One Lap of America - BeaveRun Friday 5/9/08

[PaxtonShelby]

This Hennessey Viper knew how to git-r-dun...

[PaxtonShelby]

Other than the rat-rod, this Odyssey was probably the coolest/funniest car there. It was built by some Honda engineers from Alabama who were great guys to talk to and were having a ball. They used a stock block with forged rods, a stock head ( all they did was polish the OUTSIDE of the heads ), install some type of limited slip diff, gutted the interior, installed a nice cage, coil over setup in front, and - oh yeah - a nice big turbo that, at 14 psi, put 403 horsepower to the front wheels!! :D This thing battled for traction all the way around the track. By Friday, they had already replaced the manual tranny ( which grenaded on Tuesday ). They said it was a 5-speed from a TL? That poor thing didn't stand a chance, and they already had another reserve tranny ready "just-in-case"...

[PaxtonShelby]

I guess this was some type of GT kit car. This thing was driven - HARD - for what must have been a lot of years. Definitely not a show car - but still really cool. It has a ZF transaxle mated to a stroked 351. I said earlier that the red Ford GT was the best sounding car at the track - but this car sounded almost as nice. And the guy who drove it ( not the owner ) really pounded on it. It was a blast to watch this car run.

[PaxtonShelby]

This little car was amazing. I heard at the end of the day that this guy was in 3rd place OVERALL. Keep in mind that you have to drive your car ( not trailer it ) from track to track in the One Lap. And over 7 days you travel about 5000 miles, getting very little sleep. Then consider that this guy did that in this car - with its tiny little windscreens - in rainy and cold conditions - while towing a trailer that was longer than the car itself. On top of all that, consider that this guy - who you can safely assume must be nuts already - did all of this with his WIFE in the passenger seat. WOW is all I have to say...

Actually, we did talk with the two of them for a few moments and they seemed really friendly. Nuts - but friendly. Here is a copy of a spec card they gave me for their car - some of the numbers are unreal - like the 2.7 second 0-60 time...and the 1430 pounds figure... Oh heck - ALL the stats on this car will make you do a double-take!!! Check them out...

And check out their helmets. They looked pretty funny at 130mph heading down the front straight...

[biminiLX]

awesome pics Ron.
The guy I was covering for owes me another beer after seeing the pics.
Hopefully I can make it next year if they come back.
-J

[Troll]

all of those peeps got some serious hardware. looks fun.

[bgblockelcamino]

wow i may actually have to attend one of these events it looks badass

[crkthsky]

thanks for the pics! I was spittin mad I could'nt make it - had to work!

[PaxtonShelby]

thanks for the pics! I was spittin mad I could'nt make it - had to work!

No problem Ed. You definitely have to make it to BeaveRun sometime. In July the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix will be hosting vintage races there, and that's even MORE fun to watch. LOTS of American Muscle everywhere, and the heats are longer than the One-Lap ( which actually has 3-lap heats ). I'll post up more info as we get closer to the PVGP. The nice thing is that the PVGP vintage races are during the weekend, so you won't have to take a vacation day!

[somethingclever]

Awesome pics Ron...thanks for sharing...

The cobra in my sig was supposed to compete in one-lap this yr. New house and new baby for the PO changed that. LOL

Maybe i'll cruise the 69 car up to beaverun and watch the PVGP. What weekend is it?

[SV1000s]

I just read an article on those Honda guys (engineers)...they are really hardcore. Honda supplies them with parts, and they (the engineers/racers) invest their personal time in the vehicles. 90% of what they do goes towards the R&D of future Honda/Acura vehicles....one of the reasons Honda makes some of the best 4 and 6 cylinder engines in the world I'm sure.

Great pics and sweet rides Ron! Wish I could have made it out as a spectator.

[yeahloh95]

Did You See The Civic There? I Have Riden In It At The Last Autocross ,it Runs Really Well.

[03 OW SVT]

Nice pix...I should have come out. Beaverun is just 4 miles from my house.

I'd love to have seen some of those cars tear up the track.

[PaxtonShelby]

Did You See The Civic There? I Have Riden In It At The Last Autocross ,it Runs Really Well.

Do you mean the newer ( 2007? ) Civic? I think there was a red one running. It was in a group with some pretty quick cars and it was holding it's own.

[PaxtonShelby]

Nice pix...I should have come out. Beaverun is just 4 miles from my house.

I'd love to have seen some of those cars tear up the track.

4 miles???? I hope you had something REALLY good to do if you couldn't make the 4-mile trip to the track!!! You really have to make it out for the Vintage Grand Prix races in July - they're even better!!

[03 OW SVT]

4 miles???? I hope you had something REALLY good to do if you couldn't make the 4-mile trip to the track!!! You really have to make it out for the Vintage Grand Prix races in July - they're even better!!

When R they? I do plan on going there for a Flat out Friday, sometime this summer.