(Thanks to VMSC and blue06civic particularly for allowing this to be posted.)

driveWISE, a Virginia-based driver education company since 2006, is proud to announce a series of eight Accident Avoidance Schools at Richmond International Raceway this summer. These schools will be held on the weekends of June 25-26 and September 24-25, 2011 in a parking lot at the Richmond Raceway Complex on Laburnum Avenue and are open to all licensed drivers in nearly any street legal vehicle. This series is made possible by McGeorge Toyota and Evolution Performance Driving School.

Unlike state-mandated driver improvement clinics which only involve classroom lectures, driveWISE Accident Avoidance Schools focus on time behind the wheel. Students will participate in low-speed blacktop exercises, such as a panic stop or emergency lane change, all with professional high performance driving instructors riding along, and each with group discussions in between.

“We teach specifically for the moment that everyone dreads, like when a deer runs across the road and stops in front of you.” said driveWISE Chief Instructor Mike Junior Johnson. “We safely recreate those situations with traffic cones in a parking lot because the driving principles and physics are exactly the same. We want our students to know how to react when the time comes, because we believe that all accidents are avoidable if proper car control is taught and practiced.”

Although driveWISE Accident Avoidance Schools are geared toward teenagers and other new drivers, everyone is welcome regardless of age or experience level. Parents are encouraged to participate as well. Entry fees start at $75 per student per half-day phase, spaces are very limited, and pre-registration is required.

“These schools are great for the community, and we at McGeorge Toyota are proud to be involved. It’s a lot of fun, and it makes our roads safer one driver at a time, which is a win-win situation for everyone.” said Rod McGeorge.

Discounted advance registration for the June 25-26, 2011 schools will open at 12:01am Friday March 25. Pricing will be structured so the earlier you register, the greater the discount will be. There will be four identical half-day schools to choose from, so (for instance) those who live in town can do a morning school and still have the afternoon for other activities, or those coming from out of town can do an afternoon school and make a day trip of it.

For more information or to pre-register, please visit http://www.drivewiseusa.com or call (804) 545-3949.

Actually, second place was World Challenge GT front runner Kuno Wittmer in a factory-provided Viper ACR-X.  Third was Mike Levitas in the orange 911, 4th was Sharif Abdelbaset in the white GT-R, fifth was Dennis Olthoff in the Superformance GT40.  Results: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1604728

Great pics!

Great race this year, despite the weather... some pics:

http://www.getfastphoto.com/public/2010rolex24/

Hi everyone, and happy new year! 

Just announced this morning, a non-VMSC group will be hosting a last minute autocross at VMP on Sun Jan 24.  This event will be for a maximum of 50 cars and will be a great opportunity for lots of runs (at least 6-8 but probably more) on a big fast pro-designed course.  And you are all invited!

There is usually a $10 surcharge for nonmembers BUT that surcharge will be refunded to you at registration on January 24 if you show proof of current VMSC membership.  So you can compete for the exact same price as the members of the hosting organization.

Please click on the following link for links to pre-registration, rules, classing details, in-car videos from prior VMP autocrosses with this organization (to get an idea about the usual course designs), and more:

http://www.get-fast.net/nasacross

Thanks & see ya there!

Jon

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/09rolex24/

Enjoy,

Jon

Hey Adrian, Rick isn't the cage builder at Adrenaline.  Dan Driskill is the cage builder.  That's the man you need to speak with (and the guy Cobetto and I spent an hour with the other day talking about NASA/SCCA cage requirements specifically.)  For one thing, Dan has no problem with doing NASCAR door bars as far as I know.

As for Autopower... http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=AP420

Shipping will be steep on an Autopower, truck freight from Cali.  The nearest dealer around here is OG Racing in noVA.

On a related note... I stopped by Adrenaline this afternoon with Chris Cobetto (2-time Spec E30 national roadracing champ and NASA-MA regional director.)  We went in the back and checked out two cars they have caged, both drag Hondas.  Then we had a goooooood long talk about NASA/SCCA/etc rollcage design and rules.

Long story short I think your Lemons car will be in good hands.

Jon

Hey if you guys just want put some track time on this car to make sure it's screwed together correctly and get some butts in the seat before Lemons - gimme a call or email, we can figure something out.  First thing that comes to mind is the entire lunch hour at any number of VIR/Summit events between now and then.

As for Adrenaline - I have not seen any of their cage work in person for sports car stuff specifically, but I did take a good look at a well modified turbo drag Honda they did, and as far as I could tell, the fab work and welding looked fine.  They are certainly on my list to consider for caging my next E36.  That Rick guy seems to know what he's talking about, and will certainly use any pics/info you provide toward your end goal.

Hope it helps,

Jon

Adrenaline Autoworks on Hull St. is doing cages for $100 a point.

http://www.adrenalineautoworks.com/pages.php?pid=2

No affiliation, and I haven't yet seen any of their cage work, but it's certainly worth looking into.

Hope it helps,

Jon
ps- I may know where a 5-speed '86ish 325e can be had for like $400.  It's ugly, the interior is trashed, and it needs a windshield, but it runs and drives just fine.  PERFECT for Lemons. 

Click here:

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/evo08vmp/

Good times,

Jon

Update: MX's & F1's are spoken for. Six RA1's are still available.

Thanks,

Jon

I need to free up some space (and some wheels.)  So, I have for sale in Richmond's upper fan/museum district:

(4) 235/40-17 Toyo Proxes RA1, fulltread, new last year, seen a few thousand street miles, a couple track days and a few autocrosses, plenty of life left. $75ea.

