The Vintage Auto Racing Association, VARA, is a Southern California based group that is offering a driving experience that you have to add to your list. The details of VARA-U are available at www.vararacing.com and I can only add it's like being at a vintage car gathering that end's up with the cars on the track. If you had seen it on the track in the "past", someone might be living you past and driving it again.
They offer three levels for the drivers, based on their experience and a group for race cars. Class room, car control exercises and track time are part of your daily routine. Your in-car instructors are willing volunteers, they are very brave.
This year, my fifth with the school, I again had the opportunity to drive a 1999 BMW M3 Coupe. The car was built as a "one lap of America" participant, only has 76,000 miles and has been rebuilt as required. This was my third year driving the car and when you are driving someone's "shop" car it comes with a mission. This year, dial in the new adjustable shocks. Status Gruppe builds an array of parts that include those that will both make your car look great and go faster. This year, it was all about the handling.
Friday started with picking up the Coupe at the shop, the '95 M3 is serial number 37 and also a company "shop" car. In total we drove three of the company cars to the event. Saturday started off damp and cold. Yes, California in January is not mid-west cold. The Central Valley of California has it's own unique variation of fog. "Tulle" fog is best described as white liquid air. Cold and damp liquid air. But it only lasted for the first track session.
Both of these cars are on Bridgestone RE71-R's, At no time did the cars do anything out of line based on the tires. They in fact are my go to tire at events, I'm sold.
The above picture is the car coming out of the "Sunset" turn on to the front straight. The upcoming left, turn one called "Sunrise" still had me in front of the cars you see in this shot. Driving a car with a supercharged S52 is a great learning experience. Maybe not fair, but we were just taking a class. In school.
Next year, this is the class I am hoping to attend.
