The Silver State Classic Challenge, held twice yearly on Nevada's straight-shot Highway 318 from Ely to Hiko, claims Guinness World Records status as the quickest open-road event globally. Record-holder Robert Allyn and navigator David Bauer set the bar in 2017 with a blistering 219.643 mph average in a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR stock car during the sister Nevada Open Road Challenge, clocking the 90 miles in under 25 minutes while peaking near 243 mph. What makes it possible? Mostly flat, arrow-straight tarmac with just a tricky 2.5-mile "Narrows" section of 45-mph corners, fully closed to traffic by local authorities for public safety and tourism.
Born in 1988 from a tequila-fueled brainstorm in Mexico by founder Kelly Gibbs, the event drew casino backing to shut down the road legally Nevada's only way for such speeds. Over 100 entrants flock from worldwide each May and September, but it's not all unlimited-class monsters; most chase precision in brackets from 95 mph to 155 mph, hitting target times down to 1/10,000th of a second off. Safety rules demand training, roll cages in faster classes, and on-site choppers, fire crews, though four accidents and five fatalities mark its history.
Amateurs rub shoulders with celebs like John Schneider, towing everything from Corvettes to De Tomasos, all chasing silver coins and bragging rights in Ely's dusty staging. Next one's September 18-21, 2025 entry's open if you've got the nerve.