(4) 245/40-17 Kumho Ecsta MX, new last year, seen a few thousand street miles and a few autocrosses, lots of life left. $50ea.

bonus (2) 235/40-17 Toyo Proxes RA1, shaved, some life left. $25ea, or free if you buy the fulltread RA1's listed above.

bonus (2) 235/45-17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, one is worn on the inside, otherwise all good tread. $25ea, or free if you buy the Kumho MX's listed above.

So... $300 for all six r-comps or $200 for all six street tires.  Pics are available upon request.

Thanks,

Jon

The 7th annual NASA Hyperfest is Saturday June 21 at Summit Point Motorsports Park!  Come enjoy activities such as:

Hankook US Drift Nationals
NASA Road Racing
Hyper Show Off
Hankook Shot Gun Rides
Hankook Hyper Drives
Off Road Rally Rides
Rice-Rice Challenge
Daredevil Throwdown
Rollover Contest
Girls of HyperFest
Live Music
Fireworks
Camping
Fun for the Kids

You will also see the first Nissan GT-R in north america.

For much more info - and videos from last year - check out http://www.hyper-fest.com

Also I have a pair of guest passes ($40 value) for the VMSC member who correctly answers the following trivia question:

Which driver won the last IMSA GT race ever held at Summit Point?

I will accept guesses via email or private message until 6pm Monday June 9.  If more than one of you answer correctly, the winner will be picked at random.

Thanks,

Jon

9/94 production, Avus Blue over Dove Grey leather, 2 owners, 76k miles, extremely well maintained.

Pics & details are at http://www.get-fast.net/95m3/

I have seen & driven it several times and can vouch for its condition.

Please contact Dan at the phone/email listed in that link for more info.

Thanks,

Jon

As far as I know, you weren't shortchanged and didn't lose anything.  According to the owners of Evo, the program is the same whether it's done in 6 hours or the usual 7-8 hours.  The only difference is how much down time there is between sessions.  It makes for a very busy day as you know, but you aren't getting fewer runs or less valuable info from the instructors... you're just getting fewer breaks in between.

Having said that - VMP is the only available site big enough to do what we want to do.  We could possibly get a noise waiver to run earlier, but the two things keeping us from doing that are 1) people with loud exhaust systems, and 2) people on screechy street tires.  It would be difficult to exclude possible students based on those two criteria just so the day could be more relaxed, particularly since this school will likely lose money as is.  People come to learn quickly and should prepare to be exhausted afterward regardless.  But we wouldn't put 'em on if they couldn't be done just as well as any other Evo school at any other site...

Thanks,

Jon
ps- if you don't believe me, I'm happy to put you in touch with Evo's owners (who will tell you the same thing)

Evolution schools (phases 1 & 2) have been confirmed for Sun Sep 7 @ VMP.  These are by far the best autocross schools in the country.  Junior might even show up and instruct!  Details & pre-reg will be here shortly:

https://www.nasaproracing.com/nasa_event/show/?event_id=759

NASA is doing an Evo school at VMP... Sep 7 or Sep 28, not sure yet.  Details soon.

Jon

From what I understand, the 500hp Atom will not be built at VIR - that's a separate deal in England... the VIR facility will only feature assembly of the Atom 3, by a company called TMI AutoTech (which took over production from Brammo in Oregon.)

I have ridden in a 300hp supercharged Ecotec powered Atom at VIR and it was fast as stink.  Almost "sportbike fast" in a straight line, but much more comfortable.  We hopped out of that and into a C6 Z06, which felt slow by comparison!  I can't even imagine an Atom with 500hp - it would definitely need wider/stickier tires. 

Here are some pics of Chris Kimmelshue & Randy Pobst playing with that 300hp Atom last week at VIR:

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/td308vir/index4.html

Wish I could afford one,

Jon

NASA skidpad, kart enduro, circuitcross:

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/feb08vir

TrackDaze HPDE & pro testing days:

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/td308vir

Good times,

Jon

Galleries are in progress this week (still need to be completed and thumbnailed) but feel free to take a look so far...

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/08rolex24

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/08almstd

Enjoy,

Jon

I sometimes have access to one of those nice blue Eastwood/Tire Rack ones locally, email me...

Jon
Edit: whoops, this thread is 6 months old (still applies though)

[Edited on 4-2-2008 by getfast]

Great shots!

Here are some of mine:

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/08rolex24

Jon

So sad to lose all those pretty M3's and 135's...

http://culturegarage.com/2008/01/11/are-you-waiting-for-you-brand-new-bmw-bmw-na-loses-370-cars/

http://www.rbraves.com/news/index.html?article_id=746

http://www.gwinnettbraves.com/

+1 to what Jayson typed.  The Diamond wasn't a particularly good autocross lot IMHO.  For one thing it was expensive.  For another thing it had lots of light poles & fences to deal with, and it wasn't very big.  But most importantly there was also no way to keep it totally secure from pedestrians and joggers (and homeless people for that matter.)  We posted plenty of signage and zip-tied several hundred feet of orange snow fence across every entrance but people still trespassed.  This could've been a huge liability from an insurance standpoint, not to mention the obvious safety concerns.

It would be fine for a school if it could be secured.  And it's certainly not smaller than what's currently in use at RIR/RRC or ACCA Temple for regular autocrosses... so maybe it would work great for VMSC, I dunno.

If anyone's interested, feel free to pm or email me for the Diamond lot rental guy's contact info.

Hope it helps,

Jon

The Diamond may be cheaper and/or more available now that the Braves are leaving for '09. :blah:

Jon