Virginia International Raceway

World News Sneaks Into Fanatec GT at VIR

July 23, 2024July 24, 2024 Missed Gear

Have you ever gone off to race weekend with no real agenda but to see and watch exotic cars go fast…? The plan is no real plan. The intention is to wander through the paddock and see the teams working on engines and chassis before taking the car out for hot laps. The only real concern is speed and blurs of color and some pleasant rhythms of engines…

The last thing on your mind is the world beyond the green and checkered flags. On this weekend, however, the news broke through with reality a bit close to the action. The SRO-Fanatec GT World Challenge was wide open for racing at Virginia International Raceway and the non-racing news was looming large over the activities.

First off, it seems a certain United States President who had been under intense scrutiny for some apparent lapses and losses had stepped away from the bid for the next election. This elevated the current Vice President to the position of leading party candidate. Time well play this out…

But that wasn’t so much the thing at the track. The SRO-Fanatec GT is “powered by AWS” which spelled out is “Amazon Web Services”. Along with that is “CrowdStrike” which is a cloud security system. Well….

It seems there was some kind of software update which did not mesh well with host Microsoft systems and there were some problems multiplied with cascading failures. It was a news thing. A big, international news thing. A travel, banking, internet, stock market thing… A Windows blue screen news thing…

Fans walk around tracks and events and see banners and displays showing the connection of sponsors. This weekend, however, the news broke through with “AWS” and “CrowdStrike” on banners, on cars, on racing suits, on the side of trucks and trailers… It made these connections a little more real, or possibly, a little too real. However it plays out the result is that folks around the track know a bit more about the sponsors and have made real world connections where, usually, it is a case of visual, commercial reinforcement.

The track activities went on as normal. There was some rain but it came and went. The racing celebrations on the podium sprayed the champagne. The fans saw some fast track action with a large variety of cars from a world of manufacturers and even got some close up time with drivers for autographs. The SRO-GT weekend is a bit of an IMSA preview for VIR with similar styles and racing formats. IMSA may have a larger profile but the SRO show is also a fun track fan experience. There is variety, color and real speed with position challenges and plenty of close racing.

Information on race results, rankings and schedules can be found on the series websites.
TC AMERICA POWERED BY SKIP BARBER
GT AMERICA POWERED BY AWS
PIRELLI GT4 AMERICA
Toyota GT86 TGRNA GR CUP
FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE AMERICA POWERED BY AWS

Too many photos! Three Day (Friday to Sunday) gallery with track and podium photos!

Race Day Showcase

HyperFest with a side of weather at VIR

May 20, 2024May 22, 2024 Missed Gear

Bigger, better, wetter…

Leading into event weekend the early to midweek rain forecast grew darker. The projected radar view of Virginia and into neighboring states looked like a bowl of spilled pea soup. The information coming from the organizers and the venue was hopeful yet cautious. HyperFest planners worked closely with Virginia International Raceway staffers to get the best out of what looked like a Slip-N-Slide on steroids.

This event, on the face leading in, looked similar in prediction to a certain music festival that is undergoing some hard scrutiny and an uncertain future. The difference is the scope and the planning outside of the actual race track.

Virginia International Raceway staff may be on hand but some events are hosted by the organizers who lease the track and facility. Such is the case for HyperFest and NASA Mid-Atlantic and a music festival that went way off course. The difference is that HyperFest looked ahead to the weather and made adjustments with caution in the forefront. The music festival had promoted the biggest and the largest and pushed the envelope of containment even if the weather had cooperated. Growth on foundation has made HyperFest a car party destination. Advertised growth without a real track record of success made the Blue Ridge Rock Festival flounder under its own weight with the weather as an added calamity.

A constant contact of planning for fans, ticket holders and vendors opened the week into the weekend. There were event bits moved forward and some cancelled outright. The ground was saturated and pooled so the off-road bits were taken off the schedule. The KONI Jet-Hot Downhill Attack and Motul / Speed Trend Burnout Contest were moved to Friday from Saturday. Fans were urged to be prepared with “shelter in place” plans and rain possibilities.

Club HyperFest (left) Motul / Speed Trend Burnout Contest (Right) Photos courtesy HyperFest

The oddity, as it played out, was the weather. Friday and Saturday were humid and cloudy. The rain did come but after sunset and hit or miss on evening activities. The toy ride KONI Attack hit just minutes after the rain did but added to the spectacle with no real need of water balloons from the gallery. The burnout lit up the smoke with lights and sound and the rain faded into the later hours.
Saturday was also mostly opposite of the previous forecast. The rain came but later and patchy as the lasers and lights lit the night over Club Hyperfest.

The racing… The drifting… The stunt and car shows and presentations went off under cloudy but dry skies. Fans that had tickets and fans that came as the weather opened up were treated to the show and shows that make HyperFest.

This party transcends the traditional car racing event. NASA Mid-Atlantic racing put on a full course show with cars from across the spectrum. Results can be found on the NASA website. Motorcycle high jump trick shows, tandem drifting, video gaming and RC drift with music and Paul Reed Smith guitars were tapped with ride-alongs and open fan participation. The weekend shaped up well beyond the damp predictions.

The baseline is that this is a “car” event that combines motors and a little mayhem. There is a sense of the unpredictable and the unhinged at HyperFest. It’s much like drifting… Going sideways but with control and style. The planning and the attention set the foundation for the weekend so there was flexibility to make adjustments as needed. That is why HyperFest makes moves forward and a music festival stumbles.

Look forward to the next HyperFest for 2025. Look ahead for the schedule at Virginia International Raceway for the remainder of 2024. IMSA, Fanatec GT and the VIR SpeedTour are big shows on easy tickets for race fans at VIR.

We have some photos from Haltech HyperFest. Just a few…

Showcase

NASA March Prelude To Hyperfest

March 18, 2024March 19, 2024 Missed Gear

It is part of the awakening of the racing season. Tracks are opening their paddocks to practices and going over the final details to open and host races and fans. It’s a fairly rapid move northward from the traditional Daytona / IMSA / NASCAR waving of the green flag. Car clubs like NASA take advantage of the early season here in Virginia and get on track in March at Virginia International Raceway.

The National Auto Sport Association took over for St. Patrick’s weekend at VIR. They joined ChampCar and SCCA for a bit of “March Madness”. Porsche Club “Zone 2” and Vintage Drivers are also taking runs at VIR for March. SCCA ran a prelude to their spectator event in April (SCCA Super Tour, April 5-7). For NASA, the March event was a taste for the upcoming Haltech Hyperfest which is a premiere car party on multiple fronts.

Hyperfest combines a car show, drifting, multi-class racing, nightlife and more in a multi-day and practically non-stop automotive spectacle. For the March NASA gathering, several groups of racing and driver classes took the full course to task and speed. Dedicated garage racers, track cars and street drivers practiced, raced and worked the skills of racing and pack driving.

The facility at Virginia International Raceway has history and top of class events for racing fans. It is also busy on just about every weekend with clubs, driving classes and more. Car and Driver runs a full car comparison here. Multiple series of organized racing hold closed course events. From the Kart track to the police and agency tactical training, VIR has created a multi-level and world class facility for motorsport and vehicle driver training.

Hyperfest is a party on four (or more or less) wheels. The event calendar for spectators at VIR offers a wide variety and wider views. For NASA, Hyperfest is a jewel on the calendar. For fans, it’s a ticket to ride!

Join NASA at VIR for Hyperfest. There is something for every motorsport fan.

NASA March Madness at VIR Photos – March 16-17, 2024

Race Day Showcase

IMSA – Super Car Heat at VIR

August 29, 2023August 31, 2023 Missed Gear

Virginia Is For Lovers… That’s how it goes… Country Lovers, Mountain Lovers, Scenery Lovers, Car Lovers… It’s all there with a visit to Virginia International Raceway. The “spectator” event season showcases several events but the real “international” comes into play on IMSA WeatherTech weekend.

It helps to know a little about the racing and who is driving what and leading in the points across the series on track but, honestly, it is not necessary. The variety, speed and close up action offers plenty to keep up with. The weekend is as much a celebration of racing as it is a celebration of the track itself. Is it necessary to know that a VIR win could shake things up for most of the series racing? Do you need to know that Corvette Racing is in striking distance of Lexus or that Aston Martin is chasing down BMW…? Who’s leading in the Lambo Trofeo or MX-5…? Does it matter to the fans who have come to see beautiful sports cars race in a beautiful setting…?

