What do you guys think of entering a balt in the One Lap of America?
I am thinking of talking to a friend of mine and seeing if he would want to enter with my balt.

I believe I would either be in the economy car under $25,000 or the Sport car under $50,000 and under 3.5 ltrs.

Anyway looking to see what you guys would think.

Would only require a few things to do to finish the car. Would be in the same trim as when I autox the car.

Let me know what you think!

Slowbalt

 

Some info on this event would be useful, I could google it although I'm too lazy.

 

Do it do it

 

One of the tracks you go to is in my hometown. It's a fun little track, I've driven around it on a couple of parade laps.

 

never really knew what the 1 lap of america is.

 

orly? wheres the track?

 

Its a tamer cannonball, looks like you are still forced to drive your car to the destinations, but the races are on actual courses, not on the street.

 

It's been done before in an LSJ. I don't know about a Cobalt, but it's been done in an LNF-powered HHR SS as well. They've surprised a lot of people. IIRC both were in the Economy class.

I say do it. I'm shooting for 2014 or 2015, depends on money.

Keep in mind you and your friend will both have to do I believe it's 2 driver's schools each (you can do the same ones, just each competition driver has to complete 2 driver's schools). If you're the only competition driver, then only you have to do the driver's schools. Transit drivers can do limited events (drag race and auto-x I believe, POSSIBLY skid pad, but they cannot compete on the road courses).

I have friends that have run it multiple times and it was stressful, but a blast none the less.

 

It's definitely pricey, I think when all was said and done it costs about $10,000-12,000 per pair of entrants. Entry fee, licensing fee, food/lodging, tires, random parts that will break along the way.

 

The middle of Nebraska. hahaha.

 

Entry fee is $2,900 and you can only use 6 tires. So my thinking.
3 people. $1,000 for entry. Covers hotels at each event, and track.
$1,800 tires / 3 = $600 each.
Gas lets say $900 / 3 = $300
Food for eight days $40 a day per person, $320 but each person controls that cost.
We will bring a tow behind trailer that we use for autox, no follow vehicle
Misc I am not thinking about $600 / 3 = $200

Total per person = $2,300 each.

I think our cars are new enough and I have a stock motor other than tune and intake. Should not have breakage problem. Benefit of non race car vs full race car.

Also I have looked at the rules I can find, I have to call I think to get more info. But I believe we would either be in the economy car under $25,000 or the sports car under $50,000 and under 3.5 liter. But I do not know. Do you guys know?
Also I do not know if the price is what we paid for the car or total cost. I cannot find anything other that is what is on the one lap site.

Now if you guys can help me on this part. I have asked John Powell or his son to be the third person. They are both accomplished drivers. I believe they both know the cobalt very well if something happens, they are both competitive, and they are in a position to make sure the car is the best it can be.

If you guys can help, give John or his son a nudge. I have asked him, but maybe you can nudge. You know if we did this everybody on both forums would be watching. I think it would be good for John's business because we all know he has the best parts when something is needed.

Slowbalt

 

sounds like something worth doing and seeing how our cars stack up to others. Gonna stay tuned in for the rest of this.

 

When my friends went, they took a brand new car. As in under a year old. If you can take more people, then it'll reduce the cost a bit. They had two competition drivers, and spent just under $6k each. The general rule of thumb I was told was to take the "on paper" costs you anticipate and at least double it.

I'm 99% sure the deltas that have done it before were in the Economy class. I'll look. I know the last year my friends went, was the year the HHR SS went.

 

I stand corrected, the HHRs ran in the retro class. The Cobalt should be in Economy, but make sure with someone.

 

Any help you guys can give is great. I would absolutely love to run in the economy class.

As far as 6 k each for three guys, that really seems high for a $2,900 event. I really don't want to spend that. I want to keep the cost down so we have a great time, and the do it each year.

Slowbalt

 

There are TONS of hidden costs involved. The drivers schools alone (I'm assuming you don't have a comp license) run in the $350-500 range per person. Plus travel to those and lodging, food, etc.

Between 3 sets of friends, they've run it about 7 times. I think the cheapest they've come in per team was just under $9500.

Only reason I'm bringing it up is I've had friends pay the entry fee, pay to prep the car, and have to drop out mid-week because they ran out of funds. That's why I'm holding off for a couple years until I KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt I've got at least $10k to dedicate to it.

A 3rd person will help a TON with keeping costs down just with someone else to share trivial expenses with.

Oh and make sure you're OK with not speaking to the other person for a while after. When my ex went with his friend, they didn't speak for like 6 weeks afterwards.....and they lived in the same house . And don't take a daily driven car or anything you're still making payments on. That never ends well.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from doing it, I think every road racing enthusiast should try and swing it at least once in their lifetime. I'm just throwing it out there what I've seen from my friends' experiences with it.

 

Actually the best advice - Google it. A lot of the teams blog about their trip, that'd give you the best idea of what to anticipate. Read several of them and see what other people planned for and didn't, and the type of stuff that happened.

 

DO IT! they usually come thru my area and run at CMP and then come to BMW Test Track... My buddy who runs GreasyBlocks.com knows doug that ran the SRT-4 and hes said it was an absolute blast...

neon « Greasy Blocks

 

That was great info guys. I think I will do some more searching before I make a commitment. Spending a truck load is not what I wanted to do.
Not talking to my friend for 6 weeks is not what I want to do.
Both I know my friend has a comp license, I only need one shool, not sure about John.

Again, much appreciated info.

Slowbalt

 

It's a wild and crazy ride, that's what makes it fun. But it's something that should be researched and well thought out. Read the race blogs, whichever ones you can find. I know the old Honda team that ran the turbo Odyssey had one, I THINK the Atom team had one, and the Smart team had one as well. All from 2009? Maybe? Might have been 2010.

 

I like this idea

 

No support vehicle will be allowed to follow. Seems to do away with support vehicle.
Still trying to find more info on class for our SS as well as what can be done.
Looking for info, but cannot seem to find.

 

I'd love to get in on something like this in the future, I've done 2 years of on/off Autocross and 1.5 Seasons of Rallycross, both local series. I've run a 2009 Cobalt SS Turbo, a 1993 Civic Si hatch, a 1995 Celica GT, and a 1995 Acura Integra(my current chariot, such as it is lol). Will I need any special competition licenses to join in on something like this? I will likely be doing a chump car race next year and I'm thinking something like this would be a nice addition to my 2013 Season. I'd love to do it all this year but money is too tight.

 

If you don't have a comp license currently, you'll need to go to 2 driving schools (OLOA has their own if you wish, they do it as a two-day weekend) and be signed off. Cost depends on the track usually.

 

Actually your experience will dictate what you need. A competition license is not required. Ask Mr. Yates, tell him your experience and what you have done, he will make the call. Very nice gentleman.
If you have enough track experience to make Mr. Yates comfortable all is good. They want to make sure you don't go out on track and kill yourself. Again just send Mr. Yates a email and let him make the call.

Was also told the car would be in same class as the GTI, R32 etc, seems good to me. Also spoke to a couple of friends one who has competed and it has been decided to only go with two people due to the short amount of track time.

So at this point, I have about a month to decide. It may be I pay for everything, and bring along someone to help at the track, and drive in between events. This way I can drive the tracks and still have help.

Slowbalt.