KONI Challenge VIR Mazda Corral/Fan Appreciation October 3-4
 

We are currently working on a Mazda Corral for the season ender @ VIR. One again ,we are looking to have parade laps on the track, plus we are also setting up a viewing party with Freedom Autosports. At Mid-Ohio, Mazda owners were allowed to bring their chairs and watch the race in the Freedom Autosport paddock, where lunch was served and your beverage of choice.

Everyone brought their own food and drinks, we of course shared what we brought with the team, as they have always been gracious hosts for our events. So you can check out the all of the racing on the 50" HDTV in the paddock.

Also, we are looking to have a Mazda Corral Appreciation day as well, where we will be giving away Piloti shoes, KONI/Rolex swag, Freedom t-shirts, and we are looking to see if we can get Hoosier to give away a set of tires as well

It should be a great weekend for racing and we look forward to seeing all of the NC, SC, Virginia Mazda owners come out to the event, as we will be having some of our Ohio contingent coming out to join you.

So stay tuned for updates for lodging ( yes you can also camp), pricing and a schedule of events for this great weekend @ VIR

Awesome Marlon! My car club has handled the meet for GT Live the last 2 yrs at VIR. It would be great for this to all come together. Count me in!!!

*edit*
Hey Marlon, GT Live will be going that weekend. I'll handle that side of the event if you would like, as I have been dealing with them the last couple years? I'll be able to get the entire group kart time also...the GT Live crew have really hooked our group before.

We've been involved for 3 years actually. The first year MazdaSport mag handled the meet/parking passes and what not and we promoted.

Count me in. My current plan is to be there the entire weekend.

Ahh yeah, I forgot about MazdaSport...

I remember it well. It was cold, rainy, and I rode the line ride for the first time hahahaha.

Any more news on this Marlon?

Cool, I hope this works out. I haven't seen the whole "GT Live" thing this time. Are there going to be other supporting events like time attack & drift? My daughter wants to go back again, but mostly for the drifting.

Nic, Steve Focazio of Grand-Am is working with VIR to get this done, I will have further updates real soon!

Thanks for the update Marlon, I'm looking forward to this event. Eventhough I will only be able to attend on the 3rd.

Here's an update of events planned during the race weekend, directly from VIR's site:


Bosch Octoberfest 2009 / Mazda Corral - October 2nd-4th 2009 at Virginia International Raceway!

This is Octoberfest - Bosch Engineering Style! This festival of racing will feature the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Sports Car Series Four Hour Endurance Race - the KONI Challenge season finale, and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup Twin Races.

What would Octoberfest be without a bit of audience participation? New this year, the VW "Sim Race" featuring VW GTIs, where fans ride along in simulated races on the full course.

Don't miss out on your chance to experience top-tier racing at America's finest road course during what is arguably the most beautiful time of year here at VIR!

Just some of what is happening during the 2009 Bosch Engineering Octoberfest:

Full Course

* Grand-Am Koni Challenge Sports Car Series 4 hour endurance race (practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday – Combined GS/ST Race on Sunday 12 noon).
* SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup (practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday - races on Saturday and Sunday).
* VW “Sim Race” featuring VW GTIs – fan ride along in simulated races on the VIR full course (Friday through Sunday – sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock).
* Fans get to drive their own cars on the track during fan drives on both Saturday and Sunday at no extra cost (sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock).

Patriot Course

* S.O.R.A.D. Drift Championship – drivers compete for CASH prizes (Friday through Sunday) (advance registration required).
* Drift ride-alongs (fans get to ride in drift cars on the Patriot Course on Saturday and Sunday – sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock).

Skidpad

* Gymkhana presented by Volkswagen (run by DGTrials.com)
o Entrants drive their own cars against the clock for fastest time in various classes for prizes (Friday-Sunday at the Skidpad – advance registration required).
o Fans drive the course in brand-new Volkswagen GTIs – prizes for the fastest times of the weekend (Saturday and Sunday - sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock)

Go-Kart Track

* Fans can race the VIR 9hp Stratos Go-Karts (Friday-Sunday)

Offroad Rally Stages

* Fans can drive their own vehicles in the VIR Rallycross. (Saturday-Sunday)

Off-track activities

* Band on Friday and Saturday nights with fan parties
* Playboy Bunnies and VIR Girls
* Sound off competition (no extra entry fee)
* Car show (no extra entry fee)
* Children's Fun Zone

IN WORKS! Based on previous Grand-Am event @ VIR
Mazda Corral

1. Parade laps will be granted to Mazda corral, TBA
2. Piloti will come by the corral to do a tech talk on driving shoes and offer every member a 10% discount coupon on a pair of shoes.
3. Grand-Am will offer two certificates for a free pair of Piloti shoes to raffle off at the corral and some series flags.
4. Grand-Am will give a tech talk to the club that will start at our transporter.


