VDCA Wild Hare Run Virginia International Raceway, April 18-20

After two weeks back in Michigan it was time to hit the road again for phase II of the spring tour. After a frantic morning of trying to get work done I bolted for the Airport. Upon breezing through security and sitting down at the gate I realized 1) I had forgotten to change clothes before leaving for the airport and was still wearing my dress shoes instead of my sneakers and 2) I had left my main set of keys for the trailer on my desk at home. Fortunately I had left a spare set of trailer keys in the truck at the Raleigh airport and I would be in the car most of the day on Friday so I could get by with just driving shoes. Fortunately I did remember my helmet.



For those of you who may not know VIRginia International Raceway is a wonderful track located just south of Danville. It was built in 1957 and closed in 1974. It sat dormant for many years and was re-opened in 2000. It is being redeveloped into a major motorsports facility.



The flight was uneventful and I actually flew over the track on the way into Raleigh. I got to the track in mid afternoon to find that many entrants were already there. This was a major weekend with BMW club and the modern FF2000 series sharing track time with the vintage race groups. Fortunately not all in the same session.



Friday was a busy day with lots of practice and a gimmick race - aka the Wild Hare Run. I am not exactly sure how it worked but we were lined up are released based on practice times earlier that day. There is some sort of handicap system based on lap times, the phase of the moon and VDCA race director Mike Jackson's discretion. All I know is I passed quite a few cars, a few passed me and I didn't run into any body. A pretty good afternoon.



Ellen and Eric arrived shortly after the race was done and we had diner on site at the Oak Tree Tavern which is in the restored plantation house (the track is on the site of a former plantation). Eric seemed quite taken with the Lions guarding the door. We were graced at dinner with the company of John Gaither, fellow Vintage Formula Vee racer and teller of many great stories - most of which appear to be true!




After dinner we retired to the Lodge which sits outside turn 4 on the track. Ellen resisted the urge to mumble her usual "how do I get to the track" when I was departing Saturday morning.


Both Saturday and Sunday were highlighted with some spectacular FV racing. On Saturday John Gaither ran away and hid from the rest of us to the tune of about 9 seconds. Paul Buttrose and I caught the second place car, Paul Meis, on the last lap and came across start / finish as a group with Paul Buttrose ahead by 0.14 seconds.

On Sunday John had other obligations. The racing was even more exciting with five cars running together for the entire seven laps. I found myself in the very unusual position of leading! There were four official lead changes and at least 4-5 other changes at some point during the race. The top five cars were separated by 2.7 seconds at the end with the top three within 0.7 sec. Late race traffic did not go my way and I ended up third which was a very good result for never having been to the track before.



The drive home was long but largely uneventful. I then had to get ready for my third race in four weeks at the beginning of May.