This past weekend, the rural hills of western Texas hosted the Big Bend Open Road Race, a twice-annual event that lets drivers go flat-out on a closed public highway between the towns of Fort Stockton and Sanderson.
The structure of the event is fairly straightforward. Competitors run the 59-mile stretch of Highway 285 in both directions, for a total of 118 miles. An average speed for each run is measured by elapsed time, and the average of those two runs is your result.
It’s most accurate to describe open road races like the BBORR as similar to a hillclimb, except that competitors are timed in both directions, and the roads are much, much longer and straighter than your average hillclimb, with opportunities to hit absolutely huge speeds.
Even if you’ve never heard of open road racing, you’ve probably heard of the Silver State Classic Challenge. It’s the most popular of this type of event in the United States, having been held in rural Nevada since 1988. Currently, the record for that event stands at 219.643 mph. Keep in mind that’s an average speed over 120 miles of road, which should give you a perspective of just how fast these cars are going.
What’s The Big Bend Open Road Race?
While the BBORR isn’t as well-known, it features a similar layout and similarly wild speed averages. Competitors can choose to compete in 13 different classes, with average speed targets ranging from 100 mph to 160 mph—the goal being to get as close to those targets as possible. The above screenshot from Google shows the course, which, if you were driving the speed limit, would take you 51 minutes. If you averaged 100 mph, like those in the slowest class, you’d complete the drive in just 35 minutes. If you averaged 160 mph, like those in the highest speed-regulated class, it would take just 22 minutes to get from start to finish.
Then there’s the Unlimited class. Instead of targeting a pre-determined speed average, drivers competing in this class are gunning for the absolute fastest average speed. Here, the goal is simply to get from start to finish as quickly as possible. For the past 12 years, the Unlimited class record has been held by Tom Whalen, who managed to hit an average speed of 172.696 mph back in 2013 with his 2002 Corvette.
This year’s fall BBORR was particularly special because that long-standing record was just broken. John Anhalt and his co-driver, Kelli Hughes, took Anhalt’s 2019 Corvette ZR1 to an average speed of 173.004 mph over the course of 118 miles, edging out the previous record by less than half a mph.
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Having a co-driver isn’t required for the BBORR. You can run it solo, or you can have someone in the right seat giving you notes on upcoming crests, turns, and straightaways—similar to what you’d see in stage rallies. Anhalt and Hughes had a similar desire to go fast and found each other through the Lone Star Corvette Club. The story of how Hughes got into Corvettes is a good one. Here’s what she told me over the phone in a three-way call between us and Anhalt:
“I wanted to get a Corvette. I had one when we were younger, and I didn’t get to drive it because my dad and my brother wrecked it. So when I got old enough—I’m a retired pilot with American—I thought, ‘Well, I’d like to get a Corvette.’ So I looked, and I purchased a Grand Sport 2012 convertible. I thought, ‘Well, let me learn more about my car,’ and I joined the Lone Star Corvette Club.”
From there, Hughes learned about the BBORR, and started competing with her Corvette in 2018. Anhalt, meanwhile, has been racing his ZR1 in the event since 2021. Knowing Hughes had more experience, he called her up to see if she’d be willing to co-drive for him at this year’s Nevada Open Road Challenge (the Silver State Classic’s sister event).
“We did the Silver State Open Road Race together because I was like, ‘I’ve never been there. I really want you to go.’ And she’s like, ‘I’ll do it if they let us go fast.’ They let us go in the 150 [mph] class,” Anhalt told me.
Hughes intended to get back in the driver’s seat for this fall’s BBORR, but learned her car wouldn’t be ready in time for the event. So Anhalt proposed another team-up.
“[When] we found out they weren’t gonna get her her car back in time to make this race, I’m like, ‘Well, instead of just being a course worker or volunteer or whatever, come with me. I could really use the help in the right seat,'” Anhalt said. “I discovered […] how invaluable it was having a co-driver with me that knows the course, […] because there’s a confidence level, you know, you’re coming over a hill, you don’t know if there’s a turn or whatever behind it. For somebody who’s like, ‘Over that hill, it’s a right, and it’s a medium right,’ And you just set up left and go right as soon as you see the top of the hill.”
You Need A Certain Level Of Car To Break A Record Like This
That team-up yielded results. Hughes’ pace notes and knowledge of the road meant Anhalt had enough confidence to push his ZR1 further than he would have as a solo driver. The two used an intercom system to communicate, but even with custom-molded earplugs and helmets, the ZR1’s sound dominated the cabin.
“It’s free and straight pipe right out the back,” Anhalt says. “It’s actually AWE [pipes] instead of mufflers, because mufflers are weight. And one of the photographers said, ‘You don’t go by loud, you go by shaking the ground.'”
The exhaust is one of dozens of modifications made to the car to improve its performance. The engine features a larger throttle body, heavy-duty rockers, better lifters, and ported heads, according to Road & Track. Here’s a video from inside the cabin as Anhalt blasted away from the start line of a BBORR event earlier this year:
Anhalt said he chose the ZR1 not just because of its incredible capabilities, but because of its reliability.
“The best car you can find, I think, is going to be the ZR1, because [of] what they did to cool that horsepower,” he told me. “I took what GM did with that and started friggin stripping out the weight everywhere I could, and adding to the horsepower, if I can get reliability on it. I didn’t spin the supercharger like a street racer does around here, and produce too much heat, and nowhere to cool it. I was really worried about every reliability improvement I could do. Along the way, the horsepower comes up, so it’s about 30% more than stock. So it makes noise.”
