VIRginia International Raceway-1998 Before Renovation

Take a lap around VIR before the renovation process.
Don Sanders is filming and narrating (also with VIR co-developer Connie Nyholm) - renovation was just starting - some trees had been cut down. One lap starting at the crossover bridge.
Driver: Peter Krause
See www.virhistory.com for more old VIR photos and history.
Video Credit: Nick England

[@travisrlambert]

VIR is one of my favorite tracks. I'm so grateful for the folks who brought it back for us to enjoy.

[@zinkracer]

Larry, the farmer who leased the land, let me in - about 1997 or so and I did a lap on my own. Brought back a lot of memories from '73, '74. I drove the last race there in October 1974.

[@andydhillon1977]

So the track wasnt used at all from 1974 to 1998-ish? My first time here was 2004. I had no idea at the time it was so newly developed! It felt newer but figured it had been in operation much longer.

[@CassidysWorkshop]

My last bike race at "Danville" was in 1974, it was already closed to cars. Then I came back in 2008 with my car and NASA. It felt like coming home. Thank you to everyone for having the vision and determination to bring this beauty back.

[@MrRGBTV]

Wow very cool to see what it was before the track. I miss Oak Tree. I have a piece of it on my desk...

[@PeterKrauseProCoach]

So much fun! That's my lady, Lynne Alexander and her E36 M3 in the beginning. I was driving the van!

[@scottcowden]

Amazing what they did with this place!!! Drove it 2 days last year & LOVED IT!!!!

[@GRPE696]

I was just there racing last weekend and is ghostly to see how it was before. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@joenationwide]

That track felt like it was 8 miles long at that speed. God bless the people responsible for bringing this great track back to life, and better than ever. Been coming here since 2005, and just set my personal best lap time the weekend before this video came out!

[@joerizzo53]

My thanks to Connie and her partner for bringing VIR back from the dead for us all to use and enjoy. It is a gem of a track and among the top few tracks in North America. We are fortunate that a few determined road racing enthusiasts had the vision and determination to build the great tracks used by IMSA including Sebring, Road Atlanta, VIR and Watkins Glen. I drive them all on a year round basis.

[@RowdyCM]

It was shocking to me how narrow the old track was as we rode around that day. Of course the last time I’d been there was the last NCR race there 20+ years prior.

[@daviddanek2177]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

[@DivadNoodeldehm-lz2gm]

I'm imagining doing VIR in the dirt sometime in 1997ish, like Pikes Peak back in the day.

[@LapoftheWorld]

That's pretty amazing considering where the facility is now (i.e. world class/very modern). Having toured a few still/permanently abandoned circuits in the past year or so it's always great to see the success stories.

[@PenguinScotty]

That is REALLY cool, thanks for sharing! Wasn't aware that the track was in that kind of state until relatively recently. Time to learn more about it! If somebody has an abandoned racetrack like VIR, hit me up, i'd like one xD

[@chipwhitley9407]

This track was a cow pasture for a long time. This track was literally put out to pasture! Glad to see it was restored and have had some great racing there since!

[@jasonpilla]

Amazing footage of an incredible track. Piece of American history. I’d be leaving tomorrow morning to drive to VIR if it weren’t for an ice storm. February 20-21 Winterfest 2021..... canceled. Oh well. Can’t wait to drive there again.

[@MegalongMusic]

nice field sights! :-)

[@beezer5282]

How much time passed in between the renovation and when it was operating before?

[@wasbruno]

24-25 yrs