One Lap Race

Billy Mains e-Journal

(Editor’s Note: The views expressed by Billy Mains are his own and are not those of Dunlop Tires. Your performance experiences may vary.)

 

 

How would you like to spend 10 days on the road in a supercharged Mercedes CLK500? That’s what Motorwerks’ Billy Mains did during the 2007 Tire Rack Cannonball One Lap of America. He kept a daily journal of his experiences – read on to check out Billy’s stories from the road.

Day One

Preparation is the perspiration of determination. I’m not sure that means anything, but getting ready for One Lap of America is more work than I could have imagined. The Mercedes CLK500, with its Kleeman supercharger, will be ready to roll, but I had to mentally prepare myself for the drive.

Now, I love to drive, but this marathon of sleep deprivation keeps me up at night – just thinking about it. So do thoughts of what can go wrong. Like having to drive the whole event by myself. Perish the thought! Well, at least I was tired – as in Dunlop tires. The SP Sport Maxx ultra-performance tires performed well last year, so I found some comfort in that. They arrived in plenty of time. But my two co-drivers didn’t. They backed out the day before One Lap’s start.

I didn’t relish 10 days and 5,000 miles of driving alone. But at least I would be in the relative comfort of a Mercedes-Benz. Things could be worse. I would tell myself that many times in the next 10 days. Not that I started talking to myself. After all, I had my imaginary friend sitting in the passenger seat.

Anyway, on this first day, I was already running late. It’s hard leaving a wife and two children at home, but the road is calling. And besides, our TV show with CMT will be chronicling my travels – and travails. On my way to the start, Lee, our friendly state trooper stopped me because the Benz windows are tinted. It has nothing to do with how the car looks. (Ha! Ha!) It’s a well-known fact that law enforcement loves to pull over One Lap vehicles just to see them up close.

Needless to say, he let us go, and I made it to Tire Rack’s track on time, the first time that has happened in four years. I didn’t want to miss the pre-party in South Bend, Ind., a chance to have some fun before the arduous race begins.