It does to some… People always have favorites. On a hot August weekend they all gathered for the cars, the drivers, the colors and the views.

It is possible that nobody is as proud as CEO Connie Nyholm of the unlikely yet impressive racing showplace that is the current incarnation of Virginia International Raceway. She has been with it from the purchase, update and re-introduction to the racing community around the year 2000. It is nothing short of phenomenal that the track, originally opened in 1957 and shut to the public in the 1970s, is now recognized as a jewel in the schedule of premiere racing series such as IMSA, FIA, GTWC, Moto America, NASA and others. Club racing is popular as ever and VIR is a hot challenge for aspiring drivers. It is determination and a little luck that has brought VIR to the status it has.

For IMSA weekend, the schedule falls later in the season. Points are a premium and the challenge of the course is a true test of drivers and teams. Full results on the races and the points can be found at IMSA online: Click for IMSA results and updates.

The fan experience continues to be expanded at VIR. The brand and performance variety on the track also sets the backdrop for a fan base as diversified as the paddock. The exotics of Lamborghini, Aston Martin or McLaren are mixed with Honda, Hyundai, Ford and Chevy. The cars are the stars and the drivers are open and approachable.

The headline race Saturday afternoon featured the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge running the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix. For the finale on Sunday, The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship raced the Michelin GT Challenge. The VP Prototype/Sports Car Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Mazda MX-5 Cup filled both days with racing from morning to the main event green flag.

New options on food and beverage were available this time around taking pressure off of the little paddock diner. The Pagoda Grill is still there but food trucks have been given space to take some of the demand and expand the dining experience. The Oak Tree Tavern is, of course, also available with a touch of class and excellent dining.

The IMSA season still has Indianapolis and Road Atlanta and points are getting tight in the top spots. For VIR, there is more to come also. The SCCA has a week long series late in September and the VIR SpeedTour comes in October. The SpeedTour in particular is another big variety weekend with GT, TransAm, Open Wheel and Classic / Vintage racing. There is also one of the largest rock music festivals in the country on tap.

Virginia International Raceway is a multi-faceted destination. It is often difficult to explain to race fans who have only visited stadium style oval tracks. It is worth a visit to find it all for yourself.

Photo Gallery – Virginia International Raceway – Saturday August 26

Photo Gallery – Virginia International Raceway – Sunday August 27

Race Day Showcase

Mazdas Buzz Martinsville

August 22, 2023August 22, 2023 Missed Gear

It’s just a few days from IMSA weekend at Virginia International Raceway and, somehow, Martinsville Speedway grabs some of the attention!

Consider, for a moment, a bunch of tuned Mazda MX-5 Cup race cars taking a couple of days to run hot laps around the historic oval. Yes… That is exactly what they did.

Racing history is combined as cars commonly running on the twisted track of VIR take laps around Martinsville. This merges names like Carroll Shelby and Paul Newman with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

Speaking of, by the way… Dale Earnhardt, Jr and Bobby Labonte were on hand from NASCAR history to lend a lap or two in the Mazda Motorsport testing. Speedway President Clay Campbell also climbed in and put his driving to the test with the Mazda crew.

MX-5 Cup series drivers were on hand for Monday to dial the cars in. Campbell and the NASCAR guys came in Tuesday to throw their Martinsville racing experience behind the wheel.

The stage is early but all of this opened the door for the possibility of the MX-5 Cup series actually racing at Martinsville Speedway. Logistics are many but the test made a mark on all involved.

Dale Jr referenced the advancement of iRacing and how that virtual platform raises the bar. He said you can put any car on any track and the technology is such that the simulation is eye-opening. The difference on track from a NASCAR Cup car or Late Model is in the turns, he referenced. The Mazda is as fast in the turns but the entry and exit is different on the shifting. The Cup cars have the straights but these are close in the corners.

We’ve seen Bobby Labonte in the SMART Mods and SRX this year and now in Mazdas at Martinsville. He was just straight up having fun in the MX-5 dropping the power of SRX or a Modified for the low ride and easy handling convertible. His experience in multiple series aided his input on the testing.

