Mike Musto Conquers One Lap of America in a Challenger
You’re about to set off on a journey that will carry you over 3,800 miles through 11 states. Along the way you’ll be competing at nine different racetracks, driving through unknown weather conditions while trying to maintain an average speed that keeps you from going to bed at 3 a.m. every night, as well as going to jail. This is Brock Yates’ One Lap of America, and it’s the toughest open-road endurance event in the United States. The One Lap is the modern version of the Cannonball Run.
Organized by the same people who pioneered the original event over 40 years ago, it’s no kinder or gentler than the original, but infinitely more legal.
Having run this event three times previously, my goal was simple: Find a track-capable car with a lot of storage that would also provide all-day comfort on the long transit stages. Because I’m a MOPAR guy at heart, I hit up the team over at Dodge to see if they could lend a hand.
Upon my arrival to Chicago’s Midway airport I was handed the keys to a Sublime Green 2015 Challenger R/T 392 Scat Pack Shaker (a long name, I know) that was sponsored by Dodge and AutoNation. Put mildly, that meant 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, a sport-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, a new eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters, and a top speed of over 185 mph.
Yes. That’ll do just fine.
Keep in mind the Challenger is not a sports car, but instead, more of a grand-tourer. Think of it as an American Aston Martin with the heart and soul of an ironworker. Inside you’re treated to everything from ultra-comfy heated and ventilated seats, to a media and navigation system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, to an ergonomic layout that’s ideal for long trips.
Get the car on the open road and you’ll find the 6.4L 392 V8 is just a honey of an engine. A broad power band makes for gobs of torque throughout the rev range, and thanks to the eight-speed transmission, mileage is rated at a combined 18 mpg – something I found to be almost dead-on, even at speed.
On the grid sat everything from an Ariel Atom and Porsche Carrera GT, to the deadly Nissan GT-Rs. Next to that kind of competition, the Challenger was the size of a Freightliner. That didn’t stop me, however, from blasting it around on racetracks all over the country. Let’s remind ourselves again, this is NOT what this car was made for. With 245-series tires all around and a curb weight close to 4,500 pounds, running the Challenger on track was kind of like trying to pilot an aircraft carrier down a backyard canal (392 SRTs and Hellcats are more up for track duty).
Driving around the entire Midwest in eight days taught me three very important things. First – this 392 Challenger R/T is a beast of a car that can take all the punishment you can throw at it and more. Second – even though I was outgunned in most cases, it mattered little as I had an outstanding time with some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. And third – put the One Lap of America on your bucket list, because compared to this event, everything else is just bench racing.