagons $20k-40k class.

Holding up a 911 at Calabogie

The 2009 One Lap of America Class Structure

• Sports/GT cars over $40,000 – Engine displacement 3.5L and over
• Sports/GT cars over $40,000 – Engine displacement under 3.5L
• Sports/GT cars under $40,000 – Engine displacement 3.5L and over
• Sports/GT cars under $40,000 – Engine displacement under 3.5L
• Mid-priced sedans and wagons $20,000-40,000
• Economy cars under $20,000
• Luxury sedans and wagons over $40,000
• SUVs and pickups
• Classic American: All domestically produced vehicles built prior to 1988
• Classic Imported: All types built prior to 1988
• Alternate Fuel class: Hybrids, electric, diesels, etc
• Retro: Vehicles intended to reflect past trends or models, Mini;’s, etc