Meet #10 - October 2-4 - VIR Koni Octoberfest

Wow! A quick response from VIR below:

John,

Thanks very much for offering to help promote the event.  We'll send you some Posters and counter cards in the very near future.  Thanks again and hope you have a great time at the event!  If I can ever be of assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Josh Lief
General Manager
VIRginia International Raceway

Looks like I'll be calling on some of you to help pass out some paraphernalia.

Pretty cool John,  I'm pretty sure I'll be there and hopefully Kirstin as well. 

i am gonna try to be there but my show is the following weekend so not completely sure

I'll be coming up Saturday morning (Blink 182 concert Friday night) with 1, maybe 2 kids.  It looks like kids under 16 are free this year.  Last year I had to get get a ticket for my then 13 year old.  I'm going to try camping this time.

BTW, last year I stayed at the Super 8 in Danville.  Cheap, not bad for the price, but it turned out to be the hotel of choice for the drifting enthusiasts.  You can imagine how a bunch of young guys and their beater 240SX's were as "neighbors".  Drunks banging on our door at 1AM looking for their room.  Party in the parking lot after the bars closed.  Fire alarms at 2AM and 7AM.  You have been warned.

Lol, I remember you saying that at GT Live last year Pat.

Haha and Pierce's car alarm went off (we think) this summer at 2am and we didn't realize it even though we camped right next to it.

Ok, Pat. You're on our list since yur a Verginyun.

I'm a bit embarrassed that the NC Rotary car club is posting 14 members going to VIR in October.  I hope we just have some procrastinators.

Are there any questions about the event that cause you to not make a decision? Did everyone get my email last week announcing out two upcoming events? I didn't receive a single email reply, which is a bit wierd.

Yes, I got the email, so it went out. Hopefully we do have a few procrastinators. I feel very good that I will definitely be there. Mariann has been talking about it as well, this is a good sign. 

I will be there by the way, im working up the $$ to buy the tickets as we discuss

I want to go so badly but we'll have to see what October funds dictate.

John, for camping, do you just pay at the entrance when you arrive?

This is pretty cheap fun, especially if you camp.  You also get to thrash someone else's VW on the autocross course (last year was subies), watch the drifters smoke and crash, stroll through the garage area, run the parade laps and see/hear the races up close.  There's always free trinkets being given out - I got 2 Mazda racing posters, a bunch of stickers and Subaru gave away nice pens with a 2GB thumb drive after you autocrossed their car.  The group got a free cart run last year, but I'm not sure if that's happening again this year, at least not for free.  Plus, all the other kids are doing it.

Pat I remember one year buying my camping pass online at the same time I got my ticket. The next year I bought my pass at the entrance gate. So I'd say unless you see something specific online, the gate should be fine.

Speaking of camping. I'm thinking that most of my family may not join me in the tent so I can open up some space for tenants. I'll probably get there Saturday morning, stay Sat night, pack up Sunday afternoon.

Oh, and Brandon already has the VIR bug I think. He was at the event this spring. But I agree, it's pretty cheap fun especially if you're camping.

So $30 admission for all three days.  How much for the camping pass or what not and what kinda campgrounds are we talking about?  Wondering for the wife.

They have dedicated camping areas for families, which I assume have your water and electrical hook-up nearby. Then they also have an area for RV's to park. And finally there are the hardcore tent/pop-up people who set up right by the woods in areas that are not specifically made for camping. Open fields abound at VIR. I'm a tent person so I can't tell you much more about the section devoted to "family". Although I'm sure that the VIR personel can answer most of your questions. They are usually very hospitable.

$30 is the group rate. Make sure you have the discount code when you buy them on-line. KCMZ09 

Earlier this year it was $35 to pitch a tent, more if you needed water and electric hook-up. LINK

$65 for the weekend is not too bad.  Do they have campfire sites by the woods.  I am seriously thinking about it....just got to figure out the food situation.

I seem to remember some people having a small campfire at their space. Not sure if it was a dedicated fire pit or something they just made up themselves. So far the VIR staff or security has been pretty non-intrusive to our camping. I've actually set up in a non-authorized area each time and they haven't said anything to me. Not that I'm a hellion or anything, I just wanted to be close to the cars.

Some thoughts on food: There are a couple of options at the track for your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, the nearby town of Danville will have your Food Lion's and such if you want to pick up extras. Then of course the fast food choices are a mere 15 minutes away if you get desperate. One saving grace for your wallet is to bring a 12 pack of water with you. If you have a cooler, even better. I'm sure we could have a hot dog cooking festival of our own if we get near each other with the tents.

• VR8 (John) ... tent (sleeps 4-6) ... can rent out a space or two
  
• G-Rex (Pat) ... tent with his 2 kids probably
• Jonridinhi (Jon) ... tent (what size?) maybe the Mrs?
• ...
  

You could always be hardcore and cook hotdogs on rotary exhaust and heat your buns with the engine.

You could always be hardcore and cook hotdogs on rotary exhaust and heat your buns with the engine.

-michaelsk8er

Need a rotary for that.  The tent says 4 but only 2 comfortably.  I am trying to get a buddy to come up.  a small grill might be the way to go....

I have a tiny propane one.

lika dis: