This weekend I made the trip down to Buttonwillow Raceway to compete in VARA's annual Octoberfest event (Septemberfest?). The turnout was quite healthy with over 140 competitors, and the wknd featured two special races: the All German Car race and the Formula Vee Challenge. VARA rekindled the Saturday night potluck dinner and it was a smashing success. While the weather was … [Read more...] about VARA OCTOBERFEST 2011
VARA
VARA BRITISH EXTRAVAGANZA 2011
This weekend VARA held their annual British Extravaganza race weekend at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, CA. The event included the regular race series, as well as the British car only Challenge Race, the Classic Motorsports Magazine Small Bore Challenge Enduro, the Central Valley British Car Club carshow, lunchtime track drive-arounds, and the Saturday night BBQ and … [Read more...] about VARA BRITISH EXTRAVAGANZA 2011
VARA HIGH DESERT CHALLENGE 2011, Part 3
Wagons, wagons, everywhere... Maybe I'm just noticing old stationwagons more these days, but at this weekend's race there were cool wagons everywhere! I've never been a trend setter, so it's certainly not my doing, but I sure like this fad. These wagons were all cruising the pits at Willow Springs, except the last shot, that one's my wife's ;-) … [Read more...] about VARA HIGH DESERT CHALLENGE 2011, Part 3
VARA HIGH DESERT CHALLENGE 2011, Part 2
Racing by the numbers This weekend's race schedule was one of the busiest ever for me. Saturday included a 30 minute timed practice, a 40 minute qualifying race, a 30 minute enduro practice, and a 70 minute enduro. Sunday's schedule added another 30 minute practice and a 40 minute flag race. 240 minutes, that's 4 hours! Take off 10 minutes per event for warm-ups, … [Read more...] about VARA HIGH DESERT CHALLENGE 2011, Part 2
VARA HIGH DESERT CHALLENGE 2011, Part 1
The Race Report This weekend I raced at the annual VARA Enduro weekend event held at Willow Springs Int'l Raceway, "The Fastest Track in the West". This track certainly lives up to it's name, in the Race Wagon it's a two gear/two shift track. The first half of the 2.5 miles in 4th gear, one upshift and the second half in 5th. That's a lot of time at full throttle, good thing … [Read more...] about VARA HIGH DESERT CHALLENGE 2011, Part 1
BEST WEEKEND EVER!
The racing gods must have figured out I deserved a great weekend after all the hard work and preparation on the Race Wagon, and who was I to argue. We went down to Buttonwillow Raceway for a Friday test day and got 5 half-hour test sessions in. No leaks, nothing fell off, started every time, I was ecstatic. The handling was very predictable, the power was excellent, and we got … [Read more...] about BEST WEEKEND EVER!