VIR w/ Trackdaze 26-27 Aug

[Ed Hunter]

Great event, at least what little I participated...   Drove to Charlotte Wednesday evening to take my tranny back for diagnosis/repair.  Travis thought the problem was due to a mfg error, based on how the gears were wearing.  Thinks he can get the parts replaced for free... hope so.  Left Charlotte at 11:00pm, drove to Danville.  Spent the night at a hotel, made it to VIR Thursday am.  Beautiful day, Vic, Elder, CB and John were chomping at the bit... 

A few on-track pics...

Vic....







CB...







John...







Pappy...







Everyone finished the first day intact and still operational.  John had a bit of issues with the heat, but nothing major that I heard.  Elder's car moaning got worse, but maybe it's just talking to Elder... no mechanical source could be found. Elder was kind enough to let me thrash his car for a session, it spoke a bit sweeter to me!    Vic and CB got faster, today should be even better.  I came home last night after dinner/drinks, arriving back at Fredericksburg at 1:30 this morning.    Dervish was reportedly 2 hours out when I left....

The others will have to fill in the Friday report.... 

[gt500flyboy]

Great pics, Ed.  Thanks for posting. 

I wasn't feeling well today - results of last nites shrimp - and I only did the first session on the Grand course.  Kinda wish we has that course yesterday.  Anyway - the Grand course is a whole other animal - and I should have used an instructor to get the line more quickly.  I didn't - so I was pussy-footin around.  I wasn't having fun, so I bagged it.  Yesterday was a blast on the full course - which I've done many times.  I was trying to practice heel toe and drifting thru turn 4 - the slowest.  I swung out twice, once a 180 and once I save it.  Stayed on the track.  A little tricky with 800 under the foot. 

And oh - Elder will have more to report on the wisdom of taking shortcuts...  ; )

[Hot Rod]

Ed,

Those are some GREAT pictures. The Full Course is fun and the Grand is fun and work. There is no rest in the the new section and if you get lost in the Stevie Wonders, look out for those taking shorts cuts and sneaking up on you. 

[Mark]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40GDLw42eSQ&feature=email

[Scott Harrison]

Ok, here's a quick report from the VIR Trackdaze event.

CACC attendeees CB, Miss Daisy, John Evans (gt500flyboy) Dirt Devil-Ed Hunter (sans Mustang) and your truly. Dervish arrives on Thursday evening for dinner and the Friday Grand course track.

Wednesday evening...arrive and setup our two-awning compound at the paddock. Check into the Villas, beverages at Connies Pub and dinner at the Oak Tree Tavern. Retire to the paddock for more beverages and back to the Villas to keep Vic awake with my snoring. 

Thursday, VIR full course. Sunny breezy and warm. 4 heats 1/2 hour each.  Everyone doing well, no track records broken. Ed Hunter taking rides and drives TrakCar. Strange moaning noises from rear suspension but nothing visibly askew. More beverages and dinner at the Tavern. Dervish arrives late with the GT3 in tow. Dervish is either a Brave man or going deaf-agrees to share bedroom with Elder. 

Friday, VIR Grand Course, 4.2 miles long, over 26 turns and includes Patriot course esses connecting the south and north courses. Sunny warm some breeze. Perfect weather. Since I've never been on the Grand course section, I take recon lap with TrackDaze pace car. Very cool, technical at least 22 turns with no straight starting with the Bitch on the south course and ending with Hog Pen on the north course (the map doesn't count the 4 Patriot course turns between 6a and 8.



First heat...one lap under yellow to get a feel of the track. 2nd lap track- goes hot for the Black group. Dervish followed by Elder.  Whoo hoo.... Dervish can't lose yours truly but won't give a point-by....so over the blind hill after 6a and Elder takes a short cut through the grass...oh crap....what's Dervish doing there...slowing down...smack...Damn!    ("That's my story and I'm stickin to it".) 

Photos are in the Gallery http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/gallery2/v/album143/album03_1/album127/VIR+8-10/

and apparently You Tube has a video courtesy of Minnie Pearl.


Mark...Thanks for uploading the video without telling me.  

[Alex Lewis]

Nice Pictures Ed, Thanks

[Scott Harrison]

This photo seems appropriate for this thread....

                           

In theory, the great thing about a passing a Porsche is the rear-engine design makes for a great ramp. In theory.

[gt500flyboy]

OUCH.  Glad it was you that put it up...