Color Swap: Add a new dominant color to your car using non-permanent materials.
1000
One thousand miles. A car you probably shouldn’t trust that far. A route you won’t see until it’s time to drive it.
A thousand miles. Real money for real kids.
Not arace.
Not acompetition.
Not a test ofspeed or skill.
The Idea
If you’ve ever watched Clarkson, Hammond, and May haul a questionable car across a continent and thought I want to do that — same.
We turned the itch into a real road tour. Run by a 501(c)(3). Built on the simple idea that fun and giving back don’t have to live on different calendars.
The kind of trip you’ll be telling stories about for decades. The kind of money kids’ programs actually feel.
Encor 1000 runs on imperfect cars, big distances, and the bet that the best moments are the ones nobody planned for.
The Potential Challenges
Ridiculous Spoiler: Add a spoiler or wing that is clearly unnecessary and ridiculous.
Mismatched Look: Create mismatched wheels, panels, or accents.
Fake Mod: Bolt on a fake performance part that pretends to do something — but doesn't.
The Framework
The rules that keep the chaos calculated.
The Parameters
The only rules that matter:
- A street-legal car. $10,000 all-in — fuel, fixes, fluids, the lot.
- About a thousand miles. Shared start in Boulder, Colorado.
- The route and the finish line drop later. On purpose.
The Cars
The cars are half the story.
Some will be sensible. Some will be optimistic. A few will raise eyebrows.
Horsepower and pedigree don’t matter here. Character, reliability, and whether you trust the thing a little farther than you should — those do.
Street-legal. Responsibly modified. This is endurance, not destruction.
The Experience
No timing. No podiums. No winners.
There will be challenges along the way. Light, reversible modifications. Dumb challenges that somehow test patience, judgment, and whether you can actually work as a team.
Those are the moments people are still telling stories about a year later.
Is This for You?
Who This Is For
encor 1000 is for people who:
- Have always wanted to be part of that kind of adventure
- Value experience over optimization
- Can laugh when plans change
- Believe doing good doesn’t have to feel serious all the time
If you’ve ever said, “That looks like fun,”and meant it, you’re already in the right mindset.
Apply to Drive →What Happens Next
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Acceptance is based on judgment, fit, and alignment with the mission.
If accepted, you’ll receive timing, guidance, and next steps.
What you won’t receive is the full plan.
And no, we’re not going to change that.