I Have a Dream Of A Track

I'm here today to ask for your support.

I've had a dream of being able to drive our van on any north American tracks, yet all those tracks I've contacted have decline/refused to allow our van on their track. claiming the van is top heavy. The issue is, more if not all of those tracks I've contacted are thinking I want to race the van, which is not the case. I juts want to be able to drive the van on any tracks at normal speeds without other cars due to limited sight because the van is a panel van no windows.

So what has happen is the Firm in FLA said they would allow the van, but I would have to rent the track for the day. This mean I need at least 26+ people/cars to help rent the track (at $100.00 per car) to be able to drive the van on the track. Lodging travel would be your own expense.

Another alternative just because available to me, is that Brandon via Chuckwalla Raceway has said he or they are willing to allow the van on the track and even has a few dates set aside for us. The issue there is, the dates are not ideal at the moment, But at least Brandon is willing to offer us a chance to drive the van on the track. This would mean having to take approx 2-3 weeks off work.. drive cross country to attend this track day with members from sweedspeed and the Fiesta ST forums. 

So if any of these options sound appealing to you, say so below and I'll put your name on the list as being welcomed at either the rented Firm track or as a show of support for my cause at the Chuckwalla raceway.

What you are looking to do is called touring laps. You can definitely do touring laps in a van. You could also just pick an appropriate vehicle for track use.

Heck, there was a Caravan at VIR fairly recently. Pretty sure that was through NASA. 

Racebrick said:

What you are looking to do is called touring laps. You can definitely do touring laps in a van. You could also just pick an appropriate vehicle for track use.

The challenge with touring laps or parade laps is that there are other vehicles on track, and that's been identified as a problem. Of course, there's no passing allowed so it's not like you need to worry about someone coming up the inside. 

Does TNiA have vehicle limitations?

Just a reminder, SCCA, NASA and NJMP and other tracks have banned our van from being on their tracks.. this include summit point and at least 2 NJMP tracks on the eastern shore. At one point an NJMP spokesman said they would allow me on their track for 300.00 but later changed their mind. 

As for the "Follow the leader around the track" option, yes I've bene approached by this option as well.  I even lost money on that deal. I subbed to a car show at the track which after the days events, the car show cars and tracks etc would be Follow the leader around the track with no passing etc.. But after finding out that other tracks have banned me,  they changed their mind.

We're being met with resistance and restrictions and according to all of these tracks, our van is top heavy. yet they have allowed trucks and other vans on the track. I think what's being lost in translation is that I do not want to be on the track with other cars even with flaggers as the van and I have limited sight.  Then I'm under the impression they or those tracks want me to race around the track sort of what's the point if you can't actually test your van at top speeds etc.. me I just want to drive the van at a normal speed for a few laps.

Yes I've seen the videos of the caravan on the track.. but again.. that van has windows ours doesn't. So as it stands, I'm very thankful the Firm would allow me on the track but with stipulations of having a group there with me. Then again I'm very grateful for Brandon for allowing me on the Chuckwalla Raceway but according to his schedule, the timing is off. so we'll have to figure out dates and times to do something like this assuming Brandon's offer is still valid when we're ready.

Just to be clear, you haven't been "banned", the tracks and organizations have regulations in place and if your vehicle doesn't meet those standards then you can't take it on track. It's not specific to you in any way.

How hard and fast is the "without other cars" rule?   I mean, it's difficult to do that with my track car.. I'm not sure how I'd go about getting a track to myself without renting it.

If you just want to drive your van on the track, show up at a Track Night in America session, don't draw attention or make a big deal of it, and go out in the parade laps in the middle of the event.  You will be in a line of cars, driving at a "normal" pace.    No one will be passing, so limited rear visibility doesn't matter.

If you're talking about actually participating in a track day, yeah, you're going to be in for some trouble.  As Johndej says, it's not you, but the rules for track-day acceptable vehicles exist for a reason.

I am aware of the logistics of what you're saying. My question is not one which one has to explain these logistics to me again, but I'm giving others the chance or opportunity to either:

A) Help rent the "Firm" in FLa at a time and date which we'll set up later..

B) Show up at the Chuckwalla Raceway at a time and date which we'll set up later..

It's been confirmed that a couple drivers from the sweedspeed will show up as well as a couple and maybe even an entire Fiesta club will show up at Chuckwalla raceway

either way both tracks would allow me to have solo time on the track during a half time break etc.