Open Road Racing

Open Road Racing is a form of regularity rally carried out at high speeds on closed public highways, most commonly in sparsely populated parts of the Southwestern United States. Competitors attempt to set specified average speeds which can range from 80 to 150 mph (130 to 240 km/h) or higher along courses ranging between 50 and 110 miles (80 and 180 km) in length. At the lower speeds, unmodified production cars can be used, while straightforward safety modifications can permit powerful sports cars to reach speeds of 165 mph (266 km/h).

Open Road Racing (ORR) marks a return to the earliest forms of motorsport, in which a public highway is closed down for amateur racers' use. Among the very first motor races was the French Grand Prix of 1906, which was run on public roads near Le Mans. Similar types of races on public roads (not always closed off) continued until the 1950s, when a series of accidents in races like the Mille Miglia led to the abandonment of this type of racing.

A modified form of open road racing resumed in the 1980s, with the inception of the Silver State Classic Challenge in Nevada. Since then, a number of other events have been organized, including three events organized by MKM Promotions in Northern Nevada, at Wendover, Elko and Battle Mountain. Two races are run in West Texas each year: the Big Bend Open Road Racein April and the Road Runner event in October. Since 2001, the Sandhills Open Road Race in Arnold, Nebraska has been run every August.

All these organizations have similar rules and regulations. Drivers and optional navigators compete to set a specified average speed ("Target Speed") over the measured course, which is typically 50-90 miles in length. The start and finish time for each car is recorded against a GPS clock, and the average speed is calculated from the elapsed time. In each speed class, the winners are driver and navigator to achieve the speed closest to their target speed. Speed classes are chosen by the driver, with constraints according to their racing experience, the performance potential of their car, and the safety requirements set by the organizers.

...
Wikipedia