Location: Somewhere south of Gainesville, Florida Distance traveled: 1242 miles and counting So how do the real One Lap competitors do it? We’re only covering this madness, not actually racing for low times and high points at each venue, and yet we’re still having a hard time keeping up. Just look at what we have today; after two sessions of racing at Talladega, all One Lappers are expected to hop in their chariots and gallop over six hundred miles south to the next race track. Though we’re not behind the wheel of stripped out race car loaded with spare tires, tools, and refreshments, we do have to transport two writers, one photographer and a videographer and all the associated diapers and dresses gear it takes us to post photos, videos, scores, and blogs after each event. Chrysler graciously loaned us a fully loaded Town & Country minivan, which we picked up in Chicago and drove out to South Bend, Indiana, for the kickoff of One Lap. When I say fully loaded, our glossy black Town & Country really does have it all. Along with a blind spot monitoring system and Swivel n Go seating (including a second row of rotating captains chairs and a stowable table), we’re rocking Chrysler’s exclusive Uconnect system What is this? Essentially an onboard WiFi system that provides rolling Web access for everyone in the car. We had our doubts that the system would work as we motored through some of the more remote parts of the Midwest and deep South, but so far everything has been just peachy. We’ve yet to experience an extended outage — which makes Facebook updates researching the teams and tracks exceptionally easy. For backup, we also brought two laptop aircards, and the standard array of iPhones and Blackberry smartphones as the last line of blogging and WOTting defense. The driver has his share of toys as well. To augment the Town & Country’s satellite based GPS navigation system we took a page of out the Cannonball handbook and borrowed a Garmin Nuvi 205 portable unit as well. Why? Not only does it offer a second opinion on our on chosen route, the Garmin unit allows entry of destinations while in motion (unlike the Chrysler’s system). This allows the co-driver to look ahead for fireworks food and lodging (often irritatingly pleasantly suggested by the rear seat passengers). To reduce long and meaningful conversations with the local constabulary we’re also running the latest in radar/laser countermeasures. Molokai Mike, a diminutive but powerful Tiki god we picked up at Trader Vic’s in Chicago, protects from highway mischief. Just above him on our windshield are the four glowing red arrows of a Valentine One radar detector. For those of you playing at home, we haven’t run of out power points. Up front, the Garmin Nuvi and Valentine One each take up the two 12-volt outlets at the bottom of the center console. The third 12-volt outlet in the back powers a noisy lovely Motor Trend- branded inverter juicing the co-driver’s laptop. In the back, the second row passengers run their laptops and/or iPhone chargers off of another two power points near the left rear door jamb. For entertainment we’re running the standard complement of iPods and MP3 players. Our Chrysler also has not one, but two LCD/DVD entertainment systems — one each for the second and third row passengers. Wireless headphones theoretically allow the kiddies in the back to watch Cartoon Network or their favorite DVD, but in truth we haven’t used them at all. Nor have we used the folding table stowed beneath the second row footwell. Since our luggage and camera gear is stacked in the back, swiveling the comfy chairs and making room for the table just doesn’t work. The WiFi does though — even now as MotorTrend.com’s Carlos Lago guides us across the great green divide between Alabama and northern Florida — which is how I’m able to write this blog and post it from the road. Behind me, video producer Mike Suggett captures and edits the footage he shot during the day, while photographer Brian Vance crops and color corrects his photos. In all, it’s a system that has worked beyond our wildest expectations. How do the real One Lap racers do it without luxuries such as wireless Internet and reclining captain’s chairs? We’ll have to find out. Tomorrow we hit one of the most famous tracks in the world, Sebring Raceway. The weather report looks good so it will be time to put away the excuses umbrellas and strap on the man pants. Two sessions of fast, big track lapping should further separate the men from the boys. If not, then the night time drag racing in Gainesville immediately following should do the trick. Follow along for another epic day of the 2009 Tire Rack One Lap of America at www.MotorTrend.com/onelap . -Good photos by Brian Vance, others by Edward Loh. Click on any image to view the photo gallery
