Grassroots Motorsports - Grassroots Motorsports $20XX Challenge

Grassroots Motorsports $20XX Challenge

The magazine holds an annual competition called the $20XX Challenge. The main goal of the Challenge is to demonstrate that fun, capable and attractive cars do not have to be expensive. The total budget for entries cannot cost more than the year in dollars (i.e., $2005 in 2005). The competition consists of an autocross competition, a quarter-mile (0.4 km) dragstrip time trial and a concours d'elegance.

A special points system determines the final rank of each entry based on its performance in each segment of the competition. Along with first-, second- and third-place trophies, other awards are distributed to deserving competitors, including “Most Spectacular Failure,” “Challengers’ Choice,” and “Worst Attempt to Persuade Concours Judges.”

The first Challenge event was held in 1999, before the “year as the budget” policy was instituted; the budget cap for entries in that event was $1500. The second Challenge event was held in 2001 with the budget cap set at $2001. The event then became annual, with the budget cap increasing by one dollar each year.

Recent Challenge winners include Wreck Racing's V8-powered Mazda Miata, Andrew Nelson’s home-fabricated, Chevy V8-powered Volkswagen Beetle in 2009 and the Hong Norr team’s 1986 Honda CRX in 2008.