[National Event] Open Track Challenge

OT Challenge · #1 (**permalink**) 11-11-2001, 10:32 PM

Eckhaus already knows about this but we're trying to get the word out to the rest of the Cobra-owning community...

*7 tracks in 7 days
* national media coverage
* Top Gun atmosphere
* A-list drivers and weekend trackies taking the field
* Big part at Las Vegas hotel-casino at the end
* Can you be competitive and finish the event?

It's hard to keep up answering all the questions on the various forums, but I try. Email at "info@opentrackchallenge.com" for a more rapid response. Hope to see you out there, guys!

www.opentrackchallenge.com

a427sc · #2 (**permalink**) 11-12-2001, 06:56 PM

We stay at one track for 7 days. We eat in 7 different restaurants/gin mills/greasy spoons, one each evening. We cook 7 variations of spare ribs/sausage&onions/red hots&kraut/chili, one of each, each day for lunch We run on track as often as our breakdowns will allow. Prizes determined by the volume, and degree of difficulty in expelling bodily gas without an "accident" each evening. Fire retardant underwear is required. Each participant will be required to be able to walk (if gingerly) to their room each night or face disqualification. Drinking of alcohol is prohibited during daylite hours until track is shut down, then optional till sunset, required after dark.

FEZ

Wish I could go to the left coast, sounds like a great time! No offense intended.

OT Challenge · #3 (**permalink**) 11-12-2001, 07:02 PM

That's actually pretty funny. I wish you success. Particularly with the gas-expulsion event.

RACER X #99 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-12-2001, 07:37 PM

Fez,
If you can keep your car running at the Glen for 7 laps(consecutive) then you will win the Club Cranky Endurance Award
I think I will have the trophy made this year in antisipation of your actually running for 7 laps. HoHoHO
Cranky McCoupe

OT Challenge · #5 (**permalink**) 01-16-2002, 03:11 PM

Update:

I have re-classed Cobras to our "American GT" class where you'll compete against Mustangs, F-body's, and Panoz cars rather than Vettes, Vipers, and Porsche Turbos.

Randy Rosenberg · #6 (**permalink**) 01-16-2002, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OT Challenge
Update:

I have re-classed Cobras to our "American GT" class where you'll compete against Mustangs, F-body's, and Panoz cars rather than Vettes, Vipers, and Porsche Turbos.

Am I the only one who's insulted by this "reclassification"?

MistressMotorsports · #7 (**permalink**) 01-16-2002, 09:05 PM

Don't be insulted. There is not a single Cobra on this board or anywhere that can run with the cars in the Unlimited 1 class. You basically need to have an ALMS spec car like a C5R to run up front. We're talking serious, not street legal, carbon fiber, wings, slicks, etc. stuff. I had been planning to enter one of a couple possible Vettes in this race, but now that Cobras have a shot at their class title, I may need to think about running my own car. Even with the reclass, there are some pretty serious pony cars running around Socal. It's no given a Cobra can win that class either. This is all road course stuff, no drags, no autocrossing. For comparison, we figure U1 will need to run about 1:22 at Willow Springs and also run 6 other courses without breaking to win. Pony Car classes will also need to run sub-1:30 at Willow. How many of us can do that and stay reliable enough to run 7 days in a row?

Mike Eckhaus

OT Challenge · #8 (**permalink**) 01-17-2002, 04:25 AM

Mike did a really good job of explaining the reasoning. Aside from the fundamental uncompetitiveness, it wasn't the OTC Organizers who suggested the move...it was your peers who wanted a fighting chance and/or didn't want to remain on the sidelines during the fun.

But, Mike...isn't Irby going to feel stood-up if you drop the Tupperware and decide to run the Cobra?

Randy Rosenberg · #9 (**permalink**) 01-18-2002, 04:37 PM

Thanks...

I popped over the OTChallenge web site and surfed about a bit.

Yup, my comment above was not appropriate - sorry.

Thanks,
Randy R...

DanElam · #10 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 07:52 PM

Just to echo MistressMotorsports.... Cobras have no chance. I have a FFR Spec Racer that we run in the NASA events. It is faster than a lot of the touring cars, but we also run SCCA GT-1 where we aren't even close. My car is, what $30K and some ot the GT-1 cars have a lot more than that just in the engine. The car is very reliable, but when it comes to suspension, engine, tires, aerodynamics, etc it is nooooooooo contest.

But the event still sounds like fun!

MistressMotorsports · #11 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 09:07 PM

Since the original posts, the organizers have moved Cobras and replicas into the American Iron classes. This puts them against Camaros and Mustangs instead of Vettes and Porsches. I would think that a well turned out car could probably do well in this class. I'm still running the Vette, though, as we want to try for overall.

Mike

RACER X #99 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-14-2002, 01:23 PM

Mike, Dan, most of us that do any amount of open track and driving schools know what a Cobra / replica can or cannot do and I agree they belong running with the Camaro's and Mustangs. Some of the people around here think a Cobra is the fastest car ever and can easily beat up on Vipers, Porsches and the latest Corvettes. Boy are they ever in for a surprise. Nice to see that some of us know what we got and are content to run with our real competition.

Good luck to you both with your racing.

Cranky