Christopher's Road Trip to Nebraska in a Ford Mustang GT
When you get a call from the Optima Batteries team with an invite to race the Sandhills Open Road Challenge in Arnold, Nebraska you have to say yes right? Well that is the exact phone call Christopher received last week and his answer.. "YES, I'm in!" Answering the call and agreeing to race was the easy part, the catch was that CP needed a car to race and getting a Ford Mustang in a couple of day's notice is not very practical so he called around and with some help from Gosch Ford Hemet, CP was able to buy a used Ford Mustang with a 5.0 V-8 site unseen! The next step of the plan was to get the car "Race Ready" with stops at K&N for some performance upgrades, the tire shop to mount some extra grippy ExtremeContact Sport tires from Continental Tire, then to DH Graphics for some decals. After all the stops were made it was time to road trip with his buddy, Carson, from California to Nebraska in his new "race car".
See Christopher's Vlog where he picks up the Ford Mustang and road trips to Nebraska HERE on YouTube
The Sandhills Open Road Challenge & Half Mile Shootout
This will be Christopher's first ever rally race and he couldn't be more excited! This race is not like many others, it is a rally-style format where drivers try compete to achieve an average speed target over the 55-mile closed highway course. Each class has a target speed, the desired average speed a driver wants to achieve, and a technical speed, the top speed allowed based on the level of tech safety in the vehicle.
Christopher will be racing in the 95mph class where the goal is to achieve an average speed of, or as close to 95mph as possible while having a tech speed (limiting speed) of 120mph (which is why he needed a Ford Mustang that can easily reach the top speed). The 95 mph class is the fastest class without needing a roll cage which his 'fresh off the lot' Mustang is not equipped with. Christopher is also allowed a navigator sitting shotgun in the car which has yet to be determined.
"I can't thank Optima Batteries enough for giving me this opportunity to get a different style of racing under my belt. It was all so last minute but everything started to come together and I realized that this was actually happening. It's been a lot to get done in under a week but that is part of the fun. I can't wait to get there and see what this whole event is all about." - Christopher Polvoorde
See chart for perfect times of each class:
Christopher will also be participating in the half mile shootout which is exactly as it sounds... He will get 1/2 mile of open road to reach the highest possible speed. Each contestant will have 2 or possibly 3 passes (if time permits). Christopher's Mustang specs report that the top speed is limited at 155mph and more importantly for a shootout the car's 0-60mph time is 4.5 seconds, possibly a little faster with the aftermarket performance parts on his car.
About Sandhills Open Road Challenge (2020 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Sandhills Open Road Challenge)
From the SORC website:
The first Sandhills Open Road Challenge was held in Arnold, Nebraska, in August 2001. Thirty-four enthusiastic drivers came from 17 states to participate in the first event of its kind ever held in Nebraska. The event now sells out its grid of 120 each year on the first day of registration with scores eagerly anticipating being selected from the events waiting list. Thousands of spectators from Custer County and surrounding communities throng to Arnold each year to watch the shootout, parade, road race, and the crowd favorite–the burnout contest. Drivers from more than 40 states and Canada enjoy unrivaled hospitality from local inhabitants who open their homes to lodge upwards of half of all drivers and navigators. As one driver proclaimed loudly at the 2008 SORC barbecue, “Nobody does it like Arnold!”
Learn more about Sandhills Open Road Challenge on their website
About Christopher Polvoorde & The CP94 Racing Team
Christopher Polvoorde was born on July 28th, 2000 and raised in the Racing mecca of Southern, CA. From a young age, Christopher had an adventurous spirit and a passion for the outdoors and racing. That passion leads Christopher’s life to this day where you can find him chasing sunsets year around on the hills of Mammoth Mt or the waters of the Colorado River. Surrounded by a team of Experts including Christopher’s father, Chip Polvoorde, who handles anything and everything, Crew Chief Jimmy Davidson who provides the fastest truck on the course week in and week out and driving coach Cory Kruseman who works with Christopher on his race craft and as his race spotter. With Christopher’s natural speed and a team like this, expectations are high. In 2019 the CP94 team returned to racing in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and added the Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League for 2019 where Christopher swept the whole series winning all 7 series races and the additional Red Bull Pro Lite Championship race making it a perfect 8 for 8 in the Midwest. With all that Christopher has going on it is hard to imagine but he is also a full-time College student at The University of San Diego on an academic scholarship after finishing high school with a 4.5 GPA. The future is bright for Christopher who takes it all in stride focusing on working hard and enjoying the ride.
Visit // www.ChristopherPolvoorde.com
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