Clay Campbell noted the speed of the Mazda through the turn. These are lighter so the brakes don’t play the major role like they do in a Cup or Late Model car. He said you stand on the brakes in those Cup cars and these it’s more in the downshift and easy entry in the turns. The low driving position also puts your perspective of the speed right on the edge.

The series drivers on their way to VIR this weekend said the tuning was not as much as they thought for the oval. There will be some camber and steering adjustments to get them back to turning right as easy as left but the mechanics of the MX-5 are the same.

Who knows for sure when, or if, the MX-5 Cup will race at Martinsville. This testing, however, showed that if they do it is going to be a fun watch. The size of the car would allow for some lanes of racing that larger, more powerful cars can not run in a race setting. The sound of these and the quick handling nature could be a race fan experience for sure.

*There were, unfortunately, no famous hot dogs available for the Mazda MX-5 crews to test.
**Ross Chastain was either unavailable or not invited to this test.

PHOTOS from Mazda MX-5 Cup testing at Martinsville Speedway (August 21-22/2023)

Race Day Showcase

Hyperfest 2023 – The Car Party is On

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023 Missed Gear

There is no doubt that this annual event has grown. It has become a “must attend” weekend for many and the event is known all along the eastern part of the USA. The host location, Virginia International Raceway, is a racing destination for IMSA, GT World Challenge, Trans-Am and more. Driving and car clubs meet, learn and race there. Track training from Kaizen Autosport and Skip Barber operate through here. VIR even hosts a premiere rock and roll festival (Blue Ridge Rock Festival)…

Hyperfest features track action with NASA Mid-Atlantic (National Auto Sport Association) racing through several divisions. NASA is an enthusiast based racing platform with street and specialized classes with advancement and safe racing within similar ranks. It is hands on with emphasis training on safe yet exhilarating racing.

The educational and spectator racing is a core of Hyperfest. However, there is so much more. The drifting showcase is a crowd favorite with big variety and participation. USDrift, based in Virginia, is a sideways driving force in the show with organization and training for novice drivers.

There are off-road rides and challenges. A fast and fun kart course is featured. A car show is featured with host Speed-Trend Society. The racing also includes a bizarre, yet entertaining, “Power Wheels” race featuring kid’s cars, a big hill, gravity and, apparently, water balloons….

Off-track events draw with open ended RC World racing and drifting sponsored and catered by Hobby Town. After hours turned up the sound with live music and a DJ party.

For automotive fans, there is not much that can beat the total facility show that is “Hyperfest”. The variety of show and performance is almost overwhelming. You can take a five minute walk and see sports car racing, drifting, cars on display, shopping, and have a smoothie. A short wait and a shuttle trailer train comes by and can give you a ride to the “Oak Tree” turn and the other paddock for more racing views.

Hyperfest is a “Car Party” for car people and car stuff. It is morning to night speed, spill and sport. But… (There is always a “but”…) this year the event started with a bit of a snag. It is no use glossing over it or ignoring it as a large percentage of fans experienced it…

Getting in was a bit of a pain… Cars were stretched back in a line to the “old church” and holding. It was the highlight of social media as Friday was opening and the focus should have been on the fun. To be fair, the total slam of people arriving was over the top. With that, there is also advance information on ticket sales so being prepared for the volume could have been just a tad better. But, with that, one of the issues at VIR is the way in and out. There is but one. Are there plans to increase access points? VIR is in a spot that has zoning and construction considerations so expanding roads for more access may be a “wishlist” item. For Hyperfest, lessons from 2023 are being taken forward with planning for 2024. For fans, if you can, come in on Thursday and miss the most of the sitting in the car and get the most of the Hyperfest fun! It should also be noted, Saturday traffic was much different as the drive in was straight there. It’s quite likely most were either already in and camping, or went straight in as they already had the armband access.

The “getting in” was the only real snag. There were food trucks on site which greatly expanded the food fare available. (The Pagoda paddock grill is a weak link. The food demand is just too high for this one outlet. Food trucks are a welcome addition when there) Once inside, the schedule of events was non-stop with something for every taste in automotive action. Watch, ride along, participate, shop souvenirs… It’s on at Hyperfest.

