2012 Nevada Open Road Challenge (Silver State Classic Challenge)
05-28-2012, 03:32 PM
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Sherman Oaks, California
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 Nevada Open Road Challenge (Silver State Classic Challenge)
The Silver State Classic Challenge (SSCC - www.sscc.us) is held twice a year in May and September. The May race is called the "Nevada Open Road Challenge" only to differentiate the May race, but it is the same as the September SSCC. This year is the 25th Silver Anniversary of the SSCC event.
The SSCC is an "Open Road Race" (ORR) that traverses 90 miles of the two lane Highway 318, which is blocked off and sanctioned in coordination with the Nevada Department of Transportation. The course is between the towns of Lund and Hiko in East Central Nevada, about 2 hours north of Las Vegas. At the starting line, cars are staggered one minute apart. The course has stretches of straights, various types of turns, and a 3-mile "narrows" twisty section 70 miles into the race. There are different "Target" speed classes with a top "Tech" speed, which you can not go over, or face disqualification. The speed classes range from 95 through 150 MPH in 5 MPH increments. In addition, there are 160, 170, 180, and UNLIMITED MPH speed classes. The goal is to cross the finish line at your "Target" speed and at a specific time. In the UNLIMITED speed class, several cars go over 200 MPH.
This was the third time that I have been the navigator for my friend, Jim Dawson, in his 1989 Porsche 928 S4 (Guards Red). In September of 2008, our first race together, we drove to a third place victory at 1.039 seconds off at 124.9499 MPH average (read about it here: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...challenge.html). In 2011, I drove my 1993 Porsche 928 GTS (Slate Grey Metallic) in the 110 MPH class in May and the 125 MPH class in September. For any first time driver, you may only enter up to the 110 MPH class and you are required to attend and pass racing qualification school at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for certification. Our September effort achieved our best time up to that point at 0.2096 seconds off at 124.9899 MPH average for a 4th place finish out of 13 competitors, just 200ths of a second from 3rd place and reaching the podium. This is not easy!
For this last race (125 MPH Target Speed / 140 MPH Tech Speed), it was my turn to navigate for Jim driving his red Porsche. I was focused on verifying and relaying our timing checks throughout the course to the driver. Over the 90 mile course, we had to average 125 MPH and get across the finish line at exactly 43 minutes and 12 seconds (125 MPH divided by a distance of 90 miles = 43:12). From a dead stop, you have to go faster than 125 MPH, without going over 140 MPH, to bank time and ultimately get to the 125 MPH average at the end. Our GPS recorded our top speed at 138.9 MPH, and we sustained 135 MPH during two 10-mile stretches throughout the course.
Each time Jim and I have done this race together, we have been closer and more precise in our finish times. This was our best effort yet, as our time was 0.0365 seconds from perfect (365 / 100ths of a second fast) at 125.0018 MPH average! We came in first place in a field of 13 other competitors comprised of 5 Chevrolet Corvettes and 1 Camaro, 3 Ford Mustangs, a Jaguar S-Type R, a Dodge Charger, and a Porsche Boxter, all newer than model year 2000. In addition, we were the 5th best time out of the 108 total competitors. Here are the official results: http://www.sscc.us/event_results/results-12-norc.htm
CONGRATULATIONS, JIM!!!
In addition, congratulations are in order to George Suennen, who came in third in the 160 MPH UNLIMITED class with his 1990 928 S4, but reached his goal of surpassing the 200 MPH mark with an official 200.5 MPH (although his GPS read 203 MPH top speed). Read more on his run and preparations at this posting: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...next-week.html
There was also a new top track speed set by Jim Peruto driving a 2006 Dodge Charger bodied NASCAR at an average speed of 217.557 MPH (with an official top speed of 243.7 MPH). The previous record was 207.780 MPH in a Chrylser LeBaron bodied NASCAR set in May, 2000. This will be a new Guinness World Records Book entry for the highest speed on a public highway.
I'm looking forward to driving the 125 MPH class one more time, and then adding a roll bar to gradually move up in speed classes. More to come...
