30th Annual Memorabilia Show This Weekend

What began as essentially a “swap meet” among a relatively small group of racing collectible enthusiasts has now reached its 30th Anniversary. The National Auto Racing Memorabilia Show has experienced a colorful and successful evolution and is now solidly associated as one of the unique events tied to the running of the Indianapolis 500.

In 1979, the first gathering of Indy 500 memorabilia collectors took place at the old Howard Johnson’s Motel on Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis. After a few years at the HoJo, the event moved into the newly constructed Indianapolis Convention Center. In 2005 the annual show moved to the Indiana State Fairgrounds where it is currently held.

The event is now the second-oldest continually operated sports memorabilia show in the country. Each year thousands of auto racing aficionados converge on the site of the Show to buy, sell and trade items that would be difficult, or impossible, to find anywhere else in town, on that weekend. The dealers come from literally all corners of the U.S. and some foreign countries. The fans come from an even more diverse list of home towns. If you are looking for unique souvenirs, sought-after items for the well-established collection, or one-of-a-kind artifacts, the NARM Show presents your best possibilities for success. You can find crew-used uniforms, driver autographs, programs back to the 20s, pieces of car bodywork, photos, artwork, advertising pieces and so much more.

Some details for 2008 are:

Friday, May 23 1:00 PM- 7:30 PM
30th Annual National Auto Racing Memorabilia Show at the State Fairgrounds.
In the Pioneer Our Land Pavilion.
Includes personal appearances by: Jerry Grant and long-time 500 veteran drivers Gary Bettenhausen and Mel Kenyon.
Advice from Chris Economaki: “If you are coming to Indy for the Race, you don’t want to miss this!”
NARM Show has been labeled for years by Andy Granatelli as, “The best-kept secret of the 500 Weekend.”
Adult Friday admission is $10 for the general public.

Saturday, May 24 9:30 AM- 4:30 PM.
30th Annual National Auto Racing Memorabilia Show at the State Fairgrounds.
In the Pioneer Our Land Pavilion.
Includes personal appearances by 1960 Indy 500 winner Jim Rathmann, Midget and Indy car star Mel Kenyon, Indy veterans Jerry Sneva and Bob Harkey, and possibly Mr. 500: Andy Granatelli.
Speed Channel’s Robin Miller says, “This show is terrific. I never, ever, miss it.”
Adult Saturday admission is $7 to the general public. Admission for Young Persons, ages 7-14, is $3 each day.

www.NARMShow.com
Additional information: John Douglas (765) 482-3477

Thunder Road’s 49th Season

The 49th season of racing at Thunder Road International Speedbowl got underway yesterday as cars revved their engines and fans streamed through the doors to witness this great event. According to Ken Squirer, the co-owner of Thunder Road, auto racing is still the “largest spectator sport” in this particular state. Short track racing plays a key role in this and the quarter-mile oval track Thunder Road is the perfect place to get the season underway.

Races kicked off yesterday with a burst of speed as rubber was shredded on this short track for the first time this year. The main event of the day was the Merchants Bank 150. This race marks the third event in the 12-race schedule of the American-Canadian Late Model Tour. Other divisions that raced included the Junkyard Warrior, Street Stock and Tiger Sportsman divisions. From the start the race looked poised to unleash some exhilarating action as teen Joey Polewarczyk Jr. got ready to start from first place with the 165 points he’d gathered during the season opener earlier at Lee USA Speedway. He faced stiff competition from drivers Cris Michaud, Patrick Laperle, John Donahue and Brent Dragon. These drivers are followed up by legendary greats Scott Payea and Jean Paul-Cyr. Payea, who took off from seventh place, is the defending champion of the Merchants Bank 150. Jean Paul-Cyr, at eighth place, is also no blow-over with six ACT championships under his belt.

Three-time champion of the Thunder Road track Cris Michaud, noted that the new racing schedule that has been set up makes it very tempting for drivers such as himself to run fulltime on the ACT during the summer months ahead. However, he noted that Thunder Road was his first priority and he certainly seemed ready for action at the track yesterday.

