I’m sure you’ve heard that the road course at Castrol Raceway is 80% paved, and they are on schedule to open the short 1.3 km track in May and the full 2.7 km track by August. What you may not know is that you can get on the new track with a new track group called Track Junkies.

Track Junkies has secured 12 dates at Castrol for recreational lapping in 2013.  They have a combination of Wednesday evenings and Fridays (one Saturday), with some early-season events on the 1.3km track and later-season events on the full track. And they have booked the track for the Friday before every NASCC race weekend for 2013.

All the details about the group, event formats, and rates are on our website at www.trackjunkies.ca but the highlights are:

• Twelve (12) open lapping events booked at Castrol Raceway for the 2013 season, with a couple more in the works
• Run groups with different passing protocols, ranging from passing on the straights only for more conservative drivers all the way up to open passing anywhere for the most seasoned Track Junkies
• Friday events offer up to 2.5 hours of scheduled track time per run group (Wednesday evenings offer 1.0 hours minimum per run group)
• Agreement with NASCC to manage their open lapping sessions on race weekends (4 race weekends, so 8 additional days at 1.0 hours per day of scheduled track time)
• Track booked for the Friday before each NASCC weekend, which provides four 3-day weekends on the track this season (up to 4.5 hours of potential track time over the weekend) … great for anyone travelling a long distance!
• Track booked the Friday before the tentative Chump Car weekend.
• Instruction available … if you are new to track driving Track Junkies can help you get started, or to help experienced drivers learn the line before an upcoming race.
• Annual memberships are available, with benefits that include: early registration for events, discounted fees at all events (including the 3-day NASCC weekends), and the ability to book into multiple run groups on Fridays and Wednesday evenings Track Junkies lapping events.
• Using MotorsportReg as the event registration system … very, very easy to use.

When you look at the event calendar, you’ll note several evening events in the early season, but come August it will be full day events on the full 2.7 km track.  The last 1.5 hours of the day will be open track … so up to 2.5 hours of track time of Fridays.  And of course if paving is complete earlier than August we will move all our events up to the FULL 2.7 Km track!

Annual Memberships (access to early booking, discounted fees, and booking into multiple run groups at the same event) are limited to 40 members.  The reason for this low membership cap is that the short track will have a capacity constraint, and we do not want to take so many members that the track is too busy (or worse, that annual members cannot all attend).

So … if you are interested, you can sign up for Annual Membership starting today at trackjunkies.motorsportreg.com. (registration for the first event will opens April 18 for members and the week after the car show on April 26 for non-members).

Feel free to share this information with other track enthusiasts, and we’ll see you at the track soon.

Track Junkies is sponsored by Eurasia Automotive.

• Chuckwalla (near Palm Springs, direct flights daily from Edmonton & Calgary on Westjet) – Saturday Feb 25 & Sunday Feb 26
• Buttonwillow (near Bakersfield, fly to/from LAX) – Saturday March 10 & Sunday March 11
• Chuckwalla (again, but the opposite direction) – Friday March 23, Saturday March 24 & Sunday March 25
• Spring Mountain(near Las Vegas) – Saturday March 31 & Sunday April 1
• Thunderhill (near Willows, CA so fly into Sacremento (1.5 hour drive) or San Fransisco (3 hour drive)) – Saturday April 7 & Sunday April 8

Cars will stay in the Palm Springs area between events.  Because of the relatively short travel distances between tracks, this event is priced at what it would normally cost to do two California tracks, so a pretty decent deal even if you don’t plan to do all the events.  Also the last three are back-to-back weekends, so perhaps an opportunity to spend a few extra days in California.  We can arrange maintenance/repairs/tires at a local shop between events as necessary.

• Watkins Glen (fly into Buffalo, NY or Syracuse, NY or even Hamilton, ON)  Monday Sept 3 & Tuesday Sept 4
• Barber, which is home to the Porsche Driving Experience (fly into Birmingham, AL) Saturday Sept 22 & Sunday Sept 23
• Virginia International Raceway (fly into Greensboro, NC or Raleigh/Durham, NC) Sunday Oct 28 & Monday Oct 29

These events are all with Chin Motorsports, which without doubt is the most professional and courteous group we’ve run with.  Cars will stay in Birmingham between events, and we can arrange repairs or maintenance if necessary.

Custom and group trips are also available. If there’s a track you’d like to visit, we can make it happen.

Our winter track tour has been a resounding success.  We officially started the tour at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway February 24th, in a counter-clockwise direction.  A bit dusty at times, but a small ground Saturday and TONS of track time.  Fun track.  Not a lot of elevation change, but what there is in the perfect place to add a degree of difficulty … and fun.

Two weeks later we were off to Buttonwillow.  It’s a bumpy track, with older pavement that is hard on tires.  But again a fun lap.

Two weeks later (again) we were at Chuckwalla with Speed Ventures running in the clockwise direction.  Interesting how the same corners backwards seem so different.  I think this is my prefered direction.  Busy weekend in Pam Desert as well, with a couple fo spouses and families along for some shopping and fine dining over Spring Break.

