Once again, the summer is fast approaching, which means one thing – it’s time for racing season! And while most of us look forward to the long, warm summer days, there are others who dread the idea of going back to work. For those who love their cars, motor racing is the ultimate escape, offering endless possibilities for thrills and spills.
Located in Pennsylvania, the folks at Jennerstown Speedway offer a glimpse of what all the excitement is about. This grassroots motorsport organization hosts an oval track as well as a mini-course. And while there are no details available at the moment, it appears that the racing calendar will be packed this year, with multiple events scheduled throughout the summer and into the Fall!
So, is there more to life at Jennerstown than just fun and games? Let’s find out…
The Grand Tour
For those who have fond memories of their childhood, the phrase ‘grand tour’ conjures up images of a glamorous adventure around the world, a rite of passage for young people in the 1950s and 1960s. However, these days it is more common for adults to take a journey around Europe in the footsteps of Mark Twain or Goethe, or even to retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark. But what is a ‘grand tour’ in motorsport terms?
Well, in a nutshell, a grand tour is a journey around an established automotive route, usually during the day and in the company of other cars. The idea is to drive an economical but safe distance and to stop off at key locations along the way. The attraction to this form of automotive travel is that it provides you with a sense of completion, of having covered a certain ground and seen a wide range of sights. It’s pretty much the same as taking a long walk around the block, but instead of doing it alone, you have a partner (or better yet, partners!) in crime, taking turns at the wheel and pointing out landmarks as you go.
This is essentially what you get with a grand tour, with the added attraction of seeing iconic cars and meeting famous racing drivers. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, have a read through our guide to taking a grand tour around Europe in a classic car. The article takes you through the step-by-step process of planning a tour around Europe in a vintage car, from deciding where to start to finishing up and having some well-deserved cocktails. The guide even covers how to deal with pesky traffic laws and gives you some handy tips on navigating historical sites and taking photos without getting in trouble with the authorities. Sounds like something you might want to try?
Odds And Ends
Another option is to take a short cut. If you’re more of a speed enthusiast than a tour enthusiast, you could try taking the track directly to your favorite places. After all, a little speed never hurt anyone, did it? There are many short tracks all over the world, and some of them are quite renowned. For example, there’s the Nurburgring in Germany, the track in the middle of Moscow, or the legendary Mount Panorama in Australia. If you’ve never been there and you have a good driving partner, it’s something to see when you get there! It’s certainly an experience of a lifetime, and it might even teach you a thing or two about determination and drive. Of course, if you want to do this, you need to prepare for the worst as well as the best – prepare for floods and drought, prepare for sunny summer days and freezing winter nights, and so forth. Just remember: whatever you do, always use your common sense – don’t try to drive on a wet road, especially if you’re not used to it and don’t want to ruin the finish of your vehicle. And please, don’t drink and drive – it’s a never ending story, as we know all too well. So, while we’re on the subject of drinking, it’s time for another toast… Cheers!