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VIR Holiday Laps 11/30/18

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Virginia International Raceway is hosting charity laps this Friday, 11/30/18. Cost is $25 / 15-20 minute session. Here’s a link, but pre-registration isn’t required:
http://virnow.com/events/holiday-laps-2018/

Weather looks like it should be “ok”. 50% chance of rain with temps in the upper 50’s.

I’ve been to these events several times. Crowds vary significantly from one event to another. I’ve been to some where I waited over an hour between sessions and some where the wait was about 15-20 minutes.

Either way, it’s an opportunity to get out on a great track and to see a bunch of cool cars. I’m planning to be there with my ‘17 mustang gt - white with black wheels.

Anybody else going?
 
Sounds like a great opportunity to donate, meet some people and drive the track. I wonder what course they will run?

Every time I’ve been, they used the full course. A lot of people try take advantage of the front and back straights and don’t seem to know what to do with the turns :rolleyes:.
 
They did run the full course and it wasn’t very crowded. I guess the weather kept people away. First session was rainy and upper 40’s so not much grip. My second session conditions were better. It was warmer and track was dry. But, I was behind a guy in an older Boxster that might not have been track safe. At one point, going down the front straightaway, his car coughed up so much smoke that I couldn’t see anything in front of me. Reminded me of spy movies where they used a smoke screen. Pretty scary. I talked to him after. He apologized but didn’t seem at all surprised by the smoke from his car.
 
Every time I’ve been, they used the full course. A lot of people try take advantage of the front and back straights and don’t seem to know what to do with the turns :rolleyes:.

It's amazing how many drivers prefer the full circuit over the grand course circuit because they don't know how to drive the turns and esses vs. drag racing the straights. The fun part about being on the road course is pushing it through the technical aspects of the track with elevation changes, on/off camber turns, etc.
 
It's amazing how many drivers prefer the full circuit over the grand course circuit because they don't know how to drive the turns and esses vs. drag racing the straights. The fun part about being on the road course is pushing it through the technical aspects of the track with elevation changes, on/off camber turns, etc.
Agreed. I see the same on public roads. I typically drive less than 10 mph over the posted limit. Other drivers gain on me on straights, but slow significantly when we come to a curve and I pull away without changing my speed.

IMO though, the VIR full course has plenty of challenging technical aspect. Granted it isn’t as twisty as the grand course, but still challenging at speed.
 
I got two good runs in that day, but the best was when I got to go out with the last group on track. Charity laps confirmed that I need to get into this hobby for sure.

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I got two good runs in that day, but the best was when I got to go out with the last group on track. Charity laps confirmed that I need to get into this hobby for sure.

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I went out for a couple of sessions earlier in the day. In the first, I was behind a very slow driver. In the second, I was behind an old Porsche Boxster. About halfway down the front straight, it let out a huge cloud of smoke so dense I literally couldn’t see anything in front of me. It was a bit scary.

HPDEs can be a great experience. I’ve been doing them for several years and plan to keep at it a while.

Keep in mind that crashing is a real possibility. Maybe consider track day insurance.

I’m not meaning to be negative at all. Just suggesting you be aware of potential bad outcomes; mitigate that risk to the extent you feel you need to; and have fun.
 
I went out for a couple of sessions earlier in the day. In the first, I was behind a very slow driver. In the second, I was behind an old Porsche Boxster. About halfway down the front straight, it let out a huge cloud of smoke so dense I literally couldn’t see anything in front of me. It was a bit scary.

HPDEs can be a great experience. I’ve been doing them for several years and plan to keep at it a while.

Keep in mind that crashing is a real possibility. Maybe consider track day insurance.

I’m not meaning to be negative at all. Just suggesting you be aware of potential bad outcomes; mitigate that risk to the extent you feel you need to; and have fun.

Yeah I was pretty nervous my first time out there. I made sure not to push the car any faster than I was comfortable with and luckily wasn't that much of a rolling road block except for the first lap or so. I don't think that I'll use this car for HPDEs and have been looking at an E36 M3 for HPDE use instead.
 

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