Ultimate Challenger Road Trip

**Trojan** · 07-27-2008, 11:09 AM

This is a stock Chally, Motor trend has one traveling threw Europe for a road test and photos, The articles here.
Ultimate Challenger Road Trip

Heres the pic and there play by play.

I follow with photographer Brian in tow and take advantage of Angus' run before me. We're able to get on the throttle sooner and longer and take better advantage of the straightaways. As with our previous attempts, the big Dodge responds without complaint -- surging ahead to 140 mph, then 150. The climb past 160 mph takes a few heartbeats longer, the needle arcing slowly past the penultimate number on the speedo: Next stop, 180 mph.

"...161...<click>...163...<click>..." calls out Brian as he snaps off shots of the digital speedo from the back seat.

My eyes don't leave the road ahead, though I probably could take at least one hand off of the wheel -- so stable is the Challenger at this speed.

"...165...<click>...168..<click>."

There is no lightness in the steering, no harmonic speed wobble or front end lift to indicate instability. The only evidence of our stunning velocity is the roar and blur of the outside world through the glass. Very impressive.

"...171...<click>...173...<click>"

Ahead is the same set of gentle sweepers for which Angus had to lift, so I do the same. Gently off the gas, I cover the brake pedal but do not depress it. We coast smoothly -- at well over 160 mph -- through a gentle right then left. Unfortunately, there's not enough roadway left for another attempt, so 173 will have to do; our high-speed run has put us behind schedule.

News of our 173-mph run lightens everyone's mood. Says Angus: "Amazing. Ten years ago, if you did 170 in an American car you could only be talking about a Corvette or Viper. You know -- a proper sports car -- not a big coupe."

Photography by Brian Vance

Now it's my turn. I strap in and try to remember the lap with the test driver. Apparently the key with banked tracks is to avoid the natural inclination to turn the steering wheel. The road ahead arcs quickly to the right -- but because the track is banked so steeply -- the car shouldn't need any steering input. It should behave as though you're driving straight into a continuous bowl. I bring the Challenger rapidly up to speed, easy to do with the 425-hp HEMI under the hood.

At 50 mph, the right half of the car suddenly falls away and takes the pit of my stomach with it. It feels as though the Challenger is hanging by the driver-side door, but there's no sensation of sliding toward the bottom of the track -- in fact, the car feels even more stable than it did on approach. With the suspension fully loaded, I can feel the g forces start to work on my head and neck. Keeping my head up and eyes looking straight out the windshield requires extra effort, but I'm rewarded with a concave horizon -- no sky, just the onrushing road ahead. I relax my deathgrip on the wheel as the horizon straightens out, and I go for two more laps. By the end of the third lap, which I take at nearly 70 mph, I understand what Angus means. I'm feeling queasy. Still, it's easier than I thought it would be.

Photography by Brian Vance