MazdaDrivers.com Track Day at VIR
 

I'm surprised no one has posted this yet, but Mazda Drivers Associates is having a 2-day track event down at VIR on March 27 & 28th.

here's the link to their site:

http://www.mazdadrivers.com/

thoughts? ideas? interests?

btw I've already sent in my money for the event :D

Wow! $320-360 dollars to go there! Sounds interesting but I would rather put that money towards a mod or acc.

Believe me, the chance to drive fast on that track is more than worth the money. I can't go this time, but if we do the Official RX-8 gathering again in September I'll be signing up early. Just the parade lap was amazing.

Still that is a bit eccessive. When I was in Germany I took my BMW to the Nurnburgring. One lap for 20 DM (about $10 dollars and this track is probably the most famous in the world. But yet they only charge you $10 bucks. All you need is a TUV legal helmet!

Sound like a parade lap scenairo. This event is not for parade laps. (No offense against parade laps! I was leading the ones Elara spoke about.) You have classroom instruction and an instructor in the car with you. Sessions on track are divided by experience level. Each session lasts about 20 laps and you have muiltiple sessions per day.

This event is not for everyone. You will be risking your car in a high speed driving experience that your insurance is not likely to cover. But you will be learning to do it as safely as possible under the conditions. The aim of the event is to teach you and/or let you gain more experience driving as fast as you and your car are able to go on a race track with safety the main goal. It is not a race and passing is restricted to specific locations on the track. Some of the lessons, (not the fast ones ;)) also will make you a better, safer driver on the highway.

It may sound expensive, but this is an expensive event for any club to sponsor. Track rental and insurance are the two major expenses followed by compensation for 30 or so instructors. But I believe the Mazda events cost less than those put on by other car clubs (BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, etc). For both MSCW and MazdaDrivers, the fees charged for events they sponsor are to cover the costs with a slight margin for error. There used to be no penalties for cancellations or no shows. But after several events costing more than they got because of refunds, that had to change.

I hope this brief explaination of the behind the scenes realities helps. I have not been in touch with the organizers yet and do not know how packed their schedule is. But I may try to get a parade lap session organized for anyone that wants to come see what it's all about for an hour or two. Let me know if you are interested.

Nurnburg Self Drive
 

Nope, No parade laps there! It's balls to the wall, run what you brung! Cars and bikes! All the major German tuning firms also do this as a cheap alternative to track testing their mods and a way for you to verify the same! Your car is inspected and show them a helmet and you are directed to the starting line. You can go as fast (or slow) as you want, just don't get in the way of the faster traffic.

Check out the Nurnburgring self drive

Click on the self drive link at the top. Oh and note prices are in Euro with the comma representing a period. 56,00 is 56.00 euro!

Well considering you have an instructor with you and you're in a training environment then the price is worth it. Can someone attend the show without taking the driving course to just look around?

Nurburgring is a special situation. There is no duplicate for it in the states (remember the Porsche commercial with the ice cream truck, etc driving it). This is a very good price for track time with instruction.

yes it is a bargain compared to other track day/driving schools

Re: Nurnburg Self Drive
 

Yes. You will, of course, have to sign the liability waiver at the gate like everyone else. The paddock area is open for you to walk around and check out the students' and instructors' cars. Students are not allowed to take passengers on track except for their instructor during the training sessions. And the classroom instruction is limited to students.

If parade laps are allowed, normally during lunch break for the corner workers, then you can ride with someone or drive your own car for a half dozen laps. One thing they have done recently on parade laps is collect $5 donation for a charity. Don't know if that will be the case again, or if parade laps have definitely been put on the schedule. As I have mentioned in the past, parade laps do not require helmets because there is no passing allowed and speeds are controlled by a pace car. It is not a chance to see how fast you can go. But you will get a feel for the track.

Drive Virginia International Raceway at speed.… MazdaDrivers.com
 

Treat yourself and your Mazda to an exciting experience. Drive Virginia International Raceway’s historic and legendary 2.3-mile long North road racing circuit at speed. Participate in our Mazda Performance Driving Seminar, a two-day high-speed driver’s education event that will take place on the picturesque and challenging southern Virginia racetrack. Register for the event by February 15 for the best price.

-- Two-day Instructed High-Speed Driver's Education
-- Saturday and Sunday, March 27 & 28, 2004
-- Virginia International Raceway’s 2.3-Mile North road course
-- Classroom and On-Track Instruction
-- Organized by Mazda enthusiasts for Mazda enthusiasts

Visit www.MazdaDrivers.com for event details, hotel information and technical and registration forms.

