One Lap by the Numbers

This year we logged more miles than ever.  From leaving home in Mount Joy to returning home again we logged 5334 miles.  The schedule showed 3716 for the event plus 1200 miles from Mount Joy to South Bend and back home again.  That leaves 418 miles of which I estimated 182 on track miles which leaves 236 miles going back and forth to the hotels and maybe a wrong turn or two.  Tolls were $88. the Pennsylvania turnpike getting the biggest share.  Gas cost us $877 and hotels were $894.  The highest price for Hi-Test gas was $3.699 in Indiana and the lowest was in Oklahoma for $2.589, a big oil state.  One extra expense of about $150 was the purchase of two trailer tires/wheels.  I guess those little tires just can't hold up to the constant high speed transits on One Lap.  Our goal for the week was to finish in the top half of the field and we met that goal and finished 34th.  Our best event was an 8th place finish in the Dry Skid Pad Challenge.  71 vehicles started the event and 8 dropped out along the way, others broke but were able to fix their problems and continue on.  Of the eight that dropped out five showed up at South Bend at the end, 4 in rental or replacement cars and one went out and bought a Dodge Hell Cat.

One of the great numbers this year is that we set a record and raised over $4400, our best fundraising year ever, bringing our total over the years to over $25,000.  The Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition really appreciates our efforts and considers us a Grassroots supporter and it really feels good to raise money for such a good cause.  So many of our friends and loved ones have been affected by this terrible disease that we want to do all we can to help find a cure.

We will wrap up our fundraising in a few weeks, so if you still want to donate see Jesse Landis or myself.  If you would like to use your credit card go on line to www.pbcc.me and click donate.  Just be sure to mention One Lap of America when asked for what event.  Thanks You.

My co-driver Jesse's reflections of One Lap of America

Top three finishers 2018 One Lap of America

One Lap of America was certainly an adventure. The wild cars and interesting people were of great interest. On the first day, it seemed like a large family reunion. Everyone was catching up with each other, having not seen these friends for a whole year. For being in a competitive situation, everyone got along real well, with rivals even helping each other. One day a driver slid into a wall and damaged a wheel. Quickly upon his arrival back at his park spot, several guys were looking under his car, offering their expertise to fix the damage. I heard stories of competitors giving each other spare car parts to get them back in the race. Many of these cars are more than a little modified, and every driver is so proud of his (or her) car.

It was really fun watching these guys speed around the track. Just watching them, you can tell that they just love it. There is so much waiting around, often in unbearable heat. And these guys are in their racing suits. Someone said that it's like being wrapped in a quilt. We also had 3 days where we had to drive more than 600 miles between tracks. We got to the hotel those nights around 2:00 and we were up by 7:00 to race another day. One morning after little sleep, we were going down the elevator to breakfast and one One Lapper said, "We do this for fun right?" It seems with all the hard work involved in racing, once the racing begins, it's all worthwhile.

The highlight of the trip for me was probably being with my college buddy at the track out near his home in Denver. I had told him that I would get him a ride in a car around the race track during the parade laps where any non racer for the day can drive a few laps around the track. As it turned out, he was able to drive his own Corvette around the track! He was thrilled. He thinks he may have found a new hobby. He was intrigued watching the races and asking questions of the drivers.

I also enjoyed the racing and chatting with the other drivers, but I am really out of my league there. All the mechanical discussions and racing techniques were mostly foreign to me, but I did learn a great deal. I can't say that I really want to run races. I like to drive my car fast when appropriate, but I really don't like roller coasters and other amusement park rides. I like parades. I like showing off our cars. Can't imagine beating my car like those guys do. We all like different things.

It was really something to see different parts of the country, even though there was no time to sight see. I wish we wouldn't have had to drive in the dark, as we couldn't see the landscape then.

Despite not ranking higher than he did, I think Jim had a good time. He has established many strong relationships. I was happy to try to make his experience as good as it could be. I really didn't drive that much, as I can tell Jim just enjoys driving. When I did drive, how could I not enjoy it? I was driving a Corvette!

Many thanks to all the donors for our charity, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, a very good cause. I think we raised more than $4000 this year with a running total of $23,000.

These were the the top 3 finishers.

1) 2015 Corvette Z06
2) 2016 McLaren 570S
3) 2008 Honda S2000

We made it Home!

After 5334 miles in 9 days we made it home at 11:36 Saturday evening.  What a great week of  beautiful weather a lot of camaraderie and competition on awesome racetracks around the country.  Thanks to Gary Giessmann, one of our fellow competitors for the picture.

Good Skid Pad finish

Had a great finish today, 8th,  on the Dry (somewhat) Skid Pad Challenge.  The running order for the Dry Skid Pad is reversed so the the car in last place goes first and the car in first place goes last.  The weather was unsettled today and the first cars up to near mid pack had good conditions.  By the time I ran it was raining but not saturated and I got a good run in.

Now just 600 miles back to Pa. and we will have traveled about 5330 miles in a little over a week.  Brock Yates once said we are out there doing this event in cars that are cleverly disguised as race cars, and also eat some of the finest foods gas stations and fast food places have to eat. Our goal on the week was to finish in the top half of the field and we did, finishing 34th out of 71 vehicles.

Friday at the National Corvette Museum trach'fri

Friday we ran at the NCM racetrack in Bowling Green Kentucky.  'We did two time trials on the track and an 'Autocross on their big autocross lot.  I did pretty well on the track events but not so good on the Autocross.  An interesting fact, the orange Viper in the picture beat me by 17 hundreths of a second in the morning and 30 hundreths in the afternoon. This is our last track event and now back to South Bend for the Dry Skid competition, unless it's raining, then it will be a wet or semi wet skid pad. After a beautiful week of weather it is calling for thunderstorms Saturday.

