[Fot] VARAC Vintage Festival at Mosport

[Tony Drews]

I've got to echo Henry's comments on this track and the 
hospitality.  I drove the track back in 2002 and the memory faded.  I 
remembered it being fun, but when I went out for the first session, 
on about lap 2 I was thinking "NOW I remember what I love about this 
track!".  It's one of those tracks that uses the natural terrain to 
its advantage.  There are a number of high speed sweepers where you 
get to test your bravery, some of them with blind entrances.  I found 
myself hooting to myself inside my helmet on particularly good runs 
through turn 2.  The format is great, 3 untimed practices on Friday 
to figure out the track (or re-learn it), a qualifying session 
Saturday, a race on Saturday and two races on Sunday.  Prior race 
FINISHING ORDER (not lap time) sets position for next race, making 
that awesome pass in an earlier race worth something (good job, 
Mark!).  We had about 60 cars in our group, so getting through 
traffic quickly was a significant part of the racecraft.  Frickin 
awesome.  No matter what your speed, you've got someone to race with.

They did have 110 leaded at the track as well.

While it's starting to get uncomfortably warm in the midwest, the 
weather there was low 70's.  They did have a few showers roll 
through, but they quickly dissipated.  I remember it doing that in 
2002, and suspect that is the norm.

Border crossings were non-events, other than there being a little bit 
of a wait to get to the head of the line at the border stations.  For 
2009, you will need a passport to get back into the US, though.  $65 
at the local post office and 3 to 4 weeks later I had mine.  They 
even took the picture.

They have plenty of workers, all enthusiastic, clapping and waving at 
the end of the sessions.

It was one of those weekends that I didn't want to see end.  If I can 
afford the time off and the tow next year, I'll certainly be 
back.  It would be fun to see more of the FOT there, and I'm sure you 
wouldn't regret choosing to go.

- Tony Drews

At 10:12 AM 6/23/2008, Henry Frye wrote:
>The FOT TR4's put on a great show at the Festival this year.
>
><snip>



>Mosport continues to be a drivers track, my personal favorite. That
>combined with the unparalleled hospitality of VARAC, the incredible
>enthusiasm of the corner workers, and in general the VARAC racers are
>extremely competitive and clean, this event continues to be the
>highlight of my season.
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