The Cannonball One Lap of America www.onelapofamerica.com is a modern day “legalized” version of the great outlaw coast-to-coast race of the 1970’s the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash aka: The Cannonball Run.  Right about now you are probably thinking, that’s no race that’s just a great movie with an all star cast.  In reality the movie is based on a series of races organized by Brock Yates in the 1970’s to protest the 55 mph speed limit.  It was a no rules, run what you brung, race from New York City to Redondo Beach, CA.  The record stands at 32 hours and 52 minutes……you do the math.  The One Lap of America is a legal version, where competitors drive to a different race track every day around the country and compete in time trials.  It’s a grueling event that takes about a week and traverses between 4,000 to 5,000 miles.  Competitors race all day, then haul ass all night to the next track.

What does this have to do with us?  Local boy Geoffrey Bond, M.D., assistant professor of surgery the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and transplant surgeon at the UPMC, and his co-driver Scott Schober competed this year.  They piloted their Lotus Exige S to 4th place in their class and 31st place overall.  What a fitting machine for a surgeon.  These cars are known for their handling and carve up the road (and track) with the precision of well….a surgeon.  Not only did Bond and Schober make One Lap wannabes proud with their strong showing, but they also used the race to promote awareness and raise funds for a good cause; organ donation and transplants.  For more info on this great cause go to www.core.org or http://www.upmc.com/Services/TransplantationServices/StarzlInstitute/.

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Tags: Auto Racing, cannonball run, lap of america

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