{Callaway Track Event}Would U bring yours to a Factory track/race event?Details w/in>

[*89x2*]

The other day I was talking shop with the good folks at Callaway Cars and the subject of performance & racing came up – We were talking about the performance of the C6 that is currently being engineered, constructed, and tested and between that and the recent enthusiasm shown by owners looking for “more” out of their Callaway Corvettes recently, I asked about the possibilities for a “Callaway Track Day”.

I know that Callaway4Fun and FX GS both have expressed interest in this and Magic Dragon & EricVonHa have run their cars in different motor sports events in the past and I am fairly certain that there is additional interest from other Owners & Enthusiasts to do something like this –



I have set up a “poll” for feedback, listing a few ideas – Please keep in mind that when you respond to the poll, you can select MULTIPLE ITEMS if more than one choice is of interest to you.



In addition to the choices listed, if you have a specific idea that is not shown – please list is and I will add it to the choices ASAP!



Thanks for your feedback – I hope this works out, maybe a springtime event???

******** Also: I have heard that there may be some interst in a "shootout type" of event for performance cars - should the event if it happens, be open to cars other than Callaways exclusively??***********

 

[FX GS]

As in the famous words of Mills Lane: "Let's Get It On."
I would LOVE a Callaway event at a track like Summit Point.

 

[MagicDragon]

Did someone say race!!! Yeah Baaaaaby

 

[reubenmc]

I had to vote for the Top Speed Event.......the TRC is the closest to me out of all those places listed!!! Even though I don't have a Callaway.....yet, I think some sort of track day is a great idea!! Sounds like a good road trip for the spring time!!

 

[Aurora40]

I also don't have a Callaway, so I won't vote. But I've been longing for a reason to visit the beautiful Virginia International Raceway.

 

[EricVonHa]

Couple things Road Course Related:

Renting a road course for a day is a vastly expensive experience. BeaveRun (near Pittsburgh) has a daily rental of ~$5,000.00 and that's just to get in the door. Insurance is another $2500.00 if you go through their carrier. Want some flag workers? They are required (extra cost) and I haven't seen BeaveRun operate an event without their own workers. Even the SCCA uses BeaveRun's staff. I would expect that Summit, Lime Rock, Pocono, VIR are virtually identical in cost.

Time line: It has to be published and advertised at least 1/2 season away from the actual rental date. (Unless Reeves is fronting the cash and we don't have to break even with the rental fees ) It's improbable to expect that we'd get 60+ Callaway cars at a high-speed road course. Do the math with regard to the above listed rental fees... registered participation has got to be ~60+ cars to keep the cost in the $150-200 range (typical DE day). Given the improbability of having 60 Callaways show up, it would be best to invite other car clubs, etc and back to my original point-- it needs to be scheduled at least 6 months in advance to get a great response.

Safety: How many people have actually had a Vette on a high speed road course? How many people have seen over 100mph? 150mph? The absolute safest track that I've seen in the Northeastern seaboard is BeaveRun. There is huge run-off area, no barricade walls, no tire walls, and for the most part you have great line of site to stay out of trouble. At Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Pocono, VIR you just kiss your ass goodbye if are not familiar with how to handle a Vette at over 100mph. Extensive instructor time would be required for novices no matter what track is considered. However, in order to minimize the likelihood of any major collisions a shorter track with a lower average speed should probably be considered (Beaver/Summit).

Drag Racing- getting this set up is the easier of the two. It's highly probable that a Callaway group could intermingle with a Corvette Challenge Day at Englishtown Raceway in NJ. They already have the track rented (no brainer). The turnout is already there (tons of Vettes). Figure that if even 20 Callaway cars showed up-- they would probably give us our own lane(s) and would let us run between eliminations.



All of this, of course, recognizing that a higher turnout would occur if this was a N.E. Event. There seems to always be a higher populus of Northeasterners at any Callaway event.. Sorry South-West folks

 

[Ken]

Drag Racing- getting this set up is the easier of the two. It's highly probable that a Callaway group could intermingle with a Corvette Challenge Day at Englishtown Raceway in NJ. They already have the track rented (no brainer). The turnout is already there (tons of Vettes). Figure that if even 20 Callaway cars showed up-- they would probably give us our own lane(s) and would let us run between eliminations.

