Review: Plantation Valley Kart track @ VIR

[Evan]

This weekend I headed down to VIR to instruct in a MazdaDrivers HPDE running the Grand East VIR configuration. (btw--MazdaDrivers runs great events for anyone looking to pick up some more track time)

Since recently the kart track started having arrive and drive racing on the weekends (and open until 8!) Chris Snobeck and I decided to head over to check it out after the event was over for the day.
Cost was only $30 for 30 minutes of kart racing (actually more like 35) and the karts felt pretty quick, with very sticky tires.

To cut to the chase, the track is FANTASTIC. Its very long for a kart track, there is a great variety of high speed, low speed, esses, etc. Lots of passing zones.
The karts felt very good. Probably the same kinds of karts that the indoor tracks use but on a larger track they really feel more at home. The tires are sticky, but you can still slide them around just a bit without scrubbing off speed too much.
My only complaint is that Chris' and my kart were not evenly matched. His had some mad vteck and motored by me very easily on the straight of every lap. I didnt mind too much because I outbraked him and caught right back up every lap
Chris and I raced for the entire 30 minutes swapping spots twice a lap or so! Chris' dad was there taking pics so Ill post em up when he sends them to me. It made me wish I had a helmet cam, it would have been more exciting to watch than the whole 24hr of Lemans put together!Definately the best part of my weekend, and the mostest funnest karting experience Ive had. I know its a bit like comparing oranges and tangerines, but its a whole new/better experience from indoor karting.

[white_2kgt]

Are you doing the enduro during the NASA Vir North weekend?

[G.Irish]

Well Snobeck probably weighs 20 to 40 lbs less...

[Evan]

Are you doing the enduro during the NASA Vir North weekend?

no
I wanted to , but I have family coming to watch the race, and it wouldnt be very cool of me to make them stick around after everything is done

I probably will do a session during the day with my cousins though

snobeck is around 50 pounds lighter than me

[white_2kgt]

snobeck is around 50 pounds lighter than me

This is what I hate about karting. Just a little bit more weight is going to kill you. At least the rest of my team is about 100lbs lighter than me so they should be able to make up the difference :lol:

You should do the Friday practice with us then, we can have a mini MM battle before the BIG MM battle.

Where is the kart track at in relationship to the paddock?

[Evan]

well, like I said I didnt mind being slower than him on the straight, because I outbraked him and outcornerd him most of the time, and it was a battle the whole time. LOTs of fun. In the end our fastest lap times were only .05 apart.
Id definately be up for a kart battle stage friday night.

dammit Im really wishing I signed up for the enduro now. Forget the family

the kart track is just past the VIR hotel

[John]

In retrospect, I shouldn't have been such a bum and opted out of running with you guys. I was simply just exhausted from the day - oh, that and I had already consumed a few tasty beverages...

[BLINGMW]

sounds awesome, looking forward to it. I might run or work that weekend as well and would join in for friday night too if so.