Clearly this year’s racing season is off to a good start, but it will not be ending here. The four different divisions of racing will continue to take place regularly at Thunder Road throughout the summer. The wildly popular Thursday night races will start on June 12 and end on September 28 with the massive Milk Bowl race. With the excellent start to the season that took place last night, it certainly looks as if fans can expect to enjoy an excellent racing season this year.

Formula BMW Americas – Promoting Young Drivers

It’s young and exciting – it’s the Formula BMW Americas. A combination of youth, speed and talent, the Formula BMW Americas provides the ultimate starting point for aspiring auto racing enthusiasts. Youths from fifteen years of age and up can enroll and start climbing their way up the ladder to racing greatness.

It all started in the 1970s when BMW made the decision to support a junior team for the Procar series over a number of years. In doing so, they saw the need to provide a platform program that could provide the sort of education and training that young drivers needed. Between 1991 and 2001, the motor car company was also involved in the Formula ADAC Championship, where they not only provided engines but provided much needed assistance to young drivers who were progressing from go-karting to Formula racing. Many of the drivers assisted in this way later went on to compete in the international racing circuit of their choice. In fact, the past twelve years has seen more than forty different beneficiaries of their BMW ADAC Scholarships make their way into Formula 3. Ralf Schumacher is undoubtedly the most famous graduate of the scholarship program, and his success just goes to show how far young talent can go with the type of support provided through the Formula BMW Americas program.

While the Formula BMW program is only in its seventh year worldwide, it has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the top choices of karters looking to make the change from karts to race cars. The program provides aspiring young drivers off the kart tracks and provides them with three championship series in various parts of the world. The one in the Americas is certainly very popular and is currently seeing many young promising drivers receive the education and coaching that they need to become the best that they can.

BMW doesn’t just provide these young drives with financial support. They recognize that talent needs support to grow and so they are educated, coached and promoted to the greatest degree possible. In addition to this, the Formula BMW Americas races are exciting – with new young talents emerging every year to sweep the rug out from under the feet of previous favorites. So support this excellent concept; attend the races and make the most out of this excellent racing series. The Formula BMW America Series kicks-off on 16 May at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Development of the High Plains Raceway

Auto racing enthusiasts are thrilled that plans for the High Plains Raceway in Colorado are well underway. The closure of the Second Creek Raceway in 2005 was a blow to the auto racing clubs that had been making use of this racing facility for many years. The lack of a suitable alternative auto racing venue has been putting the brakes on growth opportunities in club racing.

Initial plans for High Plains Raceway include obtaining all the necessary permits, designing the track and, most importantly, raising the money to make the project a reality. Five auto racing clubs are involved in the fundraising efforts, under the entity CAMA (Colorado Amateur Motorsports Associates), and member donations along with sponsorships by local companies have made great strides towards the goal of raising the $3,000,000 required for Phase I. Members of CAMA are Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA), Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing (RMVR), Porsche Club of America Rocky Mountain Region (PCA-RMR), Multi-Car Club Alliance (MCCA) and Colorado Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). The Multi-Car Club Alliance incorporates eight other car clubs. Clearly there is an urgent need for the High Plains Raceway to be completed, and organizers anticipate being able to race at the new race track before the end of 2008.

The 460 acre rectangular property is situated about a 30 minute drive east of the old Second Creek Raceway on U.S. High 36. The rolling terrain will give the track at High Plains Raceway a number of significant elevation changes, a feature which is considered to be the hallmark of memorable race tracks. There are adequate flat areas to accommodate a large paddock and, at a later stage, an autocross/skid pad. The proposed configuration is approximately 2,5 miles with 15 turns and several elevation changes. Phase one of High Plains Raceway will only make use of about half of the available acreage and the autocross/skid pad will fall into phase two.

There are many advantages to having a CAMA-controlled raceway, the most obvious being that CAMA member auto racing clubs will be in a position to control their own track destiny. Organizers are confident that High Plains Raceway will open up exciting developments in the club auto racing world.

