Blog 1/24/2022

Membership

New Members

No new members this week.

Latest Blau Rain

Read the January 2022 edition of Blau Rain online! Limited print versions will be available soon.

Racing

Porsche 904

Be sure to turn on the sound.

Click Here

24 Hours of Daytona

The big race is next week. I counted just four Porsche entries. Interested in who is running this year? Click Here

Racing in the Snow

Gilles Villeneuve – Kawartha Cup, Peterborough, Ontario – 1975

Changes at VIR

For the many of you who have driven VIR or even watched races there, you are aware of the long back straight where cars can hit upwards of 150MPH (or my case, 130 on a good day). Anyways, the road goes up hill, then dips at the end down then back up as you turn slightly left. Braking for the timid is at the top, or perhaps as you crest. But hardcore racers wait, and wait until they have started back up after the dip. Occasionally, someone pushes the limit a bit too far and misses the left hander going over the top and down the grassy hill crossing the track between 14a and 15.

If you have forgotten the track or want a refresh, watch this video of a lap at VIR. Click Here

Anyways, VIR has made a change here at the end of the straightaway, designed to catch those cars that miss turn 14a or are too aggressive in their braking.

From Kerrigan Smith, President and COO at VIR

Please see the picture below as it illustrates where we have modified the guardrail and the primary and secondary barriers at Turn 14 Driver/Rider Right on the Full Course. This update will help to preclude vehicles that have left the track surface from being able to continue going forward to strike vehicles that have completed the turn, and or to launch off the exit of the turn into a downhill drop-off into the trees on drivers/riders left.

This is phase one in a two-phase project for this turn as changes are coming to the barriers and the catch fence on driver/rider left at a later date.

Activities

Planning Meeting

All Blue Ridge Region PCA members are invited and encouraged to attend our Annual Planning Meeting on Sunday, January 30, 2022 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, which is being held at Shaker’s Restaurant in Roanoke. Register to attend.

In addition to great food and socializing with other club members this event is where you can help us decide the types and number of events that we will conduct in 2022. All members’ ideas for Social Events (Cars N Coffee, dinners, picnics, group attendance at public events …), Driving Events (Tours, Overnight Adventures, Rallies …), and Driving Skills Events (Autocross, High Performance Drivers Education, Tire Rack Street Survival) are welcome and needed. Even if you don’t have any ideas we want to hear your interest in potential events.

We need to plan now so we are positioned to have events this year! It’s easier to cancel an event than to try to pull one together at the last minute. So come on out and help drive the direction and map our travels through 2022!

Seating is limited and pre-registration to attend is required! Register at http://msreg.com/brrplng2022

Hope to see you all there!

Cars and Coffee

Cars n’ Coffee #1- Feb. 26, 2022, 0930 Hrs.

Acorn Hill Lodge and Bistro

2134 Old Forest Rd

Lynchburg VA 24501

An RSVP will be required by Noon on Wed. Feb 23 as seating is limited.

RSVP will be to Gene: Social@BRR-PCA.org

Cars n’ Coffee #2 – Mar. 19 2022, 0930 Hrs.

Old Oak Cafe

410 Scruggs Rd.

Moneta VA 24121

RSVP by Noon on Wed. Mar. 16