ANGST

What tips do you have for someone going to VIR ? Could be anything from driving the track, to where to eat lunch , dinner , best place to paddock, gas , places to watch the other run groups .... what do you have ?

I'll be there with PCA Potomac on the 12-14th

ProCoach

Let’s work together one day. I’ll send a ton of pre-event study materials, a questionnaire to define what is important to you, recommendations for restaurants and other local knowledge, then we intensively brief/debrief before and after every session using video from your car and what I add.

Basically define the optimal way, continuously assess and distill what is most important to focus on next and then you have the next two days to practice perfect.

Mike Roblin

^This…

amurph182

if you haven’t run with Potomac before, they have happy hour Friday and Saturday after the track goes cold. Advanced run groups usually finish up an hour or so earlier so a lot of people take off early but I recommend sticking around at least on Friday because it’s a great group of people (and they provide the beer!).

dgrobs

He may be running in an instructed run group, not sure.

Frank 993 C4S

- Try to stay on property (The Lodge, Pit Lane Suites, The Villas)
- Watch videos or work in the simulator before you get to the event
- Have dinner at the Oak Hill Tavern
- Do whatever ProCoach tells you

LuigiVampa

I would add if you are going to go off in the climbing esses do it to the right, and not to the left.

ANGST

Yep.... PCA Blue

ProCoach

You'll be in fine shape with a Potomac instructor. One of the best vetted corps around.

Agree with Frank, staying on site has advantages. The entry numbers are good for this event, so they may be taken.

Danville is the second choice. Most chains are represented plus a few neat boutique hotels, The Bee and The Holbrook downtown, as well as a new, cool series of suites called the Vantage Arts Flats. All three within walking distance of some darned good local restaurants like The Cotton, Golden Leaf and Culture.

If you've never been there, I would recommend Ross Bentley and my Speed Secrets Virtual Track Walk. It is comprehensive and something you can refer to for a long time, as you progress.

It's a fantastic track. I'll come by and visit.

amurph182

Lodging is my only issue with VIR. Staying at the track is awesome. The rooms are nice, price isn’t crazy, and what’s cooler than waking up AT the track? But unless you REALLY like the food at Oak Tree/Connies, you’re 30 min from a decent selection of restaurants. Staying in Danville is fine, there’s a couple of good local places to eat and some major chains, but the hotels are average and you’re 30 min away from the track.

Matt Romanowski

A great guide to VIR is David Murry's https://www.davidmurry.com/seminar-w...w-recording-75

For a free one, ASM has one with Tom O'Gorman
A nice NNJR track guide https://nnjr-pca.com/wp-content/uplo...-Turn-2019.pdf

A nice one with Mike Skeen and Blayze https://blayze.io/blog/car-racing/vi...ith-mike-skeen

I'm sure there are some more, but that will get you prepped pretty well!

ProCoach

I like Berry Hill. Top notch food and lodging, 25 minutes away.

Danville is less than 30 minutes away. The good hotels downtown are nice.

dgrobs

Danville is closer to 22-25 minutes than to 30, and places like the Sleep Inn across 58 from the airport is less than 20 minutes to the track.
I like Danville. Feel too secluded at the track, but that’s just me. Also, Oak Tree has sucked the last couple seasons. Def not the same place post pandemic.
Agree on Cotton and Golden Leaf, and with the new casino hotel finally getting open next season….
Casino is actually open now but the hotel and hotel restaurants are still a season away.
There are nice clean hotels in Danville and I’m usually at the Holiday Inn Express. Good free hot breakfast as well opens at 5:30am.
I’ve stayed at the lodge and villas a few times, but the real reason I stay in Danville are the options for drinks and dinner. Not “trapped” at Oak Tree so to speak.
Either way, he’s gonna have a blast this first trip to “Heaven on Earth”

Ubermensch

I review this video every time I go...

I've had good luck with Airbnb in Danville. As others said, you trade a bit of a drive to and from the track, but your options for food are better. I also tend to get gas about halfway between Danville and the track so it's convenient at the end of the day.

steveP911

I am a lunch at the track guy, mostly, which means the paddock "cafe". Food is decent enough and you get a chance to chat with other drivers.

I have found the right-side (as you enter) paddock to be generally claimed by VIR vets, maybe because of optimal access. I prefer the left-side paddock because there is more space; I go in about 1/3 of the way to keep close enough to the facilities for class, meetings, etc. Easier exit to the grid too.

There are some mini bleachers outside the cafe at NASCAR bend (T3-4) that give you a pretty good view of a few turns. Walk back to the track bridge and you can see the esses.

I'll try and find you or stop by and see me. Black 997 #25 (White run group). Who knows, maybe we'll both see Peter there!

Cheers.