February 24th we were at Spring Mountain.  We’ve been to Spring Mountain four years in a row now, with the Las Vegas chapter of PCA.  This time, however, we ran a different track configuration that before.  I likes this a lot more … fewer tight corners and more long straights (or sweeping near-straights).  I’m sure we’ll be back again next year.  Plus thanks to Doug and Shellyanne for inviting us to their home in LV for a BBQ Saturday evening.

And finally this past weekend we were at Thunderhill.  Ran one day over the hill, and the next day the bypass around the hill.  This is my first time running the bypass, and admittedly I needed some coaching to find the blind line.

Not a drop of rain the entire tour.  Rain tires never left the trailer.  We did consume most of the other tires, plus a few sets of brake pads.  Thank goodness we went down with lots of spare parts and consumables.

Thanks to Neville, Felix, Peter, Dylan and Michael.   Great camaraderie and lots of good fun.

Next trip is to High Plains near Byers, CO.  Another challenging track with a lot of elevation change, and a fun group with a great southern BBQ on Saturday night at the track.  See you in Byers.

With over 50 cars expected on the track at one time, this is the event to see.  This race involves cars of all different makes and models with a wide-range of horsepower-to-weight ratios, meaning there will be lots of traffic, lots of passing, and lots of non-stop racing entertainment. We think this may be more entertaining than the feature Indy race … but of course we’re a little biased!

The schedule for the Indy weekend and Eurasia Cup have yet to be set.  The commitment from Octane Motorsports Entertainmnet (the Indy organizer)  is that the Eurasia Cup will have two 30-minute practice sessions, a 30-minute qualifying race, and a 45-minute feature race throughout the three-day weekend.  More details on the NASCC website.

Come cheer on your favourite local driver and be part of the fun.

How do 11 cars fit in one trailer?

September 2011 saw a large contingent of Canadians for the PCA Intermountain Region lapping and DE event at Miller Motorsport Park …  Sparky, Neville, Russ, Doug, Alex, Tim, Felix, Jon, Peter, Paul, Colin, Patti, Marc, and another Doug.  We almost had enough cars for our own run group!

Thanks again to JT ans Sean for the hospitality and use of the ice machine.  Oh yah, and for the long tow back from the gas pumps.

For more about the Miller, read this post from last year.

With over 50 cars expected on the track at one time, this is the event to see.  This race involves cars of all different makes and models with a wide-range of horsepower-to-weight ratios, meaning there will be lots of traffic, lots of passing, and lots of non-stop racing entertainment. We think this may be more entertaining than the feature Indy race … but of course we’re a little biased!

The schedule for the Eurasia Cup includes a 30 minute practice Friday July 22; 30 minute practice and 30 minute qualifying race Saturday July 23; and a 45 minute feature race Sunday July 24. More details on the NASCC website.

Come cheer on your favourite local driver and be part of the fun.

ORP has only been around for about three seasons, so the pavement is in excellent condition.  It is built on rolling farmland, and frankly there isn’t a flat straight anywhere.  Lots of elevation change, lots of camber change, and lots of curves.  It is a very busy lap, and often I find myself going two or three laps before remembering to take a breather and check the gauges.  But the important thing is that everything seems to flow perfectly into an intense and exhilarating lap.  If you haven’t been there … well, why not?

We had a big group this time.  Six cars and seven drivers.  Not a negative comment from the entire group … and all wanting to return.

This was also the inaugural outing for the Cup car.  I have to admit I had some reservations about the purchase … frankly I was not sure I was driver enough for the car.  But it was an absolute joy to drive … the interior was a symphony of exhaust and intake and gearbox sounds for which I have experienced no equal.  And once I got myself acclimatized to the controls and fine-tuned the inputs, I was able to retire the point-by finger … which may be more about the car than the driver, but very satisfying nonetheless.

Thanks to Adare Motorsports for problem-solving and coaching on the Cup, but more importantly for getting the weekend together and getting our group on the track.

Eurasia announces the 2011 Arrive and Drive Schedule, as follows:

• Winter in Warmer Climes – 9 days at 4 tracks!
  •  
    • February 12-13 (2 days) Streets of Willow Springs (near Los Angeles, CA)
    • February 26-27 (3 days) Spring Mountain Motorsport Ranch (near Las Vegas, NV)
    • March 12-13 (2 days) Buttonwillow Raceway (near Bakersfield, CA)
    • March 25-27 (3 days) Miller Motorsport Park … outside loop (Salt Lake City, UT)
           (possible alternative is March 26-27 at Chuckwalla Raceway near Plam Springs, CA)
    • Cars stay in the US between events (secure storage and maintenance arranged)
• Late April (date as yet unconfirmed) Oregon Raceway Park (Grass Valley, OR)
• May 20-22 (3 days) High Plains Raceway (Denver, CO)
• May 27-28 (2 days) BMW Club Advanced Driving School at Race City (Calgary, AB)
• June 3 (1 day) Porsche Club Driver Education at Race City (Calgary, AB)
• June 24-26 (3 days) Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA)
• September 23-25 (3 days) Miller Motorsport Park … the full 7.2 km 23 turn course (Salt Lake City, UT)
• The South Beckons Again - 4 days at 2 world-class tracks!
  •  
    • October 22-23 (2 days) at Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, AL)
    • November 26-27 (2 days) at Road Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
    • 3 hours per day of track time (most organizations provide only 2 hours per day)
    • Cars stay in the south between events (secure storage arranged)

If there’s a track you’d like to visit, we can make it happen.

