The AMSOIL American Adventure: A Blast Into the Past

We were somewhere in the middle of Vermont. Ben hit the gas, and the luggage in the bed of the Ram Big Horn slammed against the tailgate. Immediately, everyone in the truck yelled, “bags are still back there!”

Obviously, we were having a hell of a good time.

Currently in its fifth year, the AMSOIL American Adventure isn’t like any other rally I’ve done. Basically, that means there were no supercars, no international border crossings, and perhaps most importantly, not once during the experience did I seriously consider whether lack of sleep would literally kill me. That said? I had a total blast.

During the four-day event, I rode with Ben and Eric Nelson, a pair of jovial Colorado brothers who were using the octane-powered scavenger hunt as an opportunity chance to spend some long-overdue time hanging out. Fortunately, they were more than cool with a writer tagging along on their boys trip. On this year’s quest, the setting was the historic country of New England, and seriously, the timing couldn’t have been better. We began in the shadow of the Nubble Lighthouse on the gorgeous coast of Maine, and until we reached the finish line — not coincidentally near another famous lighthouse in the Pine Tree State — we were surrounded by the most spectacular fall foliage I’ve ever seen. Seriously, there’s a good reason why people flock to New England in the fall.

Nearly other 20 teams were on the rally, and while there are some compelling prizes — including a five day package for instruction at Team O’Neil Rally School — how seriously the various squads take the competition varies widely. On the first day, Ben and Eric — also known as team Beasts of Bourbon — were decidedly gung ho, even taking a plunge into the Atlantic to score some bonus points. But by the end of the adventure, they were out of contention for the grand prize, and while victory remained elusive, the brothers quickly learned to amuse themselves by using the scavenger hunt app to relentlessly mock Pete, the rally organizer. Maybe it was all the time in the car, but I thought the video below was hilarious.

Of course, we did more than goof around with puppets. Over the course of my four days on the road with Beasts of Bourbon, we hit five states and saw some truly fantastic pieces of American history. In New Hampshire, we went to Dartmouth College, where we explored the ancient campus, drove to 6800 feet to the top of Mount Washington, and stopped in at the famous Lady of the Sea memorial. But we also flashed forward a century or so, and took an amazing detour through the American Classic Arcade Museum.

As an old-school Atari geek, I’m unashamed of to admit this was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Along with every game from my childhood in the early ’80s, they also had a functioning version of Computer Space, an uber-rare cabinet which debuted in 1971. It was hard to play, and commercially, the interstellar battle failed miserably. But it would lead Atari founder Nolan Bushnell to release Pong and launch a billion-dollar industry.

In New York, we went to Fort Ticonderoga, and walked on ice in the rink where the 1980 American Olympic team surprised the world by defeating the dominant Russians, and got to experience the majesty of Lack Placid at dawn. Vermont was a revelation. From the gas station where the folks gave us fresh-baked cookies, to the glorious views from the Ludlow Overlook, to getting to drive — very, very, slowly —on what’s left of Northeastern Speedway, a place which defined an automotive era in the region, it was surreal how tranquil the entire state felt.

By the time we’d reached Team O’Neil Rally School on the final day, I’d eaten my first lobster rolls and gotten a grand tour of most of New England. I’ll skip the videos of me attempting to master the dirt skid pad and spinning the car during the slalom exercise, but the video I got of the ride-along will at least give you an idea of how bad ass the instructors are. One thing I will say, is that the clip I managed to capture as the Subaru ripped along the rutted roads of the 560-acre playground doesn’t look nearly as fast as it does firsthand.

In an era when self-driving cars are right around the corner, events like the AMSOIL American Adventure are more important than ever. Because after the first autonomous vehicle hits the market, folks are going to adopt them blindingly quick, and the car’s transformation from symbol of independence to transportation appliance will be complete. Seriously, the chances that your friend’s newborn baby will ever get a driver’s licence? That’s zero. Not long from now, it’ll be hard for younger generations to even believe people used to drive on two lane roads and not constantly crash into each other.

So until then, it’s essential for enthusiasts to embrace the road trip, and it’s hard to imagine a better one than this. For more on the 2016 AMSOIL American Adventure, check out the posts I wrote for AutoNation Drive.