*OK… Check your six!!! The sheer volume of personal vehicle traffic is insane. Golf carts are one thing… Add ATVs, motorcycles, mini-bikes, scooters, “hoverboards”, etc… Just be aware of the surroundings. If you bring a “vehicle”, electric or gas, or whatever… You will need to purchase a paddock pass for it. Just keep that in mind and be careful.

We go to a lot of events. NASCAR, short track, dirt track… We find Virginia International Raceway to be a highlight and welcome any opportunity to visit. Hyperfest is a great introduction to VIR and a great weekend of variety that is unmatched. For automotive enthusiasts and fans, it really is a “car party”!

Photo Gallery – Hyperfest 2023 – Virginia International Raceway – May 19-21, 2023

Race Day Showcase

VIR – 2022 IMSA Weekend Photos

August 29, 2022September 1, 2022 Missed Gear

Race fans in Virginia should consider themselves quite lucky. The variety and class of racing events that come through are a true showcase of motorsports. NASCAR brings the CUP show to Richmond and Martinsville and sanctions weekly events at short tracks all over the state. However, for natural beauty mixed with speed and diversity, we have Virginia International Raceway.

Dominion in Northern VA does boast a road course but it is smaller and a bit confined. Another facility is over the northern state line. Summit Point in West Virginia, between Winchester and Charles Town, is also a really nice driving track with a lot to offer.

Virginia International Raceway is, as described by legends such as Carroll Shelby, Paul Newman and certain British TV car show personalities, a beautiful jewel of automotive paradise. Since the resurrection and rebirth of the track from the original to the current, VIR has managed to place its name into big series race schedules. Grand-Am, Moto-America, F3/F4, GT World Challenge are all taking up slots. Vintage shows and state of the art exotic racing make their way into the paddock and onto the track. The top tier may be the IMSA WeatherTech Series. They have been a part of the VIR schedule for quite a while with American Le Mans and the transition to IMSA as it is now.

The 2023 schedule is out and VIR is, again, on for August. The event for 2022 gave us variety of cars and racing with good, sunny weather to run it in. The support series of Lamborghini Trofeo and Mazda MX5 put great competition numbers on the track. The LMP3 Prototype Challenge showcased speed and big power challenges on the twisty, paved hillside. The Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix – Michelin Pilot Challenge highlighted Saturday with the Michelin GT WeatherTech Sports Car Championship on track to close out Sunday and the weekend.

We are fortunate to have a place like VIR to bring this type of showcase racing to Virginia. It was almost lost. It is the dedication and work of the current owners and all who have been on the team from the relaunch to the present that have made it possible. The track sat practically forgotten except for a handful of “trespassers” doing hot lap joy rides during the off years. The history is deep and the story of it coming back to such prominence is inspiring. It is a proud place to visit.

*Now… If something could be done about the Pagoda Grill… Sorry… But it needs to be said. It is the flat tire slowing everything else down… This is not to be confused with the Oak Tree Tavern which is in a beautiful, historic structure and offers a tasty, delightful menu with nice scenery. This is the Pagoda, right on the paddock. Expect long lines and less than fantastic food for prices that should boast much better results. Get some food trucks. Expand the offerings. Bring it up to speed to match the reputation of the rest of the facility… Please.

Back to the track and racing. That’s why we’re there. Food isn’t everything… Right…?

Photos of much of the action are linked up below also showing the top three finishers of the events 2022 events at Virginia International Raceway:

Michelin GT Challenge at VIR – IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship – PHOTO GALLERY

Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix – IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge – PHOTO GALLERY