Coolies! heh heh

BUT...can someone go just to watch the fun? My car needs to stay in one piece so I can get to work the next day.

There is another thread on this same subject with a sticky on it (but there is more info here on the event).

Can I take my mud-bog RX-8 to this one? Heh heh

Seriously, I think it would be interesting just to attend even without the driving part.

So if you see a green RX-8 show up with HUGE truck tires on it...that'll be me!

>>Coolies! heh heh

>>BUT...can someone go just to watch the fun? My car needs to stay in one piece so I can get to work the next day.

Absolutely, anyone may attend and partake in the paddock activities at no cost: camaraderie with dozens of Mazda owners; tech talk, modifications galore, food, pro shop, all at no costs, except for what you eat. In order to enter the facility you must sign an insurance waiver and best of all, you may DRIVE ON THE RACE COURSE proper in Parade laps at lunch. Parade laps are at normal highway speeds following a pace car. Only Students and Instructors will be able to drive at race speed.

While driving on a racecourse is stressful to your vehicle, the vast, vast majority of participants drive home that night and the next day. Besides what better place to learn how to handle your vehicle is situations that come up fast than in a safe environment with plenty of run off and both in class and in car instruction. Most students experience solo driving after successfully demonstrating basic skills and appropriate on-course behavior. Typically, ¼ to 1/3 of the participants are new, similar abilities are grouped together.

bump for an excellent event for all Mazdaheads!!!

Two group pictures from recent events are posted at www.MazdaDrivers.com

I think I shall attend to watch the happenings.

Don't need to beat my car this early in its' life.

Glad to hear you can join us. I guarantee you will enjoy the Parade Laps during lunch and the Mazda camaraderie.
Aside from the track, there is parking lot socializing and group dinners out on the town. The evening headquarters for most of the MDA participants will be the Comfort Inn and Suites (formerly Howard Johnson), in Danville, Virginia, 434-793-2000. Special group rate 1-4 people, $73/night, a block of rooms reserved for Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27. One needs to mention "Mazda Drivers" to receive our group rate. Just look for all the Mazda’s.

Aside from the track, there is parking lot socializing and group dinners out on the town. The evening headquarters for most of the MDA participants will be the Comfort Inn and Suites (formerly Howard Johnson), in Danville, Virginia, 434-793-2000. Special group rate 1-4 people, $73/night, a block of rooms reserved for Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27. One needs to mention "Mazda Drivers" to receive group rate. Just look for all the Mazda’s.

Hotel Share
 

I, too, just sent in my check for this event and am looking forward to seeing what its all about.
Anyone out there interested in sharing a hotel room? Non-smokers invited. Splitting that $80/night could help keep the total cost of the weekend down!

Not that I'll be able to sleep between laps...:o

I am driving down after work on Friday. Plan to leave around 4pm from Dulles area. Anyone else heading down around that time and want to meet up for the drive?

I will be taking I-66 west to Route 29 south into Danville. A good meeting point would be the Virginia rest area on I-66 just before Manassas.

If you are going and have not made hotel reservations, I hear the Comfort Inn is full. The Holiday Inn Express still had rooms yesterday. It is a few blocks east of the Comfort Inn near the Mazda dealer.

for those that are taking Friday off for this occasion (such as yours truly :D ), I will be meeting up with someone else at Manassas Chipotle at 11am for lunch, and then we will caravan down to Danville, everyone is welcome to join us for some Silver Torpedo action before hitting Rt 29 (I didn't even know 29 runs THAT long until yesterday lol)

otherwise, see you all down there tomorrow evening!

I was there! It was cool...not enough RX-8s there however.

I was one of 5.

LOTS of Miatas there....BMWs, Porches, etc. Couple of Corvettes...good time, nice weather.

Zoom Zoom!

P.S. I got 23 MPG driving out there going 70-75 all the way (420 miles round trip). Not bad...best milage so far! :)

This was an absolute blast! I had a great time, and all those involved were extremely helpful. Many thanks to the organizers, track workers, and general good spirits for coming together for a fast, safe, informative, groovy event. I'm sure some great photos will wind up here soon...(mine are in process from analog to digital).
Cheers,
006

BTW: the combination of new wheels/tires and a stellar alignment done by PBC in Chantilly made my baby drive like a dream all over the course!