The Future of Fuel Efficiency

Some of the most brilliant and dedicated engineers are recruited for motorsport teams. Their knowledge and endless number of plans to increase productivity while decreasing cost, is invaluable to a motorsport team. And it is because of the engineering masterminds that are found here that the industry was approached and challenged with creating fuels that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Alternative fuels are definitely the way forward and realistic planning for the future, and solutions found on the racing circuits of the world, could result in the next fuel at the local gas station.

Because racing cars, and more specifically Formula One cars, are dependent on fuel efficiency, the circuits are the best place to test new and advanced fuels. If a fuel is developed that is more environmentally friendly and is proved to work for Formula One cars, the public will not hesitate to convert to the better fuel. All leading engineers, motorsport industry members and the public are in agreement that exploring non-fossil fuel based products are where the solutions to the fuel efficiency problems lie.

Many racing teams of all divisions have shown an interest in using greener, or environmentally friendly, technology, and with their support, the face of fuel might get the opportunity to evolve and improve. Establishments such as Green MotorSport have joined racing teams in the search and production of renewable energy. Discoveries made on the racing circuit have led to the United Kingdom authorities aiming to have a minimum of five percent of its public vehicles using Bio Ethanol fuel. It might sound like a small percentage, but when looking at vehicle emissions, it would be similar to removing a million vehicles from the public transport system.

Even the most insignificant effort to reduce carbon emissions (which increases Global Warming) is already a positive step towards fuel efficiency and a healthier environment. The less toxic and damaging vapors and fumes that are released into the atmosphere, the greater chance the world has for survival. As the roar of the racing engines fire up for another heart stopping season of innovation, progress and discovery, everyone will be patiently waiting and looking at the motorsport industry for answers to the future of fuel efficiency.

Racingsafer.com Driver Safety Seminar

With the objective of providing auto racing drivers with knowledge to enable them to make educated decisions regarding their personal safety as well as elevating safety at the track, Racingsafer.com will be hosting a Driver Safety Seminar at the K-Star Ranch in Mansfield, Texas on 26 January 2008. The seminar has been arranged in response to requests from various race tracks, manufacturers and service providers in the interests of promoting racing safety.

Although auto racing is an inherently dangerous sport, safety equipment and chassis manufacturers continuously make advancements in their products, which help to make this popular sport safer. There is no legal requirement for drivers to update their equipment, but many sanctioning bodies and racing track authorities try to encourage drivers to take advantage of rapidly advancing technology to enhance the safety level of auto racing.

The keynote speaker at the Racingsafer.com Driver Safety Seminar will be Tina Cresswell, the Sales Manager of Simpson Race Products. Having worked at Simpson Racing Products for 10 years and with 12 years of auto and sprint car racing experience, Tina is certainly qualified to offer sound advice on the latest technology.

Representatives from FASTT Motorsports Rescue will give some valuable insight on providing a safer environment for drivers and their crews, as well as for spectators at the track. The FASTT rescue truck is fully equipped with advanced rescue equipment which includes, saw-alls, hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life), jacks for vehicle stabilization and hand tools. Additionally the truck, known as “Rescue 1″, is outfitted with a variety of fire extinguishers as well as a system capable of extinguishing larger fires. Rescue 1 is also equipped with life support equipment to attend to the medical needs of injured drivers. Each member of the FASTT team has received extensive training in track safety and fire suppression, as well as rescue and emergency medicine.

Participants at the Driver Safety Seminar stand in line to win some great auto racing related prizes. These prizes will include safety equipment and the latest fuel cell product from RCI as well as a Fire Tech System. One lucky seminar participant will be awarded with a Team Membership to the Hall of Fame by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.

The proceeds of the Racing.com Driver Safety Seminar will benefit the Ryan Bard Foundation and go toward future events for driver safety education, which is sure to benefit all involved in the fast moving world of auto racing.

Auto Racing Series and Season Schedules for 2008

The racing world, in all its shapes and forms, is gearing up for the 2008 series season. Schedules have been updated, teams have confirmed drivers, and the fans have already ensured that they have a copy of the 2008 series schedules for their favourite sports. No matter what type of racing fans prefer, it is going to be a year filled with good racing and spectacular events.

