ADR North America Takes Over

ADR North America Aurora Motorsports has become ADR North America. Jonothan Benefield and Mark Johnson are the North American distributors for ADR Engineering UK and the new ADR3 race car. ADR NA will distribute cars, parts, and service throughout the US and Canada. The first 2 cars are in transit and will premier at the San Francisco Auto show 11/19 - 11/27. ADR NA will be based out of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Aurora Motorsports was started in 2002 to address the needs of the club racer in SCCA and other sactioning bodies. After 4 years in the American Le Mans and Grand American Series, they decided to focus on club racing. As racers themselves, they noticed most companies were focusing on the high end user with little or no attention being given to the "average" club racer. They set out to change that. Aurora began working with ADR Engineering in the UK. ADR was in the process of designing a new sports racer - the ADR Sports 2. After a visit to the factory and discussions with Adrian Daniels - the founder of ADR - it was decided to build a car that would bring the "Sports 2" to a completely different level. The ADR3 was designed to be one of, if not the, most versatile sports racers on the market.

After a whole lot of work, Rod Whedbee has decided to return to the ministry. And after some lengthy conversations has turned over Aurora Motosports to Jonothan Benefield and Mark Johnson, both of which share the same vision Rod had for the ADR3; building a fast, reliable, and affordable club race car.

Jonothan and Mark are now the North American distributors for ADR Engineering and the new company will be ADR Motorsports North America. Jonothan has been involved in auto racing since the 60's. Competing in Europe in many classes and events including F3 and LeMans. But his true passion is Sports Car racing. Recently he has been campaigning a CSR in the San Francisco Region of the SCCA. Mark got involved late in life and began racing two years ago, however he has won back to back CSR championships in the SCCA SF region.

For further details see the ADR North America web site.

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NASA National at Mid-Ohio in 2006

The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) will host the amateur racing organization’s first national championship event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sept. 11-17, 2006, at the Lexington, Ohio, road course. The event will feature road racing, time trials, autocross, drifting and rallying competitions and also will incorporate participatory off-track activities, including driving demonstrations, manufacturer autocross rides, seminars and a car show.

NASA announced a new multi-year partnership with TrueSports, Inc. to hold this and other events at the the Lexington, Ohio, road course. “We have been planning a national event for many years, and we’re very happy to have TrueSports, Inc. as our partner,” said NASA Executive Director Jerry Kunzman. “Putting on our first national championship event at a prestigious facility like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is great news for our organization and the more than 10,000 enthusiasts who make up our membership. This is going to be a unique event and we are tremendously excited to be working with the TrueSports team to bring it to reality.”

“Providing a world-class venue for ardent amateur racers is the basis of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course foundation,” said TrueSports President Michelle Trueman Gajoch. “We’re pleased to be able to add the NASA Championships to our schedule and to be able to play a part in helping NASA achieve its goal of putting on fair, affordable, fun events for automobile racers and enthusiasts.”

NASA already has a website devoted to this event; NASA Nationals.

In addition to the Championships, NASA also will sanction three regional race weekends at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Founded in 1991, the National Auto Sport Association is a membership-driven organization that stages over 120 professionally managed events for automobile racers and driving enthusiasts coast to coast. With more than 10,000 members in 15 chapters nationwide, NASA’s amateur racing programs cover a variety of motorsport disciplines, including competition road racing, high-performance driving events for street-licensed cars, rallying, autocross, drifting and time trial competitions.

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One Year Until SCCA Runoffs in Kansas

SCCA's announced dates for the 2006 National Championship Runoffs® take a page of its own history and return the 43rd running of the classic to a more traditional October date for the first event at Heartland Park Topeka.

The 24 National Championship Runoffs races will be held Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006. As has been tradition, the event officially commences on Monday, Oct. 9 for practice, followed by three days of qualifications Oct. 10-12 to set the starting lineups.

Heartland Park Topeka (Topeka, Kansas) will give Runoffs participants a first look at the Runoffs-only track configuration during the promoter test week, Oct. 1-8.

“Eastern Kansas weather is normally very cooperative during this time of the year, and we’ve got the opportunity to extend the time between the final National events of the season and the Runoffs,” SCCA Club Racing Director Terry Ozment said. “This will give competitors more time to prepare for the Runoffs as well as potentially boost participation in the late-season events.”

In addition to the date announcement, SCCA, with assistance from the Topeka Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, has arranged special “SCCA” rates from Oct. 1-15 with many area hotels. The downtown Ramada Inn has been selected as the Official SCCA Event Host Hotel, offering rooms and a complimentary breakfast for a standard rate of $75 plus tax per night. Executive Rooms ($85) and suites ($135) are also available. Reservations may be made at any time through the hotel (800) 432-2424, and rates are guaranteed through Sept. 1, 2006.

Several other area hotels have locked in an “SCCA” rate, although some offer different packages with each rate. A list follows this release, and hotels should be contacted directly for complete details.

In addition to hotel accommodations, Heartland Park Topeka will also provide racers, workers and spectators ample family-friendly camping opportunities during Runoffs testing and competition.

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs® is the annual championship event for the nation’s top amateur road racing drivers, and is regarded as the “Olympics” of motorsports. Featuring more than 700 participants annually, the weeklong event marks its 42nd running this September, with the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Kohler at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

For more information about the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, please visit www.scca.com. For more information on Heartland Park Topeka, log on to the track’s website at www.hpt.com.

Additional hotels offering SCCA rates for the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. All listed prices are per night and do not include tax. Links to all area hotels are available through the TCVB Web site at www.topekacvb.org.

Amerisuites ($99)
Best Western Candlelight Inn ($79)
Best Western Topeka Inn ($79)
Club House Inn and Suites ($79)
Holiday Inn ($74)
Holiday Inn Express ($74)
Regency Inn ($45)
Senate Luxury Suites ($72)

[Story pulled from SCCA news page.]

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