Of course we had to stop by and get a picture in front of the Corvette factory.

NOLA in New Orleans

Jim chillin between runs

Not a great start to the day at NOLA's  2.75 mile long course.  Only finished 40th in the morning but at least I did better in the afternoon with a 30th place finish.  This track is absolutely flat and has a major long front straight and it is fast.  I got 146+ miles per hour down the front straight, and then there is a turn coming up;^)

Heading out on track 

Got some major nice donation money yesterday and today and it will positively be my biggest year ever in fundraising for the Pa. 'Breast Cancer Coalition.  If you want to be part of this record year, see me or go on line and use your credit card to donate  at http://www.pbcc.me

Texas Motorsports Ranch

If it's Wednesday it must be the Texas Motorsports Ranch.  One Lap of America is a rather intense week and sometimes you forget what day it is. So all you do is look at the schedule and see what track you are at to figure out the day;^)  We ran three track configurations today the 1.3 mile, the 1.7 mile and the combined at 3.1 mile.  Just so-so finishes on the day at 34th, 36th, and 39th, but it was much better than when I was here a few years ago.  It would really be nice to do a track day on these tracks before competing,  As it is we get one reconnaissance lap three competition laps and a cool down lap.  Quite a few competitors try to get around to each track and get practice before the event each year.  I just can't fit that into my life;^)

We also made a control stop at the Toyota headquarters in Dallas where the had kind of a mini car show with the cars they had competing in the event and also one of Kyle Bush's NASCAR Toyota. Thanks to Toyota and Odyssey Batteries for the refreshments.

We are still fundraising for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition and had a few of my competitors make nice donations.  It looks like we will have a record year.  To donate with a credit card go to www.pbcc.me and be sure to say One Lap when asked for what event.

Great Day at High Plains Raceway

I had two good finishes at High Plains Raceway in Deer Trail, Colorado today.  Actually it was yesterday since we just got into the hotel at 2:30 am after a 740 mile transit to Cresson Texas.  I finished 34th and 30th and moved up to 32nd place in overall standings. We are heading in the right direction. Our goal this year is to finish in the top half of the field.

We have now logged over 3200 miles since we left Mount Joy.

There is still room on the roof for additional stickers in our fundraising effort for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition.  See me or use your credit card on line at www.pbcc.me 

Still room for more  Breast Cancer stickers

Good Day at Hallett Oklahoma

I had a good day at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma, finishing 26th and 31st in a field of 71.  This is a really neat course with a lot of elevation change.  We finished up early, which was great since we had a 600 plus mile run to Colorado and got in at a reasonable hour.

Bench racing with my buddy JD White at Hallett

Tomorrow after our event at High Plains Raceway we have over a 700 mile run down to Cresson Texas. We have now logged over 2100 miles since leaving Mount Joy.

Saw probably hundreds of Windmills in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. 

Windmills in Kansas

Autobahn and Gateway

Getting lined up to run

Our first road course of the week was at Autobahn near Chicago later Saturday afternoon after we finished the Wet Skid Pad competition.  Autobahn was only 106 miles away but after we finished there we had another 248 miles to go to Gateway near St. Louis where we would compete on Sunday.  I was not pleased with my effort a Autobahn but had a couple of pretty good runs at Gateway Motorsports Park.  We also had two Drag Strip events at Gateway.  I did ok in the first event a pure Elapsed Time run but kind of beat myself by breaking out in the Bracket Drags. I actually beat my competitor in both ET and top speed but went faster than my dial in time.

Jim on track at Gateway near St.Louis

Now we are off on a 436 mile run down to Oklahoma for two road course events at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit.

It begins with the Wet Skid Pad Competition

Jim on Wet Skid Pad

 We got started with the Wet Skid Pad competition. I did better than last year but fell many positions compared to last year.  Oh well.
I guess that reflects the higher level of competition that we are seeing each year.

Don't forget we are still fundraising for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition and you can donate online at www.pbcc.me using your credit card. Just don't forget to mention One Lap of America when asked for what event. I would like to say thank you to all who have given.  Next up is our 1st road course at Autobahn Country Club Raceway near Chicago.

Leaving for One Lap of America

Here is the picture of us before heading

out to the 2018 One Lap of America.  This year the car is not yellow.  It is my blue 2008 Corvette.   This will be my 10 year and Jesse's 1st year.  We will travel as far west as Colorado and as far south as New Orleans.  The event itself is about 3600 miles but by the time we  drive to the Starting point in South Bend and then home at the end of the event we will log about 5,000 miles. We are still raising money for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition by putting names on the roof for anyone who donates. Go on-line to www.pbcc.me to donate with credit card and be sure to mention 

One Lap of America when asked for what event. 

Just putting the last of the sticker on the Corvette.  Saturday starts the competition.

Wish us Good Luck!

Union Community Bank makes Donation

 I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Union Community Bank for their generous donation to my fundraiser for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition.  The $250 check presented by Carl Hackman today gets us closer to our goal.  I would like to also thank several of the bank employees for their donations to this very worthy cause.

We will be leaving very shortly on this years big adventure, the One Lap of America but we still have a lot of room on the roof for more stickers for those who would like to donate. Stop in the store or you can donate by credit card online at pbcc.me  be sure to mention One Lap of America when asked for what event. Many of us have friends, family or loved ones who have been touched by this terrible disease.  Thank you for helping us reach our goal, and wish us Good Luck on our Adventure.