Alton, Va. VIRginia International Raceway is gearing up for its biggest event of the year, the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals featuring the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, this weekend. The event will feature three days of racing in America’s top motorcycle road racing championships on VIR’s technical and challenging 2.25-mile North Course. The headlining AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited will run a double-header event, with 28-lap feature races on both Saturday and Sunday. The Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme series will have a 17-lap race on Saturday afternoon, while the Repsol Lubricants Superstock and Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Helmets series will contest 17-lap races on Sunday. Off the track, the entertainment will be just as intense as the racing. On Friday night, the Big Kahuna Fan Party will get underway at 5:30 pm, located at the Speed Channel Mobile Theater in the paddock. There will be a DJ playing all the latest hot music, free Red Bull and water for everyone, plus umbrella girls and many of the top riders in the sport, including former World Champions, who will be available for autographs. There will also be a mind-boggling variety of prizes to be won by lucky fans. Ten fans will be able to win $100 cash prizes in a raffle drawing. There will be a number of signed helmets available to win: one from Arai signed by Moto GP and AMA Superbike stars, plus former World Champions; one signed by Suzuki Superbike stars Mat Mladin and Ben Spies; and one signed by Yamaha Supersport and Superstock star Jamie Hacking. Plus there will be cool gear available to be won by Speed Channel, Moto 1 and Joe Rocket, as well as motorcycle art prints from the renowned artist Tim Berry. In addition to all the give-aways, Speed Channel celebrities Ralph Sheheen and Dave Sadowski will man the microphones for a question-and-answer session with the series’ top riders, and there will be a special stunt show by Jason Britton and Eric Hoenshell of Team No Limit Extreme. To cap off the evening, there will be a special showing of the new Moto GP movie, “The Doctor, the Texas Tornado and the Kentucky Kid” on the Jumbotron screens. Another exciting component of the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals weekend will be the Boz Bros Bike Show presented by 2Wheel Tuner magazine and Parts Unlimited. Eric and Ben Bostrom, two of the world’s most renowned motorcycle racers, with experience in the World Superbike Championship and the AMA Superbike Championship, have created their own line of street bike exhausts, plus clothing and accessories. Their products will be on display at VIR, along with a rock-climbing wall, a bike dyno, Tourist Trophy game demos and a wheelie machine for fans to enjoy. In addition, the Bostroms will host a custom sportbike show, with five classes open for fans to display their customized rides, specialized awards such as Best ‘Busa, and an invitational class for builders that have been featured in the magazine. Eric and Ben, along with other top names in the industry, will judge the bikes on Saturday afternoon, and will be available to sign autographs for fans. The Speed Channel Mobile Theater will be open to fans all weekend, and its removable pods will enable fans to play the latest video games when they’re not enjoying the on-track action or other entertainment. Plus, there will be numerous Jumbrotron screens set up around the facility so fans can watch the action on other parts of the track. Also, Team No Limit Extreme will be proving stunt shows in the pit lane and at various locations on the track every day. A new feature this year will be the Big Kahuna Lounge, located at VIR’s Pavilion just outside the paddock. This will provide fans with a shady spot to relax during the weekend, with music and refreshments available. A DJ will be spinning the hottest new music all weekend, with valuable prize giveaways throughout all three days. “We have been promoting races for a long time,” said event promoter Cameron Gray of M1 Entertainment, “and we have learned that the Golden Rule of event promotion is to make sure the fans have fun. We have designed the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals to be more like a festival than an event. There is something for everybody to do, all the time, all weekend. If you like motorcycles, there is no way you can come to VIR this weekend and not enjoy yourself. The fans in Virginia are great, not to mention very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and we’re looking forward to putting on a show for them that they’ll never forget.” “Cameron Gray and M1 Entertainment continue to impress us more every year as the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals grows in quality and stature,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief. “The creative and innovative approach they bring to the table, with the emphasis on giving the fans more than just a race, sets the standard in event promotion. We think this year’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals is going to be the biggest and best yet, and the fans can look forward to great racing on the track as well as terrific off-track entertainment.” The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals offers a variety of ticket packages designed to fit every budget, including standard general-admissions tickets, Big Kahuna Super Tickets, Big Dog Hospitality Passes, Little Dog Hospitality Passes, Pit Walk Passes, car parking passes and camping passes. All current military personnel will receive a 30-percent discount and free parking by presenting their ID card at the gate. Similarly, college students will be eligible for a 15-percent discount by presenting their ID card at the gate. Groups of 20 or more will also be eligible for a 15-percent discount, providing the order is paid for with one credit card. Discounts do not apply to Trackside VIP Suite and Big Kahuna Super Tickets, or to Big Dog Hospitality Passes or Pit Walk Passes. Children aged 12 and under will receive free admission, provided they are accompanied by a paid adult, but must have a Little Dog Hospitality Pass to enter the Big Dog Hospitality area. To purchase tickets, visit www.m1event.com or www.gettix.net. Tickets ordered too late to mail will be able to be picked up at Will Call at the track. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 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; the VIR Gallery, a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; the new VIR Paddock Suites and Garages, with 18 dual-purpose hospitality/ lodging units and garages; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.m1event.com or contact them via telephone at 303-377-3278. For more information on the AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, visit their website at www.amasuperbike.com.