<VV> NECC Sumit Point event

[Rick Norris]

We arrived at the host hotel a little after noon on Sunday. It was a great day for a drive in the mountains and the Big Horn Hemi purred happily along. It's so nice to have a reliable tow vehicle!
The first thing I saw in the back of the lot was the BBRT HQ trailer set up with the HMFWIC head Bohunk Col. Chuck hisself holding court along with his trusty second in command the HCIC or head curmudgeon in charge Smitty. I had a great time sitting around the asphalt and watching the other folks arrive.

Monday morning after an ill fated attempt to get breakfast in the hotel we mounted up and headed out to the track. As has been stated before, there is no one way to get there. The Shenandoah circuit is the newest for Summit and kind of on the back side of the track proper so it has it's own entrance. Momma programmed the TomTom and after chugging along wagon train style through the back country of Wild Wonderful West "By Gawd" Virginia the track entrance appeared. We picked a spot and unloaded the car. After the obligatory drivers meeting the various groups lined up for several yellow flag laps to "learn" the course. Yeah, right! Finally it was time to let the horses out and stomp the loud pedal. Did I say learn the track? I am not a fast study. Heck, I was 28 before I could tie my own shoes! Of course I didn't get any till I was 25 anyway.
I don't know how many laps I ran around that 2.2 mile twisty, tricky, treacherous track more suited to bikes, go carts and goats but, I was beat! It is a very physical track!
Someone described it as being a "technical" course. Damned if it ain't! It demanded respect and bit those who stepped over the line...or got off line as it were! However, that didn't stop us wannabe Corvair race car  drivers! It was a physical workout. My shoulders are sore from sawing on the wheel!
I only had two anxious moments. One was at the Hammer or turn 2. I was working on doing the Cave Esses leading up to it and I was carrying too much speed, braked late and turned in early. The corner drops off to a crown and negative camber. I did not go off the pavement but, I certainly used all that was available and ended up pointed in the right direction. The second anxious moment was at the down hill S leading on to pit road and a large concrete wall. It seems from all the comments I got that everyone was standing right there watching me mess up! I really thought I was going to bunt the barrier. Somebody remarked, your eyes were this big! Huh, you should have been in my seat! I did manage to miss the wall and continue on but, I changed my approach to that turn! Later on someone complimented me on my car control...that was pure outhouse luck! I am of Irish extraction ya know.

At the end of the day I was rather relieved that I survived with car and ego intact. I don't know if I would run this track again. 
After returning to the hotel and getting some grub in me I hit the sack and slept very well. Aleve is a wonder drug for us severely experienced individuals. 

We arrived home a little after noon on Tuesday and it was another nice fall day to travel through the mountains. We took the Southern route down I-81 to I-64 West across the hills of Virginia/West Virginia.

A big thanks to the NECC for another good event that almost didn't happen. Let's hear it for next years opener at Beaverun!

Rick Norris
#36 Sunoco Corvair
www.corvairalley.com