VIRginia International Raceway is pleased to announce The Endurance Rally Association has added VIR as one their stops this year. The group will make their stop at VIR on May 9th and 10th. 

The event will be an opportunity for classics cars to travel across America. The event will start in Newark, NJ on May 7 with all the cars meeting there to start the month long journey.

The will roll into VIR on May 9 for the first of two days of activities. The first day will be spent on the South Course doing consistency testing. On May 10 they will run more laps and on the track before departing to their next location on the trip which will be Knoxville, TN.

This month long journey will take them from Newark, NJ to Anchorage, AK. They do have a few rest days scheduled throughout the event for drivers and cars.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these cars and this event. Basically anyone can take part and if you have a vintage car you are ready to go. There are only a few other requirements which are mostly safety items.

If you would like more information on this event and its travel through Virginia please visit http://www.endurorally.com/index.html

Recently chosen as one of Car & Driver’s Top 6 tracks in the nation, VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Virginia. VIR hosts a wide range of professional and amateur auto and motorcycle racing and track events and is well established as “America’s Motorsport Resort.” For further information, call 434-822-7700 or visit our web site at www.VIRnow.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/virnow.

ALTON,VA – March 30, 2012 –  VIR America’s Motorsport Resort ushered in Spring  for the  second year with our  Open House, featuring our Ronald McDonald House Charities® benefit. The first cars arrived at 7:30am waiting for the 8:30am gate opening as visitors anticipated the sights & sounds the free admission event had to offer.

With the spectacular weather of sunny skies and warm temperatures, we welcomed over four hundred cars and approximately 20 motorcycle riders -most being first-time visitors to VIR. This gave the public an opportunity to take their vehicles onto the historic VIR track while helping others at the same time.

The day’s agenda included food tastings and beverages, skeet shooting exhibitions, trolley rides to points of interest, free laps on the VIR Kart Track and raffle prizes. TMI Autotech gave a total of 98 in an Ariel Atom with proceeds going to the RMHC.

Activities continued throughout the weekend with the 14hours Chump Car race. There were55 entries which made for a exciting race with first place going  to Ronald’s Racers #51 in their BMW E30 driven by Troy Cooper, Chip Schenk, John Huebner, Perry Genova, Robert Kim, Robert Wall and our own VIR Club Member David Bacon who began his race career as a BMW Clutch racer for eight years. Dave decided to change gears leaving Clutch Racing to compete within the Ronald McDonald House Charities Chump Car Race. After two years and a mere total of three RMH Chump Car races, David’s team Placed 1st! Aside from this recent feat, Dave enjoys VIR’s club member race days. “I enjoy them most because of how kind the members are. It makes the day’s experience much more fun and relaxing.” The money raised went to Ronald McDonald Houses of RMHC of NC and SW Virginia Chapters! To top off everything, the Chump Car organization even let Ronald McDonald wave the green flag to kick off the race.

We want to thank everyone who came out to kick-off the 2012 season.

“We are excited to be bringing Ken on board as we continue to grow the VIR Club experience for our members, and to oversee the on-track racing activities of the Spec Race Atom series for our participants”, Smith explained. “Ken’s background in motorsports complements our long term goals of making the VIR Club the most exciting club with wheel to wheel spec racing while continuing it’s prestigious and member friendly Motorsports Club mission.”

“I am very excited to be joining VIR,” Grammer said. “VIR is an amazing facility and I am honored to be part of their fantastic team.”

In addition to his work with Synergy Racing, Grammer has driven in club and professional series, served as the Director of Operations for SCCA Pro Racing and managed championship winning race teams. In 2008 Grammer served as the first Managing Director of New Jersey Motorsports Park for VIR co-owner Harvey Siegel.

Grammer has also promoted and managed major motorsports events throughout North America and served as Race Director for several professional race series. Before moving into motorsports, he worked 20 years as a technical project and team manager in the computer industry.

Since moving out to the VIR Raceplex in March 2008, over 200 Ariel Atoms have been manufactured in Alton, Virginia, something many residents might not realize.

The Ariel Atom is a truly unique supercar that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, doesn’t have power steering or tracking control, and doesn’t come with a windshield unless ordered, making it quick and nimble.

Read more about TMI AutoTech Inc. and the Ariel Atom on GoDanRiver.com.

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You may have attended races at VIR in the past, but this is your opportunity to examine the many other aspects of VIR that make it truly unique. Admission for the Open House event is free. There will be food tastings and beverages, skeet shooting exhibitions, trolley rides to points of interest, free laps on the VIR Kart Track, the Ariel Atom Driving Experience, raffle prizes and much more.

You can relax at Oak Tree Spa and visit the beautifully restored 1840s Plantation House – featuring the Oak Tree Tavern restaurant and Connie’s Pub. Don’t miss this great opportunity to bring the entire family for a fun-filled day of exploration.

