DANVILLE, VA – Mother Nature did nothing to dampen spirits at VIRginia International Raceway’s eighth annual Holiday Laps charity drive as Santa made his first appearance in the area for 2009. As kickoff event for the WAKG-AM and WBTM-FM charity auction series, Holiday Laps allows donors to drive their own cars on VIR’s famed 3.27 mile road course. Led by a pace car and tailed by another pace car, speeds are brisk enough to be entertaining but not beyond the abilities of any licensed driver. A donation of $25 allows supporters of the event a 20-minute session in road safe vehicles – from modern sports cars to motorcycles, street rods and vans. “We are thrilled with the response this event generates every year,” said track managing partner Connie Nyholm. “Holiday Laps brings out everything from vans and pickups, to family sedans and sports cars – all to support the Salvation Army and make the holiday season brighter for kids in need. Everyone involved in the project gets a lot more back than they put in; just in the satisfying warm glow of helping their fellow man.” Following their tradition, the Heart of Carolina Mustang Club headlined the roster, with many cars, a huge load of toys and members going back around the track for almost as many sessions as their cars will stand. Capt. Allen Tanner, Danville Salvation Army commented, after he received an additional check from the club’s president Steve Fitzpatrick: “this means a lot to the local Salvation Army. This allows us to provide Christmas for children in the Danville, Pittsylvania County – South Boston, Halifax County community; to have a brighter Christmas along with toys, clothing, a food box for the holiday season, and a Christmas meal together. “This is one way that it will save us money from having to purchase items ourselves for kids and just raise the awareness of the Salvation Army and the need. It really puts it out there,” Captain Tanner concluded. Personal cars weren’t the only vehicles seeing track action Friday, with a pair of motorcycles taking laps. Added to the thrill of driving, Dave Handy’s SascoSports gave two lucky raffle winners rides in his vintage Lotus 23b. Steve White and Sharon Shoemaker both won rides in the quick little sports racer, with Shoemaker commenting that she won the ride in “the little Lotus that goes really, really fast. I’m having to censor myself about how neat it was,” she laughed. Even more fans took a break from driving for the chance to make an extra donation and get a fast ride in an Ariel Atom II open-wheeled two-seater. These passengers all reported the absolute thrill of riding that fast in a car that allows them to watch the tires and suspension move. All participants receive a custom 8×10 photo of their car on track, donated by F&S Enterprises, VIR’s official photographers and the track’s snack bar added profits from the day’s sales to the total raised. Holiday Laps will return in 2010, bringing more joy to the community through the Salvation Army’s work. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Virginia. VIR hosts a wide range of professional and amateur auto and motorcycle racing and track events, and is well established as “America’s Motorsport Resort. For further information, call 434-822-7700 or visit our web site at www.VIRnow.com.To subscribe to our newsletter or to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, visit http://www.virnow.com/connect.