Editor’s Note: Riley Schlick-Trask has built a dedicated following on her Riley’s Rebuilds YouTube channel, but she’s always thinking of new ways to reach younger or aspiring automotive enthusiasts. That’s why she’s hitting the road for the 2025 Great Race, along with a few friends.
The Great Race is a nine-day, controlled-speed endurance rally that takes competitors on a designated route through the U.S. This year’s event kicks off in Minnesota and finishes in South Carolina. Competitors much complete each leg of the event in as close to an established time as possible–sort of like a dial-in!
Riley has been joined by different content creators throughout the trip. Riley will be competing in the Rookie class in a 1972 Stingray; some of her friends will race in the X-Cup class in a 1966 Fairlane. Learn more about the classes on the Great Race website. You can see regular updates on Riley’s Facebook and Instagram channels throughout the journey. Riley and friends will also be providing more in-depth updates here throughout the event.
Day 1 and 2 Updates from the Great Race
Day 3-5 Updates from the Great Race
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Great “Content Creator” Race: Day 6
“We thought we were starting strong, but our calibration run quickly fell apart due to ongoing mechanical issues. The Fairlane could only make it about a quarter mile at a time. We swapped the coil roadside when it stopped starting, but that wasn’t the root cause. Things briefly improved, until the fuel issues came back worse than ever. Eventually, we had no choice but to call for a tow.
Our day ended early, but not our determination. We hauled the Fairlane to the next stop and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening wrenching, getting everything ready to try again tomorrow.”
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Day 7: From Vin Diesel to Dom Toretto – Tackling the Twisties in the Fairlane
“Friday’s leg of the Hemmings Great Race took us from the bluegrass of Lexington, KY to the ridgelines of Roanoke, VA – complete with mountain switchbacks, a gorgeous gorge (yes, pun intended), and a whole lotta grit.
After a late-night overhaul, the Fairlane was raring to go-idling high and full of spunk.
With Tamara and Theresa behind the wheel, Keaton capturing epic content moments and Emma navigating for X Cup, we hit the road… eventually. A closed road caused a disorienting start, but with race vets as our guides, we found the highway and calibration runs were on.
Hot brakes made for spicy hairpins, but a red fox sighting reminded us Jessi Combs was watching.
A bathroom discussion of headaches and nausea led to a fellow racer lending a CO meter which confirmed it wasn’t just the mountain air making the girls a bit giddy, a situation remedied slightly at the next stop and later at the overnight.
Despite a scenic detour (okay, we got a bit lost), we roared across the finish line under our own power – our second full drive-over (third if you count the push!).
Laughter, lessons, and legacy – Team Creator Race ended the day like true Toretto women: fast, fierce, and full of heart.”
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Great “Content Creator” Race: Day 8 – Fun in the Fairlane
Submitted by Caroline Richey (@reelcaroline)and Keaton Lee (@crazy.k.kustomz): Stage 8 of the Hemmings Great Race rally took us on some wild loops and switchbacks through Virginia and North Carolina in our ‘66 Fairlane. We hit the road from Roanoke with Keaton driving the first leg to Galax, then Caroline took the wheel all the way to Mooresville. The views were absolutely stunning, and we couldn’t stop laughing with the crew along the way.
The car ran perfectly, and when we rolled into Mooresville, we were greeted by an incredible crowd of car lovers. It means so much that so many amazing people came out just to see the Fairlane!
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