Once again we will have a two-day drivers school on the world famous VIR full course along with the local Mercedes and Audi clubs.
Details at http://www.gws-mbca.org/events/MarqueMadness2011.html
Registration is open on Motorsportreg.com.
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Once again we will have a two-day drivers school on the world famous VIR full course along with the local Mercedes and Audi clubs.
Details at http://www.gws-mbca.org/events/MarqueMadness2011.html
Registration is open on Motorsportreg.com.
So these dates are set in stone already? That's awesome planning if so!
Yep. Set in stone. We've asked for a repeat of last year's weather too.
Already made my reservations for 4 days.
More information at
http://www.gws-mbca.org/events/MarqueMadness2011.html
Anyone with the intel on pricing? Also, where does everyone stay overnight?
I'm sure Woody will update the thread once he knows.
FWIW, last year was $375.00.
Most people stay at the Sleep Inn or at the track.
Track is a bit pricey but convenient.
I heard from Mike Wirt earlier this week, and he said that the pricing would be available "very soon". I'm considering going this year; last year I opted for MazdaDrivers the following day, largely because they were running the Grand East format. From my unanswered email to Dave Nugent, as well as the lack of an update to the MazdaDrivers website, I'm guessing that they aren't having HPDE this season (and, in any event, Dave indicated last year that they weren't going to run Grand East anymore).
When I go to VIR I usually stay at the Best Western. I've heard very good things about the VIR lodging, but its pricey, you can't reserve online and no-one ever seems to pick up the phone. The few people I know of who stay at VIR lodging have shared a room to make it more affordable.
I have stayed at the Lodge at VIR a few times and find the walls to be paper thin.
On the flip side, you roll out of bed and are at the track.
I haven't heard back from Dave either. I reserved 4 nights at the Sleep Inn just in case.
I don't know Dave personally, but last year when I was going to miss the VIR event due to a blown diff, Dave helped me source a loaner diff (from Bret DePedro) that enabled me to go to the event. Dave is a good guy, I hope he's OK.
I'm not brave enough to suggest to my wife that I'll be at the track for 4 consecutive days! That's why I always had to choose between Marque Madness and MazdaDrivers.
From the VIR website, looks like MazdaDrivers will be there the weekend after Marque Madness, but only running the North course. For me, since I can only do 2 days, I would choose Marque Madness (full) over North course. Only variable is that Track Daze is at VIR the week before Marque Madness, also full course, probably for less $$ (and over the weekend!). Tough decisions!
MazdaDrivers has another VIR date (full) in late August that I won't be able to make. Track Daze is the only outfit I know of that will run Grand East format this season. They're doing day 1 full, day 2 Grand East. Last year they did this, with almost disastrous results, as day 2 one driver (did s/he miss the drivers meeting???) went left into the roller coaster at the top of the back straight, instead of going right into the bitch. There was almost a very dangerous, very high speed collision as a result; luckily, the car improperly setting up track right for the roller coaster narrowly missed the car properly coming from track left making the turn into the bitch. Very scary to see it on video.
Wasn't it coned off? I've gone straight through there because I went in too hot and didn't think I could make the Bitch.
Looks like I'll be canceling my reservations for the weekend after MM VI.
Second thought. The North is fun too. After all, I'm there already. :)
Just need to remember to turn right.
It was coned off, but there was a video posted (I can probably find the link on the TrackDaze forum), one car obviously didn't know/forgot about the change from Full to Grand East and was just hauling ass track right, and came up on the car in front of him that was coming left to right across the track at the bitch. The guy just blew straight through, it wasn't that he was set up track left and was going too fast, he came all the way up the back straight track right and stayed there (never even thought about turning, s/he wasn't set up for it). In the video, it looks like the two cars got fairly close (too close!). It's scary just thinking about it!
I was on the brakes as I went through the cones. There was also a barrier across the road.
That is probably what led them to use the barrier.
I can see being focused on going straight.
As I come out of Oak Tree I need to remind myself where I am going. :)
I think I've seen said video, and its an E46 M3 too... makin us look bad ;)
Hey Mike, hope all is well and you're still getting out on the ice!
Here's a link to the video, it truly is scarier than I remembered. A collision at those speeds and those angles (looks like the guy coming up the back straight would have "t boned" the car crossing into the bitch), it would not have turned out well for anyone... very fortunate no one was hurt. http://vimeo.com/14489137
My heart just missed a beat!
Right up there with when Vipers Attack.
If the Viper Attack is the one I found when I googled it, that looks like the front straight before Turn 1 at VIR. I have a hard time figuring out what the Viper was doing to induce the off track situation, but that looked similarly scary and equally close to a metal to metal situation. The back straight/bitch video is pretty clear to me what both drivers were doing (I was at that event, but not aware of the incident until I got back home and someone posted the video on the Track Daze forum). I'm not sure what run group that happened in, I'm guessing instructor/advanced but could be wrong. Wasn't intermediate (my group).
You would have to ask Chuck Grafton.
I want to say that the Viper lifted but I'm not sure.
Here you go. http://vimeo.com/14489137
The forgetful driver wasn't setting up improperly on track right. Track right is the proper line for the left hand kink before the right hand roller coaster. Both are a LONG way down the straight from the turn in for the Bitch. You can see in the video there were cones and a barrier beyond the Bitch. I've heard the PCA had a driver make a similar mistake several years ago, but with more disasterous reults.
As you pass the chicane (Madison Ave) on the back straight, the rest of the straight is blind for a short period of time.
At the Ofest school I was caught by surprise to all the cars waiting to go down Rollercoaster.
I wonder if that was partly to blame?
Actually, this was day 2 of 2, not sure exactly when it happened during the day, but as a participant at the event I wasn't aware of it until a few days later when I happened to see the video posted on the Track Daze forum. The organizers said that they had talked to the offending driver, but as far as I know no public discussion was had at VIR the day it happened. Track Daze is running the same day 1 full, day 2 grand east format this season, and I am fairly confident that they will have lots of discussions of this at the drivers meetings and school sessions. There are just a few cones in the road, they were discussing having additional visual reminders on track (someone suggested barely clad ladies holding signs saying "turn right here", I'll report back if Track Daze goes with that but I'm not holding my breath....)
Just when the nightmares had subsided........
Viper driver later told me that he did, in fact lift, just past pit out where the track has the slight bump, combination of the lift and the bump was enough at the speed to induce back end of the Viper to step out to the right with the documented results.
So do you guys figure it's safe to make accommodation reservations and that there will be sufficient space in the event for everyone who wants to attend?
I've never done one of these before so I'm a bit of a novice to all of this type of thing.
Thanks in advance and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!
We're having a planning meeting tomorrow night. Details on prices and registration should be available shortly after that.
The Mercedes club is still tweaking the Motorsportreg.com registration. I will announce it here as soon as registration is open.
Registration is now open! Go to motorsportrsreg.com and scroll down the calendar to June 9-10. The event is listed as MBCA Greater Washington Section - VIR.
My registration keeps getting rejuected with the following message: "Club Affiliation field is not a valid number" Anyone else having problems?
I have been told this problem is fixed.
Thanks Woody, I just registered successfully!!
I'm in. What the hell? It's only money. :)
Looks like only BMW guys are committing early.
No MazdaDrivers the weekend after. :(