Is open road racing finally catching on?

LeeH · 08-22-2003, 12:38 PM

I keep reading about open road racing and think it would be a great way to let our cars stretch their legs a bit.

This article suggests that it's becoming more and more popular:
http://www.time.com/time/globalbusiness/article/0,9171,1101030825-476428,00.html?cnn=yes

johncj8989 · 08-22-2003, 12:48 PM

Im all for that baby!! We need more of that in this country.

dglenn · 08-22-2003, 01:12 PM

If I lived closer to Nevada, I would be all over it!

.... as soon as I get my car.

addictionMS · addictionMS's Garage

dangerous sport, no safety regulations (usually) no race license needed so anyone can do it, lots of nasty stuff out there on an open road to run into.

I'll stick to the track

Jim

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

A friend of mine is doing this next month. He wanted me to go along as his navigator, but I declined. He registered with a dial in speed of 125.

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

$650

I wander if I could get Wayne to sponsor me?

Zeke · 08-22-2003, 04:14 PM

Someone usuallys get hurt in one of those deals and even more cars get hurt. Was it on this board about the husband wife that got killed up near Reno? In a Viper, me thinks. IIRC, that put an end to that Open road envent. Go to the track.

350HP930 · 08-22-2003, 04:55 PM

People also get hurt driving to and from work each day but that doesn't stop me from commuting.

This looks like the ideal vacation for me. I will have to try one of these in a few years.

Jack Olsen · 05:45 PM

What I don't get about this kind of event is that it seems, well... boring. My Jaguar will cruise at 150, pretty easily, and the wind noise still isn't enough to interfere with the CD player. I took it up to that speed, once, and I haven't felt inclined to do it again.

Now, this Silverstate thing. The point of it, as I understand, isn't to drive faster than the other guys -- but to work out the best math in getting your average speed closest to some pre-set goal? Hopefully, I've got that wrong. I don't want to knock another guy's fun, but I don't see how anyone could call that racing.

350HP930 · 08-22-2003, 06:19 PM

Apparantly some of the courses have some challenging twisties.

So much so its where the spectators like to watch.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

>>The point of it, as I understand, isn't to drive faster than the other guys -- but to work out the best math in getting your average speed closest to some pre-set goal?<<

Ever been to the drag races?? Bracket racing is just that. Each guy tells them how fast you're gonna run, and the closest person to that time without going over wins. Regardless of who crosses the finish line first.
Its quite strange to watch cars leave the starting line without hardly spinning a tire, and then half way down the track they stomp on it. I dont care for it, but its one of the biggest classes.

350HP930 · 08-22-2003, 07:04 PM

Some of these races from what I have heard is all about the time it takes to get from point A to point B.

Apparantly guessing your average speed is a requirement for staging purposes since these events are not supposed to be wheel to wheel racing.

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

Jack has it right. It isn't "racing", it is trying to match your dialed in time. The participants in this thing really get into it with their electronic gear. They usually have a laptop and GPS unit along with a timing mechanism. This is why a navigator is needed.

The top finishers are usually less than half a second from their dialed in time. It's definately not racing, but I hear it is a lot of fun. But.... $650 worth?

ronin · 08-22-2003, 10:38 PM

if one is willing to accept the risks, I think it's the perfect venue for letting someone find out what their cars are capable of. although a track would do just fine for this purpose, having a real stretch of open road just can't be beat. as for the safety issue: to paraphrase the two-wheelers, let those who 'ride' decide?

banjomike · banjomike's Garage

anyone know about the various events that the article refered to? Maybe they aren't all $650.

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

The best "open road" events IMHO are the timed "Targa" events. It would seem we down here in Australasia (this includes the Kiwis

) are luckier than most with quite a resurgence in these types of events (normally timed in with Indy racing and F1 events). These are heavily managed with safety in mind... roll cages/helmets/racing licences etc... But the main thing is that nearly anybody can qualify and run their cars.

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

I do this every weekend.............for FREE.

Lots of mountains here. No side roads, no place for cops to hide, and no turning back. When the light at the bottom of the mountain turns green you go like hell till you're up - over - around - and down the other side. Speed is only limited by the room in your shorts.