The Benefit Laps will be held on Friday, March 30th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last group taking the track at 3:30 PM that day. The cost is $25 per session, which will last from 20 to 25 minutes. Donations of $25 in cash or major credit cards will be accepted. All donations will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of North Carolina® and RMHC of Southwest Virginia®, and are eligible for tax deduction.

TMI AutoTech, Inc. will be donating 10% of any entry fee sold for half-day VIR Driving Experience sessions to RMHC. This donation is limited to sign-ups occurring on March 30th. Take a ride in the Ariel Atom and get a taste of the excitement a VIR Driving Experience event has to offer.

>> Buy Tickets Now

This series is for gear-heads; for people who love driving and driving fast. It’s not about gimmicks or theatrics. Rather, it’s for grassroots race teams and for Chumps like you who have always wanted to go road racing without all the hassle. It’s about the average Joe and almost-race-ready cars.

ChumpCar aims to bring road racing back to where it was fifty years ago – when racing was fun, cheap and nobody cared whether you had Snap-On tools or a mix-match of hand-me-downs in your toolbox. Those were good times, and they’re back.

Join us Saturday, March 31 from 8am – 10pm. Tickets are available now!

Why wait until the season has already started to get your license? Sign up now and you’ll not only save money, but you’ll get licensed early and have a full  year of racing ahead of you in 2012.

March 26-30: 5 Day Road Racing School* for $5,195.00
March 26-28: 3 Day Road Racing School** for $3,395.00
March 29-30: 2 Day Advanced School for $2,295.00

*Completion of the 5 day school makes you eligible for an SCCA Regional License and for the Beril Roos Race Series.
**Completion of the 3 day road racing school makes you eligible for a vintage race license.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Call the Roos Office at 1-800-722-3669 to order.

The Benefit Laps will be held on Friday, March 30th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last group taking the track at 3:30 PM that day. The cost is $25 per session, which will last from 20 to 25 minutes. Donations of $25 either in cash or by major credit card will be accepted.

TMI AutoTech, Inc. will once again be offering rides in the Ariel Atom – the world’s quickest and most unique supercar – for $10 per session. All donations will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of North Carolina® and RMHC of Roanoke®, and are eligible for tax deduction.

Ronald McDonald House® has allowed families to focus on the health and well being of their critically ill children by keeping families together who are in need of a community of hope, comfort and empathy. Their programs provide families with the comforts of home – private bedrooms, inviting community spaces, daily home-cooked meals and stocked kitchen, a play room, computer room and laundry facilities – as well as a network of support through interactions with other families, staff and volunteers.

Families with critically ill children face immense emotional, physical and financial challenges; knowing that Ronald McDonald House Charities® will be there to support them in a safe and caring environment helps to alleviate some of these struggles.

“The Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina and the Roanoke Ronald McDonald House are very excited and proud about our relationship with VIR. This event is a great way for people at the track on March 30th to help seriously ill children and their families stay at 6 of our region’s Ronald McDonald Houses. It’s a special event where they can help others in need, while they enjoy the experience of driving on this world-class track.” – Fred Huebner, President of the Board of Directors, Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina.

We invite you to come and join in the fun for a great cause.

A thrilling new addition to this year’s spectator schedule will be the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Scheduled for September, this event will bring racing speeds never before seen at our historic track – and the first race ever on the 4.1 miles Grand Course.

The 2012 spectator schedule includes dates for CCS Motorcycle Roadracing, Chump Car World Series, NARRA featuring USGTC and F1000 Series, NASA OctoberFast with VIR’s 2nd Annual BrewFest, and our season finale is the SCCA Charge of the Headlight Brigade. The annual Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races will take place in October, while the Stock Car Open Test dates remain tentative at this time.