That cooling Anhalt mentions is worth expanding on. The automatic transmission-equipped ZR1 has 13 total heat-exchangers on board, including four radiators. Its fascia was reworked for better airflow, directing more air towards the intake and the cooling apparatus. Chief designer Tom Peters told Motor Trend the development team went over every square millimeter” to optimize cooling. It’s the polar opposite of the C7-generation Z06, which was famously plagued with overheating issues while on track.
Even with 30% more horsepower (981 horses at the crank, by my math), the ZR1 was able to handle the high-demand Texas heat. “Their cooling system is really fantastic. It didn’t have an issue on this run,” Anhalt told me.
The Record-Setting Run
The run itself went off without drama, so long as you consider taking corners at 190 mph and hitting an indicated top speed of 213 mph isn’t dramatic.
It became apparent that something wasn’t entirely right within the last few miles, though.
“I’m very emotionless whenever I’m in a car or in an airplane. I’m mission hacking,” says Hughes. “So I did not know that there was something going on with [the] car. There was a point where we were almost three miles from the finish line, and he finally said something to me, and I said, ‘Disregard, go, go, go!’ And he didn’t let on because we were going so fast. He didn’t have time to tell me. He assessed it, but he couldn’t communicate to me what was going on.”
“I knew the car wasn’t behaving right,” Anhalt added. “I didn’t really know why, but I knew: don’t make excuses, drive. So I just drove harder. And we got to the finish line, and we looked at our clock, and according to our time equipment, we did what we set out to do. We’re very proud of that.”
The Damage
As the photo above shows, the plastic composite bumper of the ZR1 had melted due to the exhaust’s excessive and continuous heat. The shape of the bumper is deformed downward, with lots of discoloring going on towards the center area.
“I expected I might have some minor damage,” Anhalt told me. “I’ve seen a little bit of heat before. The bezels around the taillights have melted. I didn’t expect what you’ve seen in the pictures. I went back there and [went], ‘Ooh, what a run.'”
So What’s Next?
Anhalt wants to compete in next spring’s BBORR, so he plans to address the damage and improve the car.
“We just gotta come up with a better [setup],” he said. “Maybe out the side. I have months to figure out what we’re going to do with it to make it faster, better, stronger.”
While that rear bumper should probably just be chucked in the trash, Anhalt says it’ll stay close.
“I’m gonna pull that bumper off and mount it to my wall, or do what all the other Corvette guys do, and take it around to car shows.”
Top graphic images: Big Bend Open Road Race / Facebook
Onwers modifications made their cars worse and then it melted
I’m curious what tires they were running. The fastest I’ve ever driven was ~ 125 mph in a 1973 Mercedes 450. My ’17 Accord V6 is governed to ~130, I believe, but I would never try it. I don’t think the suspension is up to being on anything but perfectly flat pavement at that speed.
And I do like the dude’s racing tux.
It’s an improvement.
The Camaro ZL1 has dual mode exhaust. The standard tour/sport modes keep the valves closed until a certain RPM or at WOT. Track mode keeps them open all the time. It also includes a stealth mode that keeps the valves closed all the time.
The stock exhaust won’t pass sound check at Laguna Seca, so one owner thought he’d leave it in stealth mode.. he found out why the manual states not to use stealth mode at track events when he walked out to find a bumper looking similar to that Vette’s.
That bumper is now a fine memento that deserves to be displayed with pride.
Is it the exhaust gasses trapped in the vortex behind the car, the hot pipes, or both?
I’d start with pipe extensions going further out the back. Exhaust that heat out the sides and you’ll ruin your rear tires and might cook your rear brakes.
Well 8 lives left for that bumper
“Here’s What It Takes To Melt The Back End Of A Corvette ZR1 Off”
I assumed a scathing look from uncle Adrian but OK, maybe this too.
This was on Tweater and all the idiots who assumed the car was stock production configuration were bad mouthing GM for the meltdown. It’s actually an impressive accomplishment.
I love the picture of Kelli and John standing side by side. It’s the motorsports American Gothic.
omg, that phrase for the second heading in the story pisses me off more than someone crunching ice while I stare at a 2003 F-150 Stepside taillight with my eyes propped open with hot rusty skewers.
BADASS
Curious on an event like this- I’ve driven a lot around Texas, and all these roads like this have homesteads and farms off them… do they have track workers keeping all these folks from turning on to the course during a run? I’d hate to see what happens coming over a blind hill over 150mph and finding a farm truck doing 15mph there.
There are maybe a half dozen ranches on 285, if that. I’ve driven in every state west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 except Washington and South Dakota – on back roads when possible – and it’s one of the emptiest highways I’ve ever been on.
Looks like someone needs some Preparation H-Pipe.
The cooling system on that car is insane. It must be hellish trying to get the air out of this system.
If one insists on music in such entertainment may I suggest something more appropriate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytqZHV45Pfo&t=58s
Fun fact that Mick Mars played one of Eddie Van Halen’s guitars on that album
It is for such knowledge that one subscribes, also of note is that one of the least appreciated bass clavier players of all time, Hertz Vanrentall makes a guest appearance, his Automat vis inter spieil album is worth a look up. Adrian of this parish is a big fan.
I recommend that he go with “bosozoku” exhaust next time.
I watched that clip to hear the exhaust – I don’t think my laptop speakers do it justice.
My takeaway, though, was “holy shit that car makes quick work of 170mph”
He should get a plate that says “Droopy.”
Taco Bell ?
To much fire sauce.
Yo quiero Taco Bell!
I’ve got a buddy who’s lactose intolerant and they can absolutely hit 200+mph headed to the bathroom.