Hey, the drag racing "Westerners" can always get in touch with Gary Brown and the west coast version of the Corvette Challenge: West Coast Corvette Challenge. Edgar handles the east and Gary handles the west; I'm not sure who's handling the Great Lakes Corvette Challenge or the Florida Corvette Challenge, except that Eckler's is sponsoring it.

If you guys ever hook up on the west coast (especially the southwest ), I'd love to meet up with you.

 

[FX GS]

I had to vote for the Top Speed Event.......the TRC is the closest to me out of all those places listed!!! Even though I don't have a Callaway.....yet, I think some sort of track day is a great idea!! Sounds like a good road trip for the spring time!!

reubenmc, since you voted for the "open class" you could use your creeper! :crazy

 

[TurboLuigi]

Well, Florida is a great place to race in January if you can manage to dig out from the snow and get the cars down here

If its in Florida I could swing it...

-Luigi
:cool

 

[*89x2*]

Couple things Road Course Related:

Renting a road course for a day is a vastly expensive experience. BeaveRun (near Pittsburgh) has a daily rental of ~$5,000.00 and that's just to get in the door. Insurance is another $2500.00 if you go through their carrier. Want some flag workers? They are required (extra cost) and I haven't seen BeaveRun operate an event without their own workers. Even the SCCA uses BeaveRun's staff. I would expect that Summit, Lime Rock, Pocono, VIR are virtually identical in cost.

Time line: It has to be published and advertised at least 1/2 season away from the actual rental date. (Unless Reeves is fronting the cash and we don't have to break even with the rental fees ) It's improbable to expect that we'd get 60+ Callaway cars at a high-speed road course. Do the math with regard to the above listed rental fees... registered participation has got to be ~60+ cars to keep the cost in the $150-200 range (typical DE day). Given the improbability of having 60 Callaways show up, it would be best to invite other car clubs, etc and back to my original point-- it needs to be scheduled at least 6 months in advance to get a great response.

Safety: How many people have actually had a Vette on a high speed road course? How many people have seen over 100mph? 150mph? The absolute safest track that I've seen in the Northeastern seaboard is BeaveRun. There is huge run-off area, no barricade walls, no tire walls, and for the most part you have great line of site to stay out of trouble. At Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Pocono, VIR you just kiss your ass goodbye if are not familiar with how to handle a Vette at over 100mph. Extensive instructor time would be required for novices no matter what track is considered. However, in order to minimize the likelihood of any major collisions a shorter track with a lower average speed should probably be considered (Beaver/Summit).

Drag Racing- getting this set up is the easier of the two. It's highly probable that a Callaway group could intermingle with a Corvette Challenge Day at Englishtown Raceway in NJ. They already have the track rented (no brainer). The turnout is already there (tons of Vettes). Figure that if even 20 Callaway cars showed up-- they would probably give us our own lane(s) and would let us run between eliminations.



All of this, of course, recognizing that a higher turnout would occur if this was a N.E. Event. There seems to always be a higher populus of Northeasterners at any Callaway event.. Sorry South-West folks

Eric, I am VERY glad that you replied to this, as I had you in mind for this from the get-go
You have quite possibly more knowledge about this than anyone here along w/ FX GS and I believe all of what you mentioned to be absolute - I am not certain, but maybe at a track such as Summit Point, we could run with the local Vette club - they invite the miata & viper clubs, and such....

The track rental for a Callaway speed event will probably be a 1/4 mile test day - a way for owners to wring out their cars and have them observed, driven by, and checked over by the good folks from Old Lyme

I have mentioned this to Callaway Cars and they are enthusiastic about it - maybe more than some owners, as they are extremely proud of what they have built over the years and like to see the cars out there -

Please keep the feedback coming - I hope to work on making this a go next year and as Eric mentioned, it takes time (and proper planning) - Thanks

 

[*89x2*]

reubenmc, since you voted for the "open class" you could use your creeper! :crazy

 

[kruzmisl]

How come you forgot the midwest-Central Location = Lots of participation!

Heartland Park- Road Course AND Drag Strip

don't forget:

Kansas Speedway

 

[*89x2*]

How come you forgot the midwest-Central Location = Lots of participation!

Heartland Park- Road Course AND Drag Strip

don't forget:

Kansas Speedway

Paul, consider it done