Danville, Va. (Feb. 5) – The Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races at VIRginia International Raceway, scheduled for June 8-10, will include a new feature this year. VIR is collaborating with popular motorsports author Burt (BS) Levy to create ‘The Last Open Road’ Auto Olympics, a four-part competition for enthusiasts.

Levy, noted journalist and the author of the cult-classic racing novels The Last Open Road, Montezuma’s Ferrari, The Fabulous Trashwagon and Toly’s Ghost, created the concept in order to get fans more involved in a vintage-racing weekend.

“It’s important for owners of sports and classic cars to use and enjoy their cars, and we wanted to find a way to get the spectators more involved,” Levy explained. “Give them more of an opportunity to participate instead of just watch. And I think we’ve come up with something pretty special.”

The four segments of the “Last Open Road” Auto Olympics will include a car show, an autocross on VIR’s 1.1-mile Patriot Course, track touring on the 3.27-mile Full Course and a 90-minute road rally on the country roads surrounding VIR. The scoring will favor participation over finishing position (although results will count), and trophies sponsored by VIR and Classic Motorsports magazine will be presented for individual, club and marque champions at the end of the weekend.

The car show segment will be in conjunction with the existing Gold Cup Car Show, which is organized by the Corsa Rossa organization from North Carolina.   “This year we’d like to expand the car show entry to include (in their own classes, of course) more older, classic sports cars, some American classics and muscle cars, more modern sports and GT cars like Boxsters, GTIs and Miatas and maybe even a few Drive-In Cruisers and Street Rods,” Levy said. “We’d like to invite more clubs to participate, too.”

The autocross portion of the event will use a course set up on the Patriot Course. Participants will sign up for a time in advance, rather than having to wait in long lines to get on the track. The track touring segment will be run on the full 3.27-mile Full Course behind a pace car, during breaks in the scheduled vintage racing action for lunch. The road rally will be a 90-minute  “do-it-yourself/start-any-time-you-want” event, with participants punching in and out on a time clock and following a prescribed course on the winding country roads in Southern Virginia and northern North Carolina.

“By the way,” Levy added, “I’ll be the rallymaster, and I guarantee something really different and enjoyable. And maybe a little diabolical, too!”   A single entry fee of $125 (including two three-day spectator passes, three runs on the autocross course, rally entry, car show entry, lunchtime track touring and four lunch tickets at the Pagoda restaurant) will be available, along with special discounts for early registration ($10 off if registered before April 1) and multi-car “club entries” of six or more cars ($100 per car).

“We’re excited to be working with Burt Levy on ‘The Last Open Road’ Auto Olympics,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief. “Burt’s devilish sense of humor should lend itself perfectly to a fun event for our fans that will enable them to be more intimately involved with the Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races and compete for their own trophies. We’re really looking forward to the weekend.”  

Advance three-day Super Tickets for the Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races will be priced at $30. At the gate, three-day Super Tickets will be priced at $40. Also, single-day tickets will be available for Friday ($10, gate only), Saturday ($15 advance/$20 gate) and Sunday ($15 advance/$20 gate). VIR is a family-friendly facility, where children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Spectator camping is available. Call 434-822-7700 x300 or x116 for advance ticket sales.

VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River outside Danville, Virginia. In addition to its 3.27 mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsport country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; the new VIR Paddock Suites and Garages, with 18 dual-purpose hospitality/lodging units and garages; the new Villas at South Bend, a 60-unit residential villa complex; Camp Motorsport, a motorsports-themed summer camp for young people aged 10-16; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse.   For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700.

More info: http://www.virclub.com/vir/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&se ctionid=33&id=133&Itemid=161