Ferrari Track Day in Huntsville October 14

We have the opportunity for a special charity fund-raiser (likely either for the Make-A-Wish or Children's Wish Foundation) at a *PRIVATE* track that is going to be opened up to the Ferrari Club for the first time. This is Dunlop Tire's motorcycle test track not open to the public, just outside of Huntsville Alabama. We are still working out the details, but at this point it will be exclusive to FCA member Ferraris, and will kept small and be limited to probably a dozen or maybe 15 cars maximum. The facility, including their offroad area, is the largest motorcycle tire testing facility in north America and has been featured in a number of related magazines and sports channel shows. We may actually have some magazine coverage for our event.

The paved track is shown below (courtesy of Google Earth). Since it is a test track, only one motorcycle at a time is normally on it, and the typical routing is includes overlap (figure-8) so we're going to work out something different for cars, taking advantage of the tight twisties and make it a real handling challenge. We hope to have some children brought in from the local hospitals so we can give them some rides.

Dunlop is making the track available for this event on Saturday October 14. They are donating the track time so I'm trying to work out the fee per car (I'm guessing $200 for the day at the most) with the focus that all money collected will go to the charity after we pay for refreshments and/or other incidentals.

I welcome feedback from you folks here who might consider attending and taking advantage this unique opportunity at a private venue to benefit charity. If you are *not* a current FCA member, you'll need to join (https://www.ferrariclubofamerica.org/pages/join.cfm) first in order to attend.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

If I could bring the Mondial I would love to come be more than happy to give plently of rides to the kids - but - I will be in Italy from the 4th to the 15th of October so I won't be able to attend.

Maybe next year.

Roy

 

Mike,
Sounds like a great opportunity to give rides. Count me in. I'll bring the 430 spider.
Johnny.

 

A very loud 360 F1 is also available, if interested!

Brian Willis

 

Of course -- it will be first come, first served, until all the spots are gone. All Ferraris welcome! I guess we'll go ahead and settle on the $200 per car fee. I've set up a credit card payment page leading to a secure server of one of my businesses that will be handling accepting the payments, or you can send me a check (PM me for the address).

The credit card payment page is: www.TradeTutor.com/fca/

Refunds minus 3% processing will be available up to 30 days before the event date, so I suggest you go ahead and reserve your spot.

 

I've signed up. Looking forward to an event without numbsculls in 500 hp Corvettes!

 

Mike I will take one spot if there is any left over spots I may take a sesond spot for A back up car.
Thanks Mike

 

Mike, gotcha. I'm travelling at the moment but the payment was registered.

 

Johnny: Payment confirmed, you're in.

 

Greetings Mike! I just ran across the information on this event and I think it is one of the best ideas I've seen for a charity fundraiser.

If the event is open to the public for spectating, I would encourage you to add the event to the Huntsville Car Scene Events Calendar.

If the event is not open to the public, I would like to request the ability to cover the event for Huntsville Car Scene. I know I could take a lot of great pictures of the kids with their dream cars.

 

Samir, I'm not sure if Dunlop will open it to the public, but I think probably not since they're not really set up for it. However, I would be glad to list you on the media/press list so you can cover it for www.HuntsvilleCarScene.com

Mike

 

If enough people want a tour of my collection after the track event, let me know. My house is a 10 minute drive from the track.

 

Thank you Mike. Please do so, and I will do my best to cover the event.

I think these type of events personify the great giving nature of individuals with a passion for automobiles. I think the public doesn't see this side of us enough.

 

I had a meeting at the Dunlop Testing Grounds today with the site manager. Not only are we going to have access to part of the track to use as a handling road course, we'll also get to use their skid pad, both dry AND WET. They have a sprinkler system for the skid pad, and if you've never played on a wet skid pad, you're in for a lot of fun (*and* no tire wear in the process!). I've done that at Road Atlanta and it's a blast.

We'll also be getting a tour of their off-road motorcycle and ATV testing area (no, we will *not* be taking our Ferraris into there).

We also discussed that if this event goes well and with no safety incidents, we may have the opportunity to return in the future with access to more of their track, including some high-speed routing.

If you haven't reserved your spot already (see link in an earlier post in this thread), we have about 5 slots left.

 

That's fine; I've cleared it with Dunlop if you'll provide a CD with the photos you take and a release for their non-exclusive use.

 

Hmm...I will need to know the details of the release and the intended use for the pictures.

I have been severely burned by major copyright infringement in the past when giving any type of digital copy of an image, and therefore am understandably extremely uncomfortable with the idea unless the use and release is specifically spelled out.

 

For track rookies, do we need a race license, helmet, harness, fire extinguisher, car inspection, etc?

Are spiders allowed?

 

If you won't authorize Dunlop use the pictures however they choose from the event (they ARE the host and sponsors), they'll just use their own photographer.

 

For this event, yes, spiders are allowed. No special equipment necessary except an SA2000- or SA2005-rated helmet (motorcycle or DOT helmets are not sufficient) and normal street type license, seatbelts and tires. Yes, you do need a pre-track inspection, but doesn't have to be by a Ferrari dealer... independents are fine. There's a link to the tech inspection form at http://www.tradetutor.com/fca/

 

And why aren't you signed up yet to bring one of your cars?

 

I *do* have a couple of "loaner" helmets that FCA-SE owns; if you need to borrow one for the event, please let me know.

 

None of my cars is a track car, I have enough fun with them as it is.

I've also decided that I'd rather not be an FCA member, I have a hard time paying to belong to a club to "enjoy" cars that I own.

 

Look at it like this, you are not paying to enjoy your cars. You are pooling an amount of money with other Ferrari owners in order to access other opportunities with these beautiful automobiles that we, not just you, would not be able to enjoy otherwise. No one is pocketing your dues. They are just used to pay the bills.
Also you don't have to have a "track" car. You just get to drive at your own pace without worring about police. You never really get any faster than you do on the highway, you just get to do that all day in a safe environment. It is fun beyond words.

I wish you would reconsider, but I understand if you would rather not. I just want you to know that we would love to have you join us. But, like you say, you don't have to. We are all still friends.

 

Thanks for the offer, but I'm no longer interested in track events. I'm getting old...

 

What are you - a 90 year old geezer trapped in the body of a 40 year old??

it's time to sell all those young whippersnapper cars, buy yourself a Skylark, and run the clock out down in Del Bocca Vista, baby!