The SSCC is an "Open Road Race" (ORR) that traverses 90 miles of the two lane Highway 318, which is blocked off and sanctioned in coordination with the Nevada Department of Transportation. The course is between the towns of Lund and Hiko in East Central Nevada, about 2 hours north of Las Vegas. At the starting line, cars are staggered one minute apart. The course has stretches of straights, various types of turns, and a 3-mile "narrows" twisty section 70 miles into the race. There are different "Target" speed classes with a top "Tech" speed, which you can not go over, or face disqualification. The speed classes range from 95 through 150 MPH in 5 MPH increments. In addition, there are 160, 170, 180, and UNLIMITED MPH speed classes. The goal is to cross the finish line at your "Target" speed and at a specific time. In the UNLIMITED speed class, several cars go over 200 MPH.
This was the third time that I have been the navigator for my friend, Jim Dawson, in his 1989 Porsche 928 S4 (Guards Red). In September of 2008, our first race together, we drove to a third place victory at 1.039 seconds off at 124.9499 MPH average (read about it here: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...challenge.html). In 2011, I drove my 1993 Porsche 928 GTS (Slate Grey Metallic) in the 110 MPH class in May and the 125 MPH class in September. For any first time driver, you may only enter up to the 110 MPH class and you are required to attend and pass racing qualification school at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for certification. Our September effort achieved our best time up to that point at 0.2096 seconds off at 124.9899 MPH average for a 4th place finish out of 13 competitors, just 200ths of a second from 3rd place and reaching the podium. This is not easy!
For this last race (125 MPH Target Speed / 140 MPH Tech Speed), it was my turn to navigate for Jim driving his red Porsche. I was focused on verifying and relaying our timing checks throughout the course to the driver. Over the 90 mile course, we had to average 125 MPH and get across the finish line at exactly 43 minutes and 12 seconds (125 MPH divided by a distance of 90 miles = 43:12). From a dead stop, you have to go faster than 125 MPH, without going over 140 MPH, to bank time and ultimately get to the 125 MPH average at the end. Our GPS recorded our top speed at 138.9 MPH, and we sustained 135 MPH during two 10-mile stretches throughout the course.
Each time Jim and I have done this race together, we have been closer and more precise in our finish times. This was our best effort yet, as our time was 0.0365 seconds from perfect (365 / 100ths of a second fast) at 125.0018 MPH average! We came in first place in a field of 13 other competitors comprised of 5 Chevrolet Corvettes and 1 Camaro, 3 Ford Mustangs, a Jaguar S-Type R, a Dodge Charger, and a Porsche Boxter, all newer than model year 2000. In addition, we were the 5th best time out of the 108 total competitors. Here are the official results: http://www.sscc.us/event_results/results-12-norc.htm
CONGRATULATIONS, JIM!!!
In addition, congratulations are in order to George Suennen, who came in third in the 160 MPH UNLIMITED class with his 1990 928 S4, but reached his goal of surpassing the 200 MPH mark with an official 200.5 MPH (although his GPS read 203 MPH top speed). Read more on his run and preparations at this posting: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...next-week.html
There was also a new top track speed set by Jim Peruto driving a 2006 Dodge Charger bodied NASCAR at an average speed of 217.557 MPH (with an official top speed of 243.7 MPH). The previous record was 207.780 MPH in a Chrylser LeBaron bodied NASCAR set in May, 2000. This will be a new Guinness World Records Book entry for the highest speed on a public highway.
I'm looking forward to driving the 125 MPH class one more time, and then adding a roll bar to gradually move up in speed classes. More to come...
Last edited by jpriv928; 05-29-2012 at 07:27 AM.
05-28-2012, 06:08 PM
#2
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Congratulations Joe and Jim. It was good to see you guys at the event, and was impressed by how
nice his car looks. Did Jim clean off all the bugs when he got to the other end of the course? Look
forward to seeing you both in September.
nice his car looks. Did Jim clean off all the bugs when he got to the other end of the course? Look
forward to seeing you both in September.
