Alfa Romeo Owners @ VIR South This Weekend!

Mark Vitacco · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:21 pm

According to Bert Neiley MAARC has only 40 students signed up
for VIR-S this weekend. Perhaps the "small bore" theam (3.5L limit)
was not a good idea? Sound off and let us know.

They have openings in all run groups and are in need of entries.
User friendly run groups like the "good old days".

Register on motorsportreg.com:

http://www.motorsportreg.com/pap/eventl ... 11B7A61376

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Well with only 40 students it sounds like they answered their own question. Unless people hate South Course for some reason. Never done it but it looks like a fairly simple layout compared to North Course.

I imagine those 40 students are going to have a blast if they're split into 3 groups. 10-15 cars at a time on any course would be fun.

So are they thinking about dropping the imposed limit for this event at this time just to recoup money? I'm interested but it's pretty short notice.

Graham

Rich Anderson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:16 pm

I have always looked at a drivers school that bases attendence on vehicle to be somewhat an odd concept.

Brad Mackey · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:28 pm

I think MAARC made a good decision. Limiting cars to 3.5L still includes most of the usual suspects who normally attend HPDE's: M3's, most Porsches, Z-cars, etc. And, of course Miatas!!!

The South Course is viewed by many drivers as a small-bore friendly track. The Alfa Club contingent are running low-displacement, lower-HP cars, and were hoping (I think) to make the weekend more enjoyable for their members by reducing potential closing speeds and possibly creating more opportunities to reward good driving.

MAARC has enthusiastically supported our track program with their participation and $$. They've ponied up the jack for VIR, so I guess it will be their decision as to whether this event is successful, and they do this format again.

Should be a blast! At 1.6L and 108HP, I'll still be on the lower end of the power-challenged group, but maybe not checking the mirrors quite as often for 30+ MPH closing speeds on the straights

John Daley · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:56 pm

I signed up a few weeks ago and sent an email to Bert to make sure my car was acceptable. Sure at 1.3L i'll probably have the smallest displacement there...which is technically following the letter of the law, but i wanted to make sure i was still welcome with my twin turbo rotary. Bert said it was fine and i promise to be a nice boy and keep it friendly and manageable on the straights. Going crazy fast on a straightaway doesn't do much for making me a better driver anyways... :wink:

I'm still fairly new to the THSCC so please feel free to come by and say hi. I'll be in green group with my '93 RX7 (you can recognize it by the black wheels). Please come over and introduce yourself as i probably won't know anyone at this particular event. :oops:

See ya there and good luck!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:01 pm

John Daley wrote:

I'm still fairly new to the THSCC so please feel free to come by and say hi. I'll be in green group with my '93 RX7 (you can recognize it by the black wheels). Please come over and introduce yourself as i probably won't know anyone at this particular event.

I'll be there as well John so stop by my pit and say hi if you get a chance. I'll have the only Cavalier there I'm sure. It's white with a BIG #11 on the side.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:03 pm

Brad Mackey wrote:

Should be a blast! At 1.6L and 108HP, I'll still be on the lower end of the power-challenged group, but maybe not checking the mirrors quite as often for 30+ MPH closing speeds on the straights

There won't be as many spots for you to get away from me on South Course Brad, so watch out...I'm coming to get you. :twisted:

John Daley · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:03 pm

Will do. Cavalier...got it. See ya then!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:07 pm

Mark Vitacco wrote:

According to Bert Neiley MAARC has only 40 students signed up
for VIR-S this weekend. Perhaps the "small bore" theam (3.5L limit)
was not a good idea? Sound off and let us know.

I thought the 3.5L limit was a good idea at first, but I've been looking at the entry list and now I'm not so sure.

I agree with Brad that I think the old Alfa guys wanted to keep everything more even power-wise, but hey, welcome to this century guys. :wink:

BTW, the $260 price for THSCC members is a great deal so anyone who qualifies (displacement wise) should definitely come out.

Rich Anderson · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:13 pm

I also think that the problem is that displacement is not always the biggest factor in speed, so it becomes unclear what the limit is trying to accomplish. A 3800 V6 Camaro would not be able to go, but a turbo 3.3 911 would. It is pretty obvious which is going to have a greater speed differential relative to smal bore cars like most Alfas.

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

Last time I looked, a bunch of the old Alfa guys had gone to Vettes ... the "formula" puzzled me too.
After two spending the last two days pointing by one of the fastest run groups I've seen, its just part of the game.
I will say that I've always enjoyed the Alfa events but I'm skipping this one... just can't do two events in one week.

Frank

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:21 pm

Rich Anderson wrote:

I also think that the problem is that displacement is not always the biggest factor in speed, so it becomes unclear what the limit is trying to accomplish. A 3800 V6 Camaro would not be able to go, but a turbo 3.3 911 would. It is pretty obvious which is going to have a greater speed differential relative to smal bore cars like most Alfas.

Yeah, that doesn't make any sense not to account for forced induction. Heck, with my wife's (now sold) 2005 V70R Volvo wagon on Corsas, I was able to horse it around South in 1:25 (2.5 liter but 15psi boost = 300hp), so I would imagine the Alfa guys would have trouble with that car and its closing speeds too? I write this while thinking about the white Mitsubishi that I pointed by on the long right turn coming out of the Patriot Course section leading up to south bend with me flat out in 3rd gear, and he probably had even less "displacement".

Brad Mackey · **Posted:** Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:45 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

There won't be as many spots for you to get away from me on South Course Brad, so watch out...I'm coming to get you. :twisted:

Bring it on, baby, bring it on!!!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:04 am

The forecast for our track weekend is looking good for a change!

NOAA Link

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:37 am

I'm jealous guys. I wish I could make it, but I have commitments this weekend.

I will be out there again soon though.

And I have My R's now Brad!!

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