IMSA Prototype Challenge – VIR LMP3 – PHOTO GALLERY

IMSA Lamborghini Trofeo – VIR Lamborghini America – PHOTO GALLERY

IMSA Mazda MX5 – VIR Mazda – PHOTO GALLERY

Roanoke Drifting In Jappalachia

It is a fine thing when conditions lead to continuity. This particular continuity is also an automotive conundrum in several ways considering the current condition of the existence of the automobile. What….?? The trend that has taken hold, especially here in these United States, is the popularity of the SUV, the crossover variations of five door hatches, the automatic transmission and front wheel drive. All of these would point to a humorless and drab driving culture of A to B with a soccer game or a grocery store on the agenda. The days of fun behind the wheel are drying up. Or are they…? There are a handful of new rear drives out there. Of those, fewer still have a manual transmission. This leads to the continuity of cars of the past being rebuilt and re-born by people who seek the slides and the sideways. Yes, America, drifting may be the saving grace of the manual, rear wheel drive car. On a warm Wednesday tucked in the back corner of an industrial park I was there to bear witness to a mixture of car cultures. The recipe was a good mix of classic British “Top Gear”, American Motor Trend “Roadkill” and a heavy helping of the Japanese origins of drifting. The cars were budget sourced from the pre-owned market and rapidly made “drivable” over the past several days. Now they were here in this slightly barren environment to be compared on a mapped rally / drifting course by (can you guess…?) the same “tame” racing driver. For the sake of a little background… This group of guys have a mission which is building on their combination of talents. What is the mission…? Loosely defined it is a mixture of Japan’s origin culture of drifting and the extreme styling of it with the back roads mountain attitude of American muscle cars. They call it “Jappalachia”. There have been trips to Japan with driving study in the origins of the legendary Daigo Saito drifting style. Japan is distinguished as the genesis of drifting even as the sport has expanded worlwide. The “Jappalachia” handle has been vetted during these visits with positive approvals. The drift is no stranger to these men. A recent visit to NASA Haltech Hyperfest at Virginia International Raceway had a Nissan going tandem on the drift pad competition. On this Wednesday, they have two cars ready to take on the course. These are not their “pro builds” but side projects for the practice and fun of it. One is a late ’80s Corvette and the other is a Nissan 240sx (’89…? ’90…? give or take…) Both of them had less than “garage kept” history. Both put up sideways and dusty shows. I think the Corvette took the time even with bottom scrapes, fuel delivery issues and a lost ass bumper. It was also driven after the 240 so one could say the previous lap in the Nissan gave a nudge of “practice” to the ‘Vette. The “real” cars involved…? These guys are looking ahead to extreme builds in their shop. They are working up another C4 series Corvette and a 3rd generation Ford Mustang. The cars are being treated as homage to the extreme Kaido or Bosozoku style of Japanese drift builds. Big fenders, shovel forward in front of the wheels and wide body wings over the back. These are American muscle cars treated with anime angles. Engines are being built. Chassis and suspensions are being tuned and going into place. A rough timeline has turns on the calendar for the newly re-opened Southampton Speedway later this year as that track is running a drift schedule. This is Jappalachia. Connections…? Roanoke, Charlottesville, Japan, backgrounds in design, mechanics, fabrication, travel… They have formed a friendship from chance encounters, childhood history and love of fun in cars. The “tame” racing driver…? 2016 F4 Champion / 2021 EFO F3 Champion – Cameron Das, visiting from the UK with friends connected through common and crossed paths. His 2016 F4 is in the Jappalachia shop. 2016 USA F4 Champion, Cameron Das, with the season winning car in the Jappalachia shop Das is currently doing a social media series of video showcases of kart racing and tracks. Cameron Das: YouTube InstagramTay Whiteside – Lift Arc StudiosGresh Chapman (Instagram): Jackson WalkerConnor Shupe Visit the Jappalachia Website Photos – A visit to Jappalachia – Industrial Drifting *The dog is “Pickles” – an Alaskan Malamute. He’s a sweetheart in a sweet spot.
Movie Truck Throwback

Hanging out with long time friend from stage and screen who happened to be in a famous truck movie by Stephen King
RoVA-Drive Showcase: Benoit Pigeon

Elite commercial photographer has a fast eye for drag racing
RoVA-Drive Showcase: Bryan Reedy

Late Model Driver (#17) based in Roanoke

Tag: Virginia International Raceway

World News Sneaks Into Fanatec GT at VIR

HyperFest with a side of weather at VIR

NASA March Prelude To Hyperfest

IMSA – Super Car Heat at VIR

Mazdas Buzz Martinsville

Hyperfest 2023 – The Car Party is On

VIR – 2022 IMSA Weekend Photos