During the early 1970′s, Brock Yates, a senior editor of Car and Driver Magazine created a grueling automobile race from New York City to Redondo Beach, California. What he set out to do was capture an exciting motorsports event that was marketed for the average Joe. Continuing in the essence of its predecessors, the 2011 BMW 335d will be in this year’s One Lap of America by Mike Renner, Chris DeYoung, and Steve Maguire.

The One Lap of America race presented by Motor Trend, has a very simple set of rules. The drivers will compete in 18 separate races over the span of 8 days and comprised of over 3,500 miles. The races are composed of time trials, autocrosses, and drag races. Teams will be composed of at least two but no more than four drivers. Each team will compete with one set of highway-legal, DOT approved tires and must be used throughout the event. The cars themselves are classified on their engine size, vehicle cost and must be street legal.

The events start at the Tire Rack facility in South Bend, Indiana with a wet skid pad test. From there the teams head to Grissom Air Force Base for a monster autocross. The teams follow this with visits to Summit Point Raceway, Virginia, Carolina Motorsports Park and BMW Performance Center, South Carolina, Daytona and Gainesville Dragway, Florida, Circuit Grand Bayou, Louisiana, Barber Motorsports Park, Alabama and finally the Autobahn, Illinois before returning to the Tire Rack facility for the final event. Read the rest of this entry »