MOTORSPORTS LAB STARTS ITS ENGINE AT VIR

The state's motorsports initiative shifted into high gear with the April 25th opening of an Old Dominion University (ODU) engineering laboratory that will be used to educate a Southside workforce and support economic development goals for the region and state.

Located at the Virginia International Raceway (VIR) near Danville, the lab is the latest addition to the growing arsenal of the high-tech Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (VIPER). The institute combines the assets and expertise of ODU, Virginia Tech, and the world-class VIR.

The facility includes 3,400 square feet of classroom, laboratory and office space. The VIPER asset is conveniently and tactically located at VIR, just a short drive to other racetracks in South Boston and Martinsville. The rare locating of a university research lab at a world-class racing facility supports our goal of being self-sustainable, while generating funds for student activities, research and stipends.

Beginning this fall, the facility will provide a rare educational opportunity for engineering motorsports students who have progressed from coursework at community colleges to ODU engineering by way of the New College Institute in Martinsville, or who have studied at other state or regional institutions of higher education.

"This educational program is unique in that it provides access to all aspects of the motorsports engineering discipline," stressed the program's director, Colin Britcher, chair of the aerospace engineering department at ODU.

"This offering is essential to master's degree students, offering very valuable engine, chassis dynamics and on-track performance testing, all in one location. When you add in the aerodynamics testing available in ODU's wind tunnel, you have the only complete motorsports engineering test facility in America, right here in Virginia."