Ticket Info

3-Day Pass - Gate Sales $50 / Advance Sales* $40
Friday 10/02 - Gate Sales $25 Advance Sales* $15
Saturday 10/03 - Gate Sales $35 Advance Sales* $25
Sunday 10/04 - Gate Sales $35 Advance Sales* $25

Online Ticket Sales

*Advance Sales and Online Sales for this event end at 5pm on the 30th of September 2009.
Please note: Although no board code and smiley buttons are shown, they are still usable.

www.virnow.com

October 2-4, 2009
Special Offer to Car Clubs
(note: 10 or more from your Club must enter to qualify)

Car Clubs that purchase tickets to the Bosch Engineering Octoberfest online in advance using a discount code provided to that club will get:
• $30 3-day ticket (regularly $40 in advance and $50 at gate)
• VIR Hat for each pre-registered club participant
• Special car corral parking area
• Touring laps for each club behind the pace car (time to be determined)
• Each club participant will be entered to win additional prizes from VIR and its sponsors
• Photo session with the VIR Girls
• One meal coupon for each participant on Saturday and Sunday that can be redeemed for breakfast or lunch at the Pagoda grille
• 10% discount on go-karting (and preferential booking for go karting in advance)

Activities during the Bosch Octoberfest include the following:
Full Course
• Grand-Am Koni Challenge Sports Car Series 4 hour endurance race (practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday – Race on Sunday 12 noon).
• Pre-race grid walk where fans can get up close to the cars prior to the race.
• SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup (practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday - races on Saturday and Sunday).
• VW “Sim Race” featuring VW GTIs – fans ride along in simulated races on the VIR full course (Friday through Sunday – sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock).
Patriot Course
• S.O.R.A.D. Drift Championship – drivers compete for CASH prizes (Friday through Sunday) (advance registration required).
• Drift ride-alongs (fans get to ride in drift cars on the Patriot Course on Saturday and Sunday – sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock).
Skidpad
• Gymkhana presented by Volkswagen (run by DGTrials.com)
o Entrants drive their own cars against the clock for fastest time in various classes for prizes (Saturday-Sunday at the Skidpad – advance registration required).
o Fans drive the course in brand-new Volkswagen GTIs – prizes for the fastest times of the weekend (Saturday and Sunday - sign up at the VIR Store in the North Paddock)
Go-Kart Track
• Fans can race the VIR 9hp Stratos Go-Karts (Friday-Sunday)
Offroad Rally Stages
• Fans can drive their own vehicles in the VIR Rallycross. (Saturday-Sunday)
Off-track activities: Band on Friday and Saturday nights with fan parties - Playboy Bunnies and VIR Girls - Sound off competition (no extra entry fee) - Car show (no extra entry fee) - Children's Fun Zone – Vendor alley



Here is what we are adding for Mazda Owners

1. Drawing for Piloti Driving Shoes 2-4 pair, depending on turnout

2. Viewing Party w/ Freedom Autosports-inclused lunch

3. Grand-Am swag raffle


Here is the Ticket code for Mazda members:KCMZ09


The wife is working on accomodations and of course you can camp. I am working with Grand-Am on a few more surprises as well. So stay tuned and lets get the word out to other Mazda owners as well.......basically, you get all of this for $10.00 a day.....thats value

Nic, you know I can do better than this!!!! We get $30.00 pricing.....

Great to see this info! I'll get to work on the Central Virginia Mazda Club gang.

cool, looking forward to seeing all of you guys again, we should have a great turnout once again!

Thanks again Marlon! I've had this up on own club forum for some time now. Everyone is looking forward to it!!!

Yeah I'm pumped up. October is right around the corner :). I'm going to be there all three days this year.

Marlon, any idea where we are going to be located? Last year for GT Live we were stationed in/around the Gallery, which was nice because there was shade.

It's probably gonna be around the same area we were at for the Rolex in April. Sadly Bobby, I'm only gonna be there for Sat and Sun...but we'll all get to hang out the entire weekend!

Wow, more stuff than I expected! No freebie group go-karting humiliation for me this time, though. :(
;)

Just wanted to add, the discount code is for the Mazda Corral group rate. Don't worry about having 10 ticket purchases from your 1 group alone...it's cumulative for the entire Mazda group. We will have well over 10 purchases so don't worry about being screwed later for more money. :)

Happy Rotoring!!!

