If you think you're going to get a detailed review of the Road Atlanta
SVRA event here, you're wrong. This was my first visit to such an event
and I didn't understand much about what was going on -- but it sure
was fun!
There was a brief mention of the event here on Brit Cars and a tiny mention
in the local newspaper. I asked two sports car types here in the office
about it and both said "go" -- so I went, still not knowing exactly what
to expect.
After the long ride to Road Atlanta ("Atlanta" here means approximately
in the same state! -- it's about 40 miles up I85 from where I live, maybe
60 if you started from downtown) and my $20 for admission, I drove into
the paddock area. I knew I was in for an interesting day as this "go-kart
on steroids" darted out from a parking area and we both swerved to avoid
occupying the same space on the drive!
I wandered around the paddock for perhaps an hour looking at lots of
cars. Some of them I could even recognize as having begun life in forms
which live on the streets: MGs, TRs, Minis, Mustangs, 'Vettes, and the
like. There were also lots that I knew were created and had never lived
anywhere except on the track: Lotus, Allard, and others. All seemed to
be put together with lots of what's been described here as TRS (Trick
Racing, er, uh Stuff). All seemed to be out for close exam, with lots
of folks wandering around looking.
When the racing began, I realized just how little I understood about
the process. I didn't have the foggiest idea what cars would be in
what class. Schedules were in very short supply -- everywhere you turned
you'd see someone asking what was next, or if someone had a program. The
races seemed to be just a few short minutes of excitement separated by
long stretches of boredom. Actual races were only 5 laps long (shorted
to 4 later in the afternoon as the schedule got further behind) and it
was hard to pick up cars that were well matched and racing vs those which
were simply passing everyone or being passed by everyone.
The contrast in car types was amazing, with a little bit of everything
out on the track, all with distinctive sounds and appearances. I enjoyed
the open exhausts of cars I generally recognized and who somewhat looked
like they were out for a country drive. There were the racing sports
cars which sounded like a swarm of wasps and went around the track like
a paint stripe. Then there were the good ole 'Mericun V8s in things like
Mustangs and Cameros and the group of NASCAR stockers which made a much
more thunderous roar and appeared to take much more effort as the drivers
fought them through the curves.
The real fun was when they put ALL of these out together in the one hour
enduro race. I think they said it was about 50+ cars which spread out
around the 2.5 mile course. Don't know who had it the worse, the fast
guys swerving through traffic, or the slower ones realizing that one of
the big boys might be crawling up his rear at any point around the track.
Were there spills and thrills? Yes, I saw a few spins and excursions
through the grassy edges of the course. Just before I arrived, one of
the fancier racers (I heard which, but I forget, and I'd probably get
it way wrong here) got airborn down the straightaway off turn 7, turned
around and went backwards through the guard rail! They said the car
essentially disentegrated, but the driver walked away. I also saw a
Chrysler MiniVan driver almost embarrass and/or hurt himself during
the "touring" event (where spectators cruise the course in just about
anything with wheels) -- he pushed it just a bit too hard in the hairpin!
Anyway, this has gone longer than intended, but I just wanted to share
the experience and urge others to take in such an event if the opportunity
presents itself. It was great fun!
Joe Flake
flake@d311510.atl.hp.com
|