In the NASCAR camp, teams are gearing up for the sixtieth year of NASCAR racing, and all its divisions have already confirmed venues and races for their 2008 series schedule. The NASCAR season runs from February to November, and the Sprint Cup Series will be kicking off the new season on the 9th of February 2008 with the Budweiser Shootout at the Daytona International Raceway. It will be the last season that Craftsman will be sponsoring the truck series and the Daytona 500 will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. A new series will be introduced, namely the NASCAR Nationwide Series, which will replace the NASCAR Busch Series and run from the 16th of February to the 15th of November.

The Formula One arena has a few rule changes for the upcoming year, and their season will start on 16 March 2008 with the last race taking place on 2 November. With seven teams rearing to go, it will be interesting to see how they perform under the new rules. The changes that have been made to the rules include Bridgestone being the 2008 – 2010 official tyre sponsors, the installation of a standard Electronic Control Unit, gearboxes have to remain in the cars for four Grand Prix and changes will be penalised, new restrictions of aerodynamics changes during the season and engine changes, the ban on traction control, and the banning of tyre warming blankets.

The Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing season for 2008 will run from 9 March to 26 October. Two minor changes have been made to the 2008 series schedule, with the Grand Finale being held in Valencia on the 26th of October, instead of the 2nd of November as previously planned, and the Portugal race being moved forward from the 20th to the 13th of April.

January 25th is the date for the first race of the 2008 World Rally Championship Season that will finish at the Wales Rally GP, which is held between the 28th to the 30th of November. Very small changes have been brought forward, in the interest of the public. The term “leg” will from now on be called “day”, and each day the running order will be selected according to the classification of the event.

Other racing organisations such as the Drag Racing circuit and the National Hot Rod Association are also preparing to start their new seasons. With so many racing schedules and noteworthy racing taking place, it is going to be a tough choice to decide which to attend. The year 2008 is going to be a spectacular racing season, where new legends will be made and memorable races will be recalled and spoken of for years to come.

The Impressive Caparo T1 Race Car

British automobile manufacturer Caparo Vehicle Technologies has produced a two-seater, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive car, which they have named the Caparo T1. The design of this new auto racing car was inspired by Formula One; with the goal of being to create an affordable race car that is also street legal. With the ability to achieve zero to 60 mph in just below 2.5 seconds and zero to 100 mph in 5 seconds, with a top speed of 200 mph, the Caparo T1 is considered to be the fastest car in the world.

The exterior of the Caparo T1, which is very similar to a Formula One auto racing car, makes use of high-strength, low-weight carbon fiber in the construction. The interior of the Caparo T1 is devoid of any unnecessary features, also with the aim of reducing the overall weight of the car. The multi-function dashboard includes race data logging, as well as speed sensors to monitor traction control and launch control. The driver’s seat is set slightly forward from the passenger’s seat to allow the seats to be positioned close together, resulting in a reduction of the car’s overall width. Six-point harnesses for the driver and the passenger, as well as a head protection system are included in the safety features of the interior design. A central safety cell consisting of a high-strength steel roll hoop with a fire system contribute to the overall safety of the Caparo T1. The aerodynamic light-weight design of the Caparo T1 is a large contributing factor toward the speed achieved, as well as the overall efficiency of the car.

The design of the engine went through a number of changes before developers were satisfied with the current powerful 3.5 liter V-8 engine, which has resulted in the Caparo T1 having an exceptionally high power-to-weight ratio (acceleration capability).

Due to the diligence and commitment of the Caparo Vehicle Technologies development team, any problems that were encountered during the development of the Caparo T1 have been overcome and the race track debut of this new street legal auto racing car is an event that auto racing fans are eagerly looking forward to.

NASCAR Foundation – Working to Help Others

The nature of the sport of auto racing dictates that drivers need to be fiercely competitive on the racetrack – after all, there can only be one winner. NASCAR drivers are no exception to the rule and a competitive spirit is part of everyday life in auto racing circles.

