IMSA Corvette Corral question/experience?
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Joined: Dec 2017
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IMSA Corvette Corral question/experience?
VIR is my home track, and I have been there many times. However, I have never been to a race/spectator event.
I am considering attending the Michelin Challenge on August 24-25.
For the Corvette Corral tickets, what is included, what is the experience, do I have a place to setup a sun canopy?
Is 2 days worth it, or 1 day is enough?
Can you talk about your experience? I don't know what to expect.
Thanks,
I am considering attending the Michelin Challenge on August 24-25.
For the Corvette Corral tickets, what is included, what is the experience, do I have a place to setup a sun canopy?
Is 2 days worth it, or 1 day is enough?
Can you talk about your experience? I don't know what to expect.
Thanks,
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,978
Likes: 2,595
From: Gettysburg PA
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had a great time doing a 1 day ticket at the Corral. It allowed you to join the "parade laps" if you were lined up at 7:30 or 8 am ( can't remember). Also had a great hospitality tent, waters, lunch, a Corvette Racing tee shirt, poster, goodie bag, and a Corvette only parking area right next to the hospitality tent. During the lunch break, which was just before the race started they had Mobil 1 rep speak, as well as Michelin tire engineer. All GOOD stuff......
It was brutally hot last August so the huge white hospitality tent was a very welcome spot to be. At one point, after walking around several vantage points, as well as the pit area ( prior to the race) we went back and sat under the edge of the tent on chairs that were there and could see several good spots on the race track to watch it all go by. They also had several big screen TV's going with live broadcast of the race.
Likely will go again this August for 1 day. Have a place at Smith Mountain Lake which is only a little over an hour away.
It was brutally hot last August so the huge white hospitality tent was a very welcome spot to be. At one point, after walking around several vantage points, as well as the pit area ( prior to the race) we went back and sat under the edge of the tent on chairs that were there and could see several good spots on the race track to watch it all go by. They also had several big screen TV's going with live broadcast of the race.
Likely will go again this August for 1 day. Have a place at Smith Mountain Lake which is only a little over an hour away.
Last edited by Strake; Jul 9, 2019 at 12:33 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2017
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I had a great time doing a 1 day ticket at the Corral. It allowed you to join the "parade laps" if you were lined up at 7:30 or 8 am ( can't remember). Also had a great hospitality tent, waters, lunch, a Corvette Racing tee shirt, poster, goodie bag, and a Corvette only parking area right next to the hospitality tent. During the lunch break, which was just before the race started they had Mobil 1 rep speak, as well as Michelin tire engineer. All GOOD stuff......
It was brutally hot last August so the huge white hospitality tent was a very welcome spot to be. At one point, after walking around several vantage points, as well as the pit area ( prior to the race) we went back and sat under the edge of the tent on chairs that were there and could see several good spots on the race track to watch it all go by. They also had several big screen TV's going with live broadcast of the race.
Likely will go again this August for 1 day. Have a place at Smith Mountain Lake which is only a little over an hour away.
It was brutally hot last August so the huge white hospitality tent was a very welcome spot to be. At one point, after walking around several vantage points, as well as the pit area ( prior to the race) we went back and sat under the edge of the tent on chairs that were there and could see several good spots on the race track to watch it all go by. They also had several big screen TV's going with live broadcast of the race.
Likely will go again this August for 1 day. Have a place at Smith Mountain Lake which is only a little over an hour away.
Did you attend the last day of the event (Sunday)?
I am, also, concern about the temperature.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,978
Likes: 2,595
From: Gettysburg PA
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Yes, Sunday only is what I did. As I said above, it was brutally hot that day so the tent and 2 bottled waters per person were very welcome. I also had a cooler in the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 406
From: Syracuse New York
I haven't done the Corvette Corral at VIR, but I do the Corral every year at both Sebring for the 12 Hours and Watkins Glen for the 6 Hours. Great experience both places, they have a large Hospitality tent with video screens inside, provide a basic continental breakfast and coffee early AM, and a nice lunch mid-day, as well as drinks (water, soft drinks and juice) and snacks all day. Pre-race they have the Corvette brass in the tent talking Corvettes, as well as Ron Fellows, and engineers from both Mobil 1 and Michelin to talk and answer questions. Both had private grandstands nearby in good viewing areas, and I'd assume VIR would do the same. They usually will have a couple new Corvettes in the Corral, at Sebring this March they had all 4 Driver Edition Grand Sports on display and had all the info on them, and all 6 drivers were in attendance in the tent at some point, as well as Doug Fehan. Good experience for not a lot extra $$, I'd highly recommend it.
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Thanks guys. I will plan on going on Sunday the 23rd with my wife. I will be be in VIR the week prior for TrackDaze on the 12th-13th and the week after 29th-1st for PCA HPDE events.I hope to see familiar faces. August is going to be a great month....
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 220
Likes: 118
From: Virginia
My wife and I will be there for Saturday and I’ll be there alone on Sunday. Didn’t have the Corvette last year but we did the Mini Corral and it was a blast. Lunch, drinks, door prizes, etc. Really looking forward to the Corvette Corral this year. I think the parade laps are Sunday morning. Hoping to do that!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Besides all that’s been mentioned above you will also get to hear Doug Fehan speak and take questions in the Corral and meet the 4 drivers. That would most likely go on Saturday. Doug is very entertaining.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Darien, IL
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Road America coral is free. No limits on food & drinks. I'm thinking since the race is Aug 4, it is a little close to reveal date for the coral to have a C8.
I hope I'm wrong. They did have a C7 at the 2013 race however.
Instructor
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 195
Likes: 121
My boyfriend and I will be at the VIR Corral this year, both days.
The weather for Saturday looks somewhat rainy, but I do photography in the rain and love some of the look I can get with it, so I'll be there with the C7 Z06 both days. We didn't have a Corral at Daytona and did at Mid-Ohio for the IMSA races this year (not officially Corvette at M-O though) and it rained on me with both and even the parade laps at M-O were wet and slow. So my car is used to the rain and even the mud (and mine wasn't nearly so bad as some of the others at M-O this year either!).
Bringing a couple of prints of photos I took of the C7R in action for the drivers to sign on Sunday as well since this is very likely the last couple of races for the front engine car.
We've been in the Mazda Corral there a couple of times and I was the lone Miata with the Corvettes for their laps 2 years ago...and last year at VIR they actually put some of the overflow from the Corvette Corral (it sold out) at the Mazda tent next door.
Looking forward to it and hopefully meeting a few of you!
The weather for Saturday looks somewhat rainy, but I do photography in the rain and love some of the look I can get with it, so I'll be there with the C7 Z06 both days. We didn't have a Corral at Daytona and did at Mid-Ohio for the IMSA races this year (not officially Corvette at M-O though) and it rained on me with both and even the parade laps at M-O were wet and slow. So my car is used to the rain and even the mud (and mine wasn't nearly so bad as some of the others at M-O this year either!).
Bringing a couple of prints of photos I took of the C7R in action for the drivers to sign on Sunday as well since this is very likely the last couple of races for the front engine car.
We've been in the Mazda Corral there a couple of times and I was the lone Miata with the Corvettes for their laps 2 years ago...and last year at VIR they actually put some of the overflow from the Corvette Corral (it sold out) at the Mazda tent next door.
Looking forward to it and hopefully meeting a few of you!