Motorsports To Go! February 13, 2022
Welcome to Motorsports To Go! Each week, we will take a look at an upcoming event on MotorsportReg.com. We will tell you everything you need to know in order to participate. It’s the easiest way to get out of your recliner and into the driver’s seat. We’ll be covering everything from $25 autocrosses to million-dollar “gentlemen racer” opportunities, all of them explained in simple English via the same basic set of questions. Let’s get started!
What is it?VARA HILL CLIMB SERIES powered by Hagerty — register at MotorsportReg.
Well, what is it? It’s a standing-start one-lap timed event for all sorts of cars, street legal and race prep alike.
When is it? Four times this summer; the first is Feb 20.
Where is it? The Horse Thief Mile at Willow Springs Raceway
What’s it cost? $150.
What kind of car do I need? Any kind of car that is not designed to sit high (think truck, SUV, crossover). Convertibles will need a roll bar.
What kind of personal equipment do I need? Fire suit, Helmet & gloves in Race Cars. Helmet, long sleeve shirt and gloves in Street cars.
How long will it take? All day
Will there be someone to answer my questions at the event? Absolutely.
Can I damage my car or get hurt? Horse Thief is a nice open track, so learn it ahead of time from a video and stay within your limits; you’ll be fine if you do.
Why would I bother to do it? This is a low-stress, high-fun way to do a time trial.
What’s the hot setup, if I have time and money to prepare? For the “Race Cars Under Two Liters” I’d take a Stohr sports racer with a fully-built Hayabusa engine; you’ll be awfully tough to bear.
Give me two tips or tricks to really shine. Don’t punish your car with a lot of wheelspin at the start. Doing that heats up your rear tires and clutch more than you probably want. Take a strong but not punishing start. And since you’re starting from zero rather than full speed, consider taking a “minimum distance” line through the first turn. In other words, rather than driving the traditional race line through Turn 1, just shortcut it and keep on the throttle.