Set in the rolling hills of southern Virginia, you immediately feel Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is a special place.  The track originally opened in 1957 but closed following the 1974 season.  It reopened in March 2000 using a country club financial model  … but frankly it just feels like a country club with its tree-lined drive to the paddock, perfectly manicured lawns, picturesque ponds in the distance, and vintage buildings.

Our event was hosted by Chin Motorsports.  Chin offers 3+ hours of track time per day with instruction available for novices.  I can’t say enough about how well run this organization is, and a very courteous group of drivers … perhaps the most courteous I’ve experienced anywhere.  I don’t think I ever waited more than a couple of corners for a point-by.

The track itself is very interesting and challenging.  We ran the full track, which is built on rolling farmland with a significant overall elevation increase from North to South.  This is a very fast track.  My biggest challenge was the Climbing Esses, which is a series of three high-speed, decreasing-radius corners on undulating uphill terrain.  Track junkies will appreciate that these combined features make for a daunting challenge at speed … turn in early and by the third corner you WILL have at least two wheels off  (speaking from experience here).  Elsewhere there are several corners where the terrain causes significant suspension compression and very high grip, so you can brake much later than it seems or in some cases carry significant speed through the corner (or leave a lot on the table, again speaking from experience).

Completion of these two days at VIR marks the halfway point for our current trip.  In a little more than three weeks, we head south again to pick up the cars and spend two days at Road Atlanta.

We just returned from Mecca … for track junkies, that is.

Rumor has it that Larry H. Miller had a budget of $25 Million when he built Miller Motorsport Park near Tooele, Utah — and then went $100 Million over.  The result is absolutely the finest motorsport facility I have seen, at every level.

A majestic entryway, lined with flag standards, as you drive toward the wrough-iron vehicle gates.   A three story glass and brick administration building is on the right, the museum is on the left, and far left is the two-story members’ Clubhouse.   The paddock is immense, complete with a commercial business complex with repair shops, tire shops, a gas station … and even a place to wash your car when it gets dusty (no quarters required).  The entire facility is kept immaculately clean … I think the garbage cans in the paddock must be emptied twice a day as they are never more than half full.  The washrooms in the day garages even have Kohler toilets. 

The track was masterfully designed by Alan Wilson.   The full track measures 7.2 km and has 23 turns.  It is a wide track, with even wider run-off areas (many are paved). Fast, with almost all the corners having more camber than you think.  Challenging.  The track can be configured several ways, including that it can be split into two tracks running simultaneous events.  This is our third year (so I’ve spent nine days on the track) at Miller and still there are several corners where I could do a lot better. 

No matter where you go on site, the food is great.  If you choose the Ace Cafe, you can enjoy your meal at a picnic table in the shade; or choose the Clubhouse for a view of the track while you dine in air conditioned comfort. Prices are very reasonable.  I haven’t had such good track-side food anywhere … and I’ve been to a lot of tracks.

Then there is a museum housing several impressive Shelbys, including the second oldest Cobra, the 1966 Le Mans winning GT40 MkII driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, the MkIV GT40 driven by Bruce McLaren and Mario Andretti that won the 1967 12 hours of Sebring, and one of the six Shelby Daytona-bodied Coupes.  And then there is the memorabilia.  Just ask the guard at the main gate to open it for your private tour … truly worth a visit.

Our hosts for the weekend were Porsche Club of America’s Intermountain Region.  This is their Club Race weekend, and they run three days of Driver Education and lapping sessions between the racing activities.  We had four 25+ minute sessions each on Friday and Saturday, followed by five sessions Sunday.  I think we had almost 6 hours of track time in total.

Despite there being over 40 participants on the track, it never seemed crowded.  As you can imagine, a 7.2 km track allows for a lot of cars.  Plus the organizers did an excellent job of gridding the faster cars out front so that there weren’t any long trains waiting for a point-by.  Overall a very well run event.

Our group was a bit bigger than usual.  We sold our transporter space out months ago, so some of our regular group of track junkies had to find their own way down.  We had a total of nine drivers hanging out in our section of the paddock, located across from Tatum Racing where we were treated royally.

Thanks to everyone for the camaraderie and comic relief  … Peter, Patti, Neville, Felix, Marc, Russ, Jon, Chris and Bryan.  Jon, thanks also for the photos … and pushing me to go faster.  JT, thanks for the hospitality.

Not surprisingly, we have a waiting list for next year already.