It sure would be nice to have 50+ Mazdas for this event. I'd like to give those Porsche guys a run for their money.

Yeah no joke! Problem, 2/3 of the Porsche owners don't know how to drive what they got! I don't think we'll even come close to the numbers like the Subie guys have though...ohwell, it'll still be a blast!

We'll have several cars from Ohio making the trip, I feel we'll make the 50+ cars at this event easy....

Man let's hope! :)

Oh hi! I can haz break from posting on every Mazda forum I know?

Yeah we should have a large gathering of Mazdas 'cause I just snagged another club into joining us. :naughty:

If another Porsche gets in front of me and does 40mph down the back straight I will pass it and then let off as much rotary exhaust fumage as possible to let him know my displeasure.

This is not a Mazda forum, it's a forum for Mazdas. :rofl:

Maybe we should start a tally of how many we have coming from each club? Sort of a motivational thing.

NC Rotaries ... ?
Cleveland6 Club ... ?
Central Virginia Mazda Club ... ?
What other group Greg?

We have 5 cars making the trip down to VIR

NC Rotaries has 13 confirmed and 11 maybes. The maybe may all turn into confirmed as the event gets closer.

Also Marlon, do we have a soft schedule of events and times so I may pass the info along? Mostly, when and where the viewing/lunch with Freedom will take place.

You can count me in the CVMC numbers. I'm trying the camping thing this year, but I'll come up Saturday morning.

It looks like kids under 16 are free? Last year I had to buy a ticket for my daughter at the gate. Does anyone know for sure?

Hey Rex, I sent out an email to VIR to verify age requirements. I should hear something back tomorrow.

Well thanks to G-Rex, the CVMC is up to a whopping 5 cars! Yes, I'm a bit embarrassed. But we're late bloomers, there will be more.

NC Rotaries ... 13
Cleveland6 Club ... 5
Central Virginia Mazda Club ... 5

I am sure we'll have others that will show as the word gets out and the date draws nearer. We'll have a schedule up next week, as soon as I firm up things with Freedom.

Awesome, Thanks Marlon! BTW, I just bought my weekend pass!!!

I emailed as well & got 2 answers! Kids 15 & under are free with paying adult.

HAH, got the same email but was busy with school work to post. See ya then!

Lodging for vir
 

Here are the best deals we found for the weekend


if anyone else cares, all hotels are pet friendly

Days Inn - Yanceyville, NC
1858 NC Hwy 86 North, 27379 ph: 336 694-9494 rate on line ~$63 includes continental bkfast


Super 8 - S. Boston, VA
1040 Bill Tuck Hwy, 24592 ph: 434-572-8868 rate on line ~$54-60 inc continental bkfast


Quality Inn - S. Boston, VA
2001 Seymour Dr, 24592 ph: 434-572-4311 rate on line ~$60 (no breakfast)

Thanks Marlon, I think I might sleep in the car Sat night...there's something about waking up to the smell of race fuel in the morning. ;)

I'll be racing in the MX-5 Cup races.

Well you need to stop by the Mazda corral and introduce yourself so we can cheer you on.

I know that Team MER will be by with Jason Saini, Mark Miller and more, they are good friends. Also Stan Wilson and Randy Hale, as we have relationship with them as well.. If you've never seen a MX-5 cup race, you are in for some great racing..

2 more weeks!!!

I am looking forward to it ias well, can't wait to get back on that track again. Should be a lot of fun, especially if we get a large number of Mazda owners to come out and join us.

Sorry forgot to add, NC Rotaries will also be bringing along 2 different Miata groups that we will be either be meeting with in Raleigh for breakfast or picking up along the way on our way to VIR.

Depending on how many of the Miata actually make it, this should add another 15-20 vehicles to our caravan! :)

Marlon, I'll give you a call that Friday to confirm with you if I need to go to the registration area to pick up the pass or just meet with you inside somewhere. Thanks again.

You just need to go to registration and pick up your pass. If you need anything else, please let me know.

Cool man, thanks. Do you need me or the group to bring anything or is everything pretty much covered?

Are there many in your groups that are camping? It would be fun to have an area we could all park our tents ... and our cars.

I plan on camping out...gotta get me a new tent and sleeping bag though. ;) I'll ask around and see if anybody else plans on it.

Cool, I know we should have a least 4 people camping.

+1 camper.

I'm picking up my tent this weekend.