The situation is very different off-track however, as drivers and their teams are united by the common goal of raising funds for charity through the NASCAR Foundation. The NASCAR Foundation reflects the compassion of the NASCAR family by actively supporting communities through a wide range of charitable projects and fund-raising events.

A major fund-raising initiative is “NASCAR Day” which is held annually in May on the Friday prior to the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. This is a one-day celebration of the NASCAR spirit, with participants receiving a commemorative NASCAR Day pin in exchange for a $5 donation. NASCAR Day is well supported by a host of corporate companies as well as individual fans. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of the State of California has pledged his support in acknowledgement of the good achieved by the NASCAR Foundation with regard to their charitable initiatives that are in the interests of children, the environment, welfare of animals and other worthy causes.

One of the charitable initiatives that benefits from the NASCAR Foundation’s generosity is the Victory Junction Gang Camp which aims to enrich the lives of children who suffer with chronic and serious illnesses. Exciting, fun and empowering camping experiences are offered in a safe and medically sound environment. Children who attend the Victory Junction Gang Camp have the benefit of a swimming pool, computer lab, games room and a large outdoor recreation area, as well as a medical clinic. The groups are kept relatively small in order to give each child personal attention.

The concept of the Victory Junction Gang Camp was initiated by Adam Petty, a teenage stock-car driver from a family with a long auto racing history. Sadly, Adam Petty was killed in a practice crash on 12 May 2000. His parents, Kyle and Pattie, resolved to see Adam’s vision through and after four years of fund-raising and building, the Victory Junction Gang Camp was opened on 20 June 2004. Fittingly, the address of the Victory Junction Gang Camp is 4500 Adam’s Way.

Continuing donations through the efforts of the NASCAR Foundation allow the Victory Junction Game Camp and other charitable organizations to continue bringing joy to hundreds of children.

Car Racing Lingo

Lingo is a part of auto racing pleasure. You must be able to understand the jargon of car racing, and use it fluently and correctly as well. Here are brief meanings of 10 top terms which are used commonly but exclusively in auto racing and motor sports circles:

• Banking: the car racing meaning is different from finance. A bank is the incline of a race track relative to the wall at the edge. It is especially difficult if it exceeds 31 degrees. Banks where cars turn are tougher than an incline on a straight section.

• Down force: a tricky balance to be stuck by crews between a driver’s ability to take corners at high speed, and the ability to accelerate on straight stretches. This relates to the pressure a race car exerts on the track, principally through its tires.

• Drafting: again, a very different meaning exists in car racing! It refers to a driver keeping a race car very close behind another to take advantage of the vacuum created by the movement of the first car. Drafting helps the driver behind to gain speed at the cost of the driver in front.

• Firewall: computer nerds love this one! Race cars have a thick metal curtain isolating the driver from the engine area.

• Groove: this depends on a driver’s experience of and practice on a particular race track. The driver will choose a particular line which gives the best lap time. Sometimes, this will mean staying close to the wall, while other track designs could mean that a driver will prefer to stay near the center of the apron, or as far away from the wall as possible. This is why a champion on one race track may not do as well when racing at a new site for the first time.

• Happy hour: this could be interpreted as a reminder to serious car racing folk to stay near the track rather than a bar between events. The term refers to practice laps.

• Interval: you may have guessed this one! It is the exact time difference between two cars for a particular reference point on a track during a lap. Your friends may guess the interval in terms of car lengths instead of in terms of seconds.

• Marbles: you will hear drivers speak of nothing else with such hatred! The term refers to bits of tires and other grit on a turn left by other cars and blown around, causing following cars to spin out of control.

• Pole position: the pecking order which determines who gets an advantageous position at the start of a race. It is fixed by performance in qualifying rounds.

• Push: again, this is something a driver dreads. It refers to the front tires being out of control. This forces a driver to cut speed. You may hear this term from losing drivers often!

Auto racing is limitless! Perhaps you have some favorite terms which we have left out, or would like us to explain something you just heard for the first time. Write to us!

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