VIR SpeedTour Is A Rolling Car Show

October 8, 2024January 20, 2026 Missed Gear

A little subdued…

That might be a start. The activities of the SVRA VIR SpeedTour were a just a little restrained. The track action was full. The variety was there with exotics, vintage, muscle and open wheel turning laps under pleasant weather. The speed was certainly there (A new track lap record was set). The fans were there and so were their cars as the parking filled in around the Hagerty Car Show.

Still… The event carried a bit of a somber mood as people gathered to celebrate speed knowing that many more were gathering together because they had to. Hurricane Helene destroyed a large area from Florida to Virginia. Pittsylvania County, VA saw storm damage and tornadoes come through with Helene. Western North Carolina to Virginia and Tennessee saw huge losses in difficult areas.

Virginia International Raceway is just within these areas. The evidence of heavy rain and wind were there but nothing like the extremes of devastation showing from nearby areas. As the weather settled in the week, an announcement came from officials that the event was still on and open. It was a move forward to maintain the investments, the sponsor support and the influx of capital back to the surrounding community.

The weekend went forward. SVRA Classes on track represented quite a bit of automotive history. The Pirelli Trans-Am series also brought the American muscle to the track to mix it up with the European badges. The schedules for Saturday and Sunday offered track action for racing. Saturday also presented a “Cars and Coffee” style car show and Friday set the stage with practices and some of the qualifying.

Friday also brought some unexpected highlights. For one, the VIR track lap record was broken as Nolan Allaer drove the Martini / Panoz DP01 #70 around the full course with a time of 1:35.344. (The former record from 2012 set by American Le Mans driver Lucas Luhr was 1:36.112 in a Honda HPD LMP1 Prototype).

Nolan Allaer setting a new VIR track lap record (1:35.344)

For another, Vice President Kamala Harris flew over the track in the “Marine 2” helicopter on the way back to Washington DC after reviewing storm damage in North Carolina and other areas. Of course, FEMA has been working to coordinate and get action moving as quickly as they can. The Red Cross, Salvation Army and many others are involved as well.

Marine helicopter designated “Marine 2” with the Vice President flying over VIR

Saturday racing activities began with a fan grid walk with the cars and drivers and a presentation of the National Anthem by country singer Kristy Wilkins. Her newest album “Devoted” was set for release the week following SpeedTour.

Country singer Kristy Wilkins performing the National Anthem

Virginia International Raceway is known for the views and beauty as variety series such SVRA, IMSA and SRO roll in. Club events with SCCA and NASA are also big with several driver and car club events filling out the private schedule. It’s always a pleasure to visit. For full event results from the SpeedTour weekend, check the SVRA website and the Grand-Am website.

Photos from the SVRA SpeedTour – Virginia International Raceway – October 4-6, 2024

Roanoke Drifting In Jappalachia

It is a fine thing when conditions lead to continuity. This particular continuity is also an automotive conundrum in several ways considering the current condition of the existence of the automobile. What….?? The trend that has taken hold, especially here in these United States, is the popularity of the SUV, the crossover variations of five door hatches, the automatic transmission and front wheel drive. All of these would point to a humorless and drab driving culture of A to B with a soccer game or a grocery store on the agenda. The days of fun behind the wheel are drying up. Or are they…? There are a handful of new rear drives out there. Of those, fewer still have a manual transmission. This leads to the continuity of cars of the past being rebuilt and re-born by people who seek the slides and the sideways. Yes, America, drifting may be the saving grace of the manual, rear wheel drive car. On a warm Wednesday tucked in the back corner of an industrial park I was there to bear witness to a mixture of car cultures. The recipe was a good mix of classic British “Top Gear”, American Motor Trend “Roadkill” and a heavy helping of the Japanese origins of drifting. The cars were budget sourced from the pre-owned market and rapidly made “drivable” over the past several days. Now they were here in this slightly barren environment to be compared on a mapped rally / drifting course by (can you guess…?) the same “tame” racing driver. For the sake of a little background… This group of guys have a mission which is building on their combination of talents. What is the mission…? Loosely defined it is a mixture of Japan’s origin culture of drifting and the extreme styling of it with the back roads mountain attitude of American muscle cars. They call it “Jappalachia”. There have been trips to Japan with driving study in the origins of the legendary Daigo Saito drifting style. Japan is distinguished as the genesis of drifting even as the sport has expanded worlwide. The “Jappalachia” handle has been vetted during these visits with positive approvals. The drift is no stranger to these men. A recent visit to NASA Haltech Hyperfest at Virginia International Raceway had a Nissan going tandem on the drift pad competition. On this Wednesday, they have two cars ready to take on the course. These are not their “pro builds” but side projects for the practice and fun of it. One is a late ’80s Corvette and the other is a Nissan 240sx (’89…? ’90…? give or take…) Both of them had less than “garage kept” history. Both put up sideways and dusty shows. I think the Corvette took the time even with bottom scrapes, fuel delivery issues and a lost ass bumper. It was also driven after the 240 so one could say the previous lap in the Nissan gave a nudge of “practice” to the ‘Vette. The “real” cars involved…? These guys are looking ahead to extreme builds in their shop. They are working up another C4 series Corvette and a 3rd generation Ford Mustang. The cars are being treated as homage to the extreme Kaido or Bosozoku style of Japanese drift builds. Big fenders, shovel forward in front of the wheels and wide body wings over the back. These are American muscle cars treated with anime angles. Engines are being built. Chassis and suspensions are being tuned and going into place. A rough timeline has turns on the calendar for the newly re-opened Southampton Speedway later this year as that track is running a drift schedule. This is Jappalachia. Connections…? Roanoke, Charlottesville, Japan, backgrounds in design, mechanics, fabrication, travel… They have formed a friendship from chance encounters, childhood history and love of fun in cars. The “tame” racing driver…? 2016 F4 Champion / 2021 EFO F3 Champion – Cameron Das, visiting from the UK with friends connected through common and crossed paths. His 2016 F4 is in the Jappalachia shop. 2016 USA F4 Champion, Cameron Das, with the season winning car in the Jappalachia shop Das is currently doing a social media series of video showcases of kart racing and tracks. Cameron Das: YouTube InstagramTay Whiteside – Lift Arc StudiosGresh Chapman (Instagram): Jackson WalkerConnor Shupe Visit the Jappalachia Website Photos – A visit to Jappalachia – Industrial Drifting *The dog is “Pickles” – an Alaskan Malamute. He’s a sweetheart in a sweet spot.
Movie Truck Throwback

Hanging out with long time friend from stage and screen who happened to be in a famous truck movie by Stephen King
RoVA-Drive Showcase: Benoit Pigeon

Elite commercial photographer has a fast eye for drag racing
RoVA-Drive Showcase: Bryan Reedy

Late Model Driver (#17) based in Roanoke