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“Build it and they will come.” First, Utah gets the new Miller Motorsports Park, now Arizona gets the new Inde Motorsports Ranch. I sure hope this is a sign of good things to come, the SF Bay Area could always use another racetrack…
VARA had its annual Driver’s School and Test & Tune at Buttonwillow Raceway this weekend. Attendance was particularly good considering the weather and the economy. We had almost 100 attendees, and dozens of club members attended as volunteers to help out. I spent the weekend as a “Wall Monkey” (aka driving instructor) and “Cone Boy” (aka track layout technician). The weather was cold and rainy, temps in the 40’s and 50’s, with intermittent rain showers Saturday and Sunday. The wet track is great for a driver’s school, it emphasizes car control and line adherence over outright speed. But after jumping in and out of a dozen cars, it also makes for some wet and cold feet. And for those racers willing to get wet, it gave them a great chance to get some practice in slick conditions. I had the opportunity to see some old racing buddies, make some new friends, and get some fresh motivation to finish my Wagon project.
A great way to get ready for your next track weekend is to get familiar with the track map before you show up. You should at least know the corner numbers and which way they turn. If you’ve already been to that particular track, take the time and see if you can remember your braking and shifting points from your last visit. Maybe even write them down so you have a good reference for next time. Taking the time to make good notes about reference markers for turn-in, apex, and track-out will really make your next visit easier. Or if you have the funds, you can buy a racing simulator and get a little electronic practice the night before…
Folks, this is the best way to get involved in racing on the West Coast. VARA, the Vintage Automobile Racing Association, has a Driving School and Test & Tune weekend every winter to get drivers ready for the upcoming season. The date for the 2010 event has just been released, it is February 6 and 7. As it has been for the past several years, it is being held at Buttonwillow Raceway, outside of Bakersfield, California. It is a big facility allowing the school and the t&t sessions to have plenty of room and track time without affecting the other group. If you are wanting to get your roadracing license, just get some top-level driving instruction, or shake the winter dust off you and your race car, this is a terrific event and well worth the expense. Mark your calendars now, and sign up early to support this great event.
Here’s a link to my post on the 2009 VARA-U.
Today I was instructing at Laguna Seca Raceway for a track day event put on by Your Private Track Day. Phillip Holmes and his group put on a well organized event with plenty of track time for everyone. They ran three run groups in rotating 20 minute sessions from 9AM until 4PM, more than enough time to chew up a set of brake pads. From hi-dollar Ferraris to old-school Beemers, from AMG powered Mercs to V8 powered RX7s, there was certainly a little bit of everything. Info on future events can be found at www.YourPrivateTrackDay.com
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