Benefit Others and Drive VIRginia International Raceway at Holiday Laps DANVILLE, VA. Here’s your chance to drive one of America’s finest road racing tracks VIRginia International Raceway, and help others at the same time. Next Friday, December 7, anyone who donates $25 or the equivalent in toys or non-perishable food items can drive their own car around VIR’s history-filled twists, turns and hills. Motorcycles are welcome and will be grouped separately if there enough, or will be grouped together in a regular session. “Once people see how big a challenge VIR can be at pace car speeds, they appreciate the skills needed to drive it even more,” said track Managing Partner Connie Nyholm. “We are always looking for ways we can contribute to the communities around us and ‘Holiday Laps’ is one way. The experience of driving the same track that challenged Carroll Shelby and the other great drivers who raced here is one bonus that we can give the donors. “Watching people bring their cars for the VIR Holiday Laps here is just as special as watching the great modern and vintage race cars that we get to see at VIR every year. The program lets us give fans a taste of life on the other side of the rail and help the local communities at the same time. We’d like for everyone to be able to experience VIR from the other side of the fence.” For a $25 donation, or the equivalent in non-perishable food items or toys, drivers of any safe road car, truck or van can drive VIR and at least partially experience the thrill of driving on the same track where some of the world’s best race drivers and motorcycle riders compete all year long. Donors for the last five years have all experienced a thrill to last a lifetime, as well as helping others. VIR’s Oak Tree Tavern, the restaurant in the 1840s Plantation Club House, will be open to the public that evening, as it is every week, Thursday through Sunday, with hours expanding for 2008. The Club House features fun dining in the full-service restaurant and the Irish-style Connie’s Pub. Reservations are accepted but not required by calling 434.822.7700, ext. 330. Last year’s Holiday Laps attracted many cars, notably from Miata and Mustang clubs in the Raleigh-area, bringing in $6610 in cash and approximately $2,000 in food and toys at the track, plus $3450 from two WAKG and WBTM auctions for race tickets and other VIR souvenirs, for a total of $12,060, more than a 200-percent increase over 2005 and nearly 60 percent above the year’s goal. An auction by WAKG and WBTM for prizes including race weekend tickets and nights in the Lodge at VIR is also being held, with the proceeds from the auction benefiting the charities. The Plantation Valley Kart Track will be open all day, allowing guests who want to try something a little faster the opportunity to drive the karts on our 5/8ths mile kart track. First opened in 1957, VIR’s first feature race was won by legendary racer and car builder Carroll Shelby. In the years since, VIR has seen stirring drives by some of the best road racers in the world, in cars and on motorcycles. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Virginia. Reopened in 2000, VIR hosts a wide range professional and amateur auto and motorcycle racing and track events, and is well established as “America’s Motorsport Resort.” In addition to its historic 3.27 mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park and Motorsports Technology Park, which includes the Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (“VIPER”); the Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8 mile paved natural terrain karting circuit; an expanding variety of on-site lodging (including 45 hotel rooms and the trackside Villas which are for sale); Camp Motorsport for enthusiasts of all ages; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. VIR’s calendar for 2008 includes the “Wings and Wheels” air and car show combined with the Historic Sportscar Racing vintage weekend, March 21-23; a new Sports Car Club of America double-national race April 12-13; the April 26-28return of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototypes, plus supporting events; the Stock Car Open Test Day on May 28; The AMA Big Kahuna Superbike National on August 15-17; the October 3-5 GT Live and the KONI Challenge which brings a combination of motorcycle stunts, drifting, track attack and endurance sports car races; all combined with a variety of amateur and vintage road racing throughout the year. For information on the track and other event schedules, call 434-822-7700 or check our web site at www.virclub.com.