SAAC 31 A Big Hit with Fans
For Immediate Release
Alton, Va. (July 3) – The Shelby American Automobile Club made its first visit
to VIRginia International Raceway over the weekend of
June 30-July 2 for its 31st Annual Convention, and the event was a big hit with
participants and fans alike.
Hundreds of rare and desirable Ford-powered cars that sprang from the fertile
imagination of the legendary Carroll Shelby were on
hand for the event, including both 289ci and 427ci Shelby Cobras, Shelby
Mustangs, Boss Mustangs and Ford GT40s. The weekend included
vintage races, a concours d’elegance, car show, touring laps, drivers’ schools,
a swap meet and a literature/memorabilia auction. The
event was very popular with fans, attracting one of the biggest crowds at VIR
since it reopened in 2000.
“VIR is a wonderful facility,” said SAAC national director Ken Eber. “We had
people from all over the world on hand for our convention,
and we had a lot of good feedback. This was one of the best annual conventions
we’ve ever had, and we look forward to coming back to VIR
in the near future.”
The SAAC annual convention is one of the most prestigious events of its type in
the United States, and the weekend at VIR attracted media
coverage from Car and Driver magazine and Speed Channel’s “Dream Car Garage”
television series as well as various Ford-related publications
and local news outlets.
“It was a honor for VIR to be selected as the site for the 2006 SAAC Annual
Convention,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief, “and we very
much enjoyed being able to host such a great group of enthusiasts. All of us at
VIR were just as much in awe of the spectacular Shelby cars
as were the fans who showed up over the weekend. We hope to have the SAAC group
back again soon, and often.”
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, NC. 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, visit the track’s website at
www.virclub.com or contact
VIR at 434-822-7700. For more information on the Shelby American
Automobile Club, visit their website at www.saac.com.
