I am the STIG!

I am no longer a virgin to the famous Virginia International Raceway (VIR). My cherry on this track has officially been busted and now I have caught the addiction. Being no stranger to taking my MINI on a race circuit, I was really looking forward to returning to familiar territory. Back when I was stationed in Germany, I had the honor of driving the Nurburgring. This definitely gave me that taste I longed for. Granted this was no ring, but a proper road course this was and another experience that gets added to my resume.  For any gear head, this is a must do.

For those who have never heard of VIR, its one of the premier road course’s located in Southern Virginia between Danville and South Boston (NC), only minutes from the NC border.  VIR plays host to numerous pro and club car and motorcycle races, a wide range of racing and driving schools, track days, club events, and private rentals.  The track itself has 4 configurations, full course (3.27 miles), south course (1.65 miles), north course (2.25 miles), and the patriot course (1.1 miles).  Add the fact that many of the legend race car drivers, including Carrol Shelby, have raced here and you have one slice of petrol head heaven.  A mecca for all race fans and gear heads alike.

VIR Guide Map

The opportunity presented itself this year when VIR held its annual “Holiday Laps” event.  Holiday Laps is a charity fund-raising event, where donors get to drive their own cars around the famed and history-laden road course in exchange for a donation of $25 in cash, new toys or non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army.  Each session was comprised of 25 to 30 minutes track time or roughly 6 – 8 laps depending on speed.  They classify these laps as parade laps with a pace car, however, there were times where you could reach 120 mph on the back stretch so these were not tame in any sense of the word.  In addition to holiday laps, there was a raffle to win a sweet ride in the McLaren Can-Am racecar and a chance to experience an Arial Atom for just a mere 10 dollars.

The weather did however “dampen” things quite a bit, but it didn’t discourage the brave from coming out and enjoying the day filled with laughs.  Midway through the day, the rain did stop and for a brief moment, it seemed the sun wanted to poke through.  For the most part it was mist and drizzle.  There were all kinds of cars that decided to come out… but the most intriguing was the Nissan GTR.  This was one car that made all the “boys” hover around and drool.  The GTR is this century’s poster car that boys put on their bedroom walls and dream about at night.  You had your usual “slow” Miata’s, RX-8′s, and the Mustang club was represented well with over 20 different varieties.  A few Mercs, and some BMW “M’ versions where there as well.

Nissan GTR

We also have a few MINI’s come out…

Tarheel MINI's Representing

Local Radio WAKG 103.3 Hot Country

We even had the local radio station broadcast from VIR.

Once you paid your fee, whether it be cash or toys, you would line up behind the pace car to do your laps, and start your fun.  With the rain pouring down, the pace was slower, however, it still made for some wicked sideways fun, as one Midnight Dave found out, DSC is a good thing…  For me, it was a two session day concentrating on the race line and enjoying the scenery.

VIR Pace Car - R32

Ummm... Your facing the wrong way!

RudyT Doing the VIR

Although considering the bad weather, no one the entire day, wrecked or left with any damage on their car.  Only a few minor spin outs, but some of them might have been intentional.  Many did however enjoy lots of drifting the corners, with some being brave enough to start using their handbrake… (some unknown Chevy truck driver and a TT driver).

In addition to the holiday laps, we where given the chance to do the Arial Atom Experience.  This made my day complete as this was simply one of the most awesome things I have done.  For just an additional 10 bucks, I got to ride around the track (7 or 8 or so laps) with the aid of a professional race driver in an Arial Atom.

Arial Atom Experience - Terrified? Not at All !

Even in the rain, I wasn’t sure if I had pissed myself simply due to the magnificent machinery I was in.  Just on the back stretch alone, we were doing nearly 140, IN THE RAIN.  In the corners, we would drift into an oversteer and hit every apex, three times what most cars would have done in the rain.  The Arial Atom has the equivalent BHP to a Ferrari Enzo.  The precision the Arial has is jaw dropping phenomenal.  This car has NO drama, with every turn its nothing but business.  If my bank account could afford it, I would buy this car in an instant.  You might wonder if I got wet during my laps… Oddly enough I stayed dry the entire time.  ‘ probably attributed to the sheer wind speed, although you don’t feel it that much, or simply that the adrenaline is overloading your senses.  After the ride, I was left wanting more as every inch of my body tingled.  It was like I needed a cigarette. What a ride… what a high!

After all of this excitement, it was time to break for lunch.  We ended up finding a cute little pizza joint (with excellent prices) right outside VIR in Milton, NC, called Millies Pizza and Subs.  Good food and nice atmosphere gave us an opportunity to share good laughs and enjoy good company.