2012 Season Spectator Schedule

Mar. 31 – Chump Car World Series
“St. Guinness – Patron Saint of Perpetual Indulgence Challenge Pint” – 14-Hour Enduro
Return to the era when racing was fun and cheap…when Bondo beat carbon-fiber; when a crescent wrench was the most valuable tool in your box; when home-made engineering made everyone sit up and take notice; and when adding a little theme to your car didn’t get you laughed off of pit lane.
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May 29-30 – Stock Car Open Test Days (tentative)
See the biggest names in stock car racing on the track at VIR as they test in preparation for NASCAR’s road race circuits. Please note that these dates are tentative. Sign up for VIR’s FanBlast newsletter or Friend us on Facebook for the latest information on who will be here. (No paddock access)
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June 16-17 – CCS 12th Annual Virginia Festival
of Speed Motorcycle Roadracing
The annual battle for the CCS Mid-Atlantic Championship rolls in for their 10th Paul Farrell Memorial. The pressure will be on as caution is thrown to the wind and riders get set to battle it out. Additional races and activities are in the works, making this a unique event to experience as a rider and a fan! Visit www.ccsracing.us to get the lowdown on all the riders, teams and the points standings.
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July 6-8 – North American Road Racing Association featuring the USGTC and F1000 Series
Race the nation with the North American Road Racing Association, America’s new home for high-end, high-performance cars. The event features NARRA’s US GT Championship, Whelen US TimeTrial Championship, Viper SRT Cup, US Performance Driver Education program and the Formula 1000 Championship Series. Visit www.NARRAonline.com and www.f1000champ.com for more information.
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Aug. 11-12 – Chump Car World Series – “VIR 24-Hour Classic”
It will be a hot summer night at VIR when Chump Car returns with your favorite wacky “junkers n’ clunkers” 24-hr endurance race. This series is for gear-heads, for people who love driving and driving fast. It’s not about gimmicks or theatrics. Rather, it’s for grassroots race teams and for Chumps like you that have always wanted to go road racing without all the hassle. It’s about “Joe Average” and almost-race-ready cars. Visit www.chumpcar.com for series and entry information.
>>BUY TICKETS (2 DAY PACKAGE)
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Sept. 12-15 – American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón
VIRginia International Raceway and our partners in the surrounding communities are thrilled to see the historic assault that will be delivered by the American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón – including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup to race here for the first time ever on the 4.1 mile Grand Course. VIR is proud to present our fans and sponsors with the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and the global leaders in Green Racing – racing at speeds never before seen at our historic track. This is truly an event not to be missed. Visit www.americanlemans.com for more information about the series and this event at VIR.
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Sept. 22-23 – CCS Fall CycleFest of Speed Motorcycle Roadracing
VIRginia International Raceway’s Championship Cup Series Fall CycleFest brings some of motorcycle road racing’s best teams & riders onto the track. Look for extremely close, side-by-side, knee dragging action as the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders for the coveted season crown! Visit www.CCSracing.us for all the news leading up to this event!
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Oct. 5-7 – Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races & Car Show
Join us in celebrating VIR 1957, the year the track first opened. Old friendships & cherished memories will return with every turn of the tire as VIR continues the tradition of its annual Gold Cup Historic Races & Car Show – with live music & special entertainment.
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Oct. 13 – NASA OctoberFast / VIR BrewFest
NASA comes to VIR with many different motorsports programs on a number of different levels, including High Performance Driving Events (HPDE), Rally Sport, Time Trial, NASA-X and Competition Racing programs. Visit www.nasaracing.net for more information. In addition to the excitement on track, VIR celebrates the Second Annual BrewFest with many great beers, food vendors, music, car show and karting.
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Oct. 27 – SCCA Charge of the Headlight Brigade (13-hour Enduro)
Hosted by the NC Region SCCA, this will be one the stops that makes up the coveted Triple Crown of amateur endurance racing. With great food, lodging and good times in store, settle in for a day to remember. Full event information can be found at www.NCRscca.com.
>>BUY TICKETS 

Tickets for all events will be available at VIRnow.com beginning February 1, 2012.
>>SEE ALL TICKETS

The list of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón venues continues to grow with the addition of historic Virginia International Raceway for the 2012 season. North America’s leading sports car championship will contest its first race at VIR on Saturday, Sept. 15 in a four-hour enduro.

The first ALMS race at VIR – located in Danville, Va. – also will mark the first competition on the track’s impressive 4.1-mile, 21-turn Grand Course. It’s a safe bet that track speed records will fall at the hands of the world’s most exotic prototype sports cars and premier production-based GT cars. The race will be broadcast on ESPN2.

“For years we have received numerous inquiries from fans and competitors on when we would race at VIR, I’m proud to say that time is now,” said Scott Atherton, ALMS President and CEO. “Virginia International Raceway is an excellent addition to what no doubt will be a fantastic 2012 season for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Given VIR’s history and acclaim as a world-class road racing facility, this is a natural fit. We look forward to working closely with the VIR team to introduce their fans and lots of new ones to the fastest, toughest and most entertaining competition VIR has witnessed.”

Competitors over the years have heaped praise on the circuit. Paul Newman once opined that “if there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.” Car and Driver named it one of the six best road courses in the U.S. and called a lap around the Grand Course the closest thing in America to a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

“The list of drivers and manufacturers who have achieved success at VIR is a storied one,” Atherton said. “We are thrilled at the prospect of ushering in a new era of competition at VIR as the first series to run its Grand Course. The sights and sounds of our prototype and GT cars racing at high speeds around such a demanding and picturesque layout will create a spectacle no one should miss.”

The American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón – including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup to race here September 13th-15th – will add a spectacular new chapter to the storied history of VIR.

“Virginia International Raceway and our partners in the surrounding communities are thrilled to witness the incomparable show that will be delivered by the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and IMSA’s top-flight development championships,” said Connie Nyholm, managing partner of VIR.” To be able to give our fans and sponsors the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and the Global Leader in Green Racing, competing at speeds never seen at our historic track is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Tickets for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón race at VIR on September 15 will be available at VIRnow.com beginning February 1, 2012. More information on The American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón is available at americanlemans.com.