Which challenge is tougher?

[TheJDMan]

I'm wondering which of these two muscle car challenges is, well, more challenging.

1. Hot Rod Drag Week
2. One Lap of America



Both challenges include extensive road miles between events but the Drag Week is strictly that, drags only. On the other hand the One Lap includes road courses, drag strips, skid pads and in general is more comprehensive. I'm curious which event you guys/gals think is more demanding of the cars and teams. I think it would be interesting to discuss the similarities and differences and perhaps pose a challenge to Hot Rod. What do you think?

[mpozzi]

Haven't done Drag Week but have survived One Lap. You get it all thrown at you there ...

Mary Pozzi

[Van B]

I have not done either, but from this armchair of which I am quarterback, Drag Week seems like it would be tougher to get through. Those cars are so close to the ragged edge (at least the unlimited class) and the abuse that the driveline takes in drag racing vs. roadracing seems like it would make it tough to complete, not to mention making all that HP drive down the road reliably. Larry Larson has made it look easy (sort of). He has a proven combination with a lot of passes under his belt.

One Lap covers a hell of a lot more miles and demands much more of the driver, with different types of tracks, long distances between tracks and more days. I would love to do both some day but sadly will probably never do either.

[rustomatic]

Just to clarify, are you looking for which is the greater challenge for the driver, the mechanic (if they are separate entities), or the car?

[CarlC]

Like Mary said.....

DW and OLoA are two different animals. Neither allow for major mechanical troubles. DW demands a more ragged-edge approach to car performance but the car only has to do two things, straight-line and highway. OLoA requires the car to do a multitude of tasks; Road course, skid pad (wet and dry), autocross, drag/bracket racing, highway, and even the occasional dirt track. OLoA also has about double the highway mileage.

It's amazing to me how Larson can run those kind of numbers and drive the car those kind of distances.

I'd love to do them both, along with the Baja 1000, La Carrera, Targa Tasmania, etc. There's just too many fun things to do in life.