Locally Owned Millies Pizza and Subs

After lunch we all headed back to VIR for our last track sessions and watch others brave the mist and rain as the weather decided to turn for the worse.  It still didn’t stop folks from getting out and pushing wet limits. We ended up doing the last session to finish the day out.  This was a fitting end to a day plagued with wetness. I didn’t get my fast in, nor did I push the envelope, but it was nice to drive in an environment that added a bit of difficulty.  And lets not forget the Arial Atom.  That afterglow will last a while.  This does lead me into pursuing more Drivers Education and Track events.  I already have plans on doing at least two Phil Wicks Driving events.  I guess you can say the track bug has hit and I have no choice but to itch it. I better start saving as this can get quite expensive.  Who knows what will happen, but one this is for certain, I will be back again next year.  I can’t think of a better way to raise money for charity and help out your fellow mankind.

More Pics can be found at my Flickr Page.

As many know, I have driven German roads and have gotten accustomed to driving my MINI at higher speeds.  After 3 years of this, it was time to arrive back in America where there are speed limits and state troopers are trying to fill a quota.  I will not confirm or deny that I speed here in America, but, one thing is I do tend to have a lead foot.  Its an honest mistake, one I try to correct, several times over.  That’s where the Valentine 1 comes in…  It just so happens that I was in the market for a Valentine 1 just in time for the holidays, however, as fate would have it, a fellow THMMC member posted a thread selling his brand new V1 for a fraction of the cost.  I had to jump on this as I knew I was one of few MINI owners that didn’t have one.  Its now just been a couple of days and I can’t believe I drove without one.  This is a truly magnificent device that tips the odds in your favor when stretching out speed limits or living out your smokey and the bandit dreams.

Now if you live under a rock, or have no idea what a Valentine is, here’s a brief overview… Mike Valentine invented the Escort radar detector and worked for many years at Cincinnati.  He left CM and sold his stock for many millions of dollars. He then patented two features that, at the time, were not in radar detectors: directional indicators and digital bogey counter. Then he started a company to build the best detector on the market more or less as a “retirement hobby”… which he’s been doing for about 10 years. The physical appearance of all his detectors hasn’t changed much since he started. But he constantly upgrades the electronics and firmware, and offers an upgrade path for every unit ever sold. (from blimeycabrio.com)

By comparison here’s what its like owning a V1…

Driving without a radar detector is like having sex with a prostitute without a condom.  You are almost guaranteed to get an STD or have the hooker get knocked up.  With the Valentine 1, its like wearing a condom, significantly reducing the chance of pregnancy and any chance that you will contract some horrible disease, and if you do, at least you did everything you could, short of absenance.

Speeding along the highways, of which many are designed for twice their rated speed limit, is exactly the same thing.  Without it, I was sure to get caught and get my license taken away.  But with it, I now have reduced my chances.  I am not admitting that I speed, but there are occasions that I may not notice how fast I am going and need a reality check in the form of beeps, rather than sirens behind me.

The Valentine 1 gives me a security feeling, a safe feeling.  Its a heighten sense of awareness I never had.   If I need to over take a trucker that seems to wanna do 5 under, yet overtaking him will require an extra speed burst, I feel confident on making this maneuver without worrying if there’s an LEO shooting off radar.

My initial impressions of the V1 is amazing.  This device gives you more information that any other device I have see or used.  It truly gives the driver full control on how to proceed.  Its all in the arrows, but with that the device also gives you “bogey” counter, type of radar used, and signal strength.  Its at this point the user deciphers the information and adjusts his or her driving style accordingly.  This is achieved by packing not one, but, TWO radars in a sleek device, one for the front, and one rear to help scan all around your vehicle to precisely locate each radar threat.  This information is relayed to the driver in both directional arrows and bogey counts. The V1 is the only device that does this.  Even the case is made out of magnesium to help deter from radar detectors detectors and radar wave junk.  This coupled with the technology that is crammed in this little device makes me wonder why I hadn’t got one sooner.  This device makes NASA seem like a kids after school program.

Where I noticed the V1 shine was when I went home on the open highway.  Less junk and more funk… Where I knew if it went off beeping, I knew to slow down and start playing my more strict rules.  If its all clear, and the V1 was quiet, then my foot was able to stretch out a little.  Where the V1 might not be as useful would be in the city.  The main reason is due to congestion and traffic.  Its gives you great awareness, but in reality, the traffic made for slow driving and stop lights made it even worse.  However, even though the V1 picked up every sliding door around, it still was able to pick a sheriff sitting at a church.  However, in all likely, he would have pulled you over for running a stop sign rather than speeding.  Users may be inclined to ignore many of the warnings in the city, but this would be ill advised being that this device will pick up everything, leaving it up to the driver to decide.  For me, I live in a rural area, where corn grows and cows feed, so the V1 will come in handy when high tailing it back to civilization.  Since I travel to Raleigh, go on Tarheel MINI’s adventures, and visit family, it was rather easy to justify the cost of the V1.

I have to say I am proud to have this in my MINI and will be using everyday.  Its an expensive toy, but, its one that I am sure will pay its self off in both the near and distance future.

Look for the install write-up shortly.