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Event Report: Fastivus 2015

[Editor’s Note: Fastivus took place last weekend, and while unfortunately none of the VMG staff was able to make the event, plenty of others were.  Below is an event recap by BIG-EURO’s Erik Ruggles, with images from Paul Chan.] 

If there’s one premier Volkswagen track event of the entire year, it is without any lengthy consideration Fastivus. Eugene Lee has been putting the event on for more than a decade and there isn’t a better, safer, more fun way to expose your VW to the track. After spending a few years out at the Willow Springs complex, Fastivus returned to the location of the 2009 event, Fontana Speedway.

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Back in ’09 Fastivus ran the infield configuration which, while fun for all cars, slightly favors set ups that a geared more toward handling rather than power. This year, participants ran what is referred to as ‘The Roval.’ With the promise of NASCAR banking (lefts, naturally), and peak speeds in the 130+ range for cars that could handle it, Fastivus was definitely taking things up a notch. Preregistrations tripled, and social media buzzed as tantalizing tidbits began to leak. In addition to the ‘Roval’ configuration, Volkswagen of America intended to bring Tanner Faust out for a drift demonstration, and the heap of prizes grew to a value totaling $54,000.

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I’d spent the weekend at Fontana not long ago for Bimmerfest, and the two events couldn’t be more different. Where Bimmerfest focuses on static displays and a massive turnout of cars filling every parking spot imaginable, only a small percentage of attendees attempting the track.  Fastivus, on the other hand, has spent the last decade compelling owners to take their cars onto a proper race circuit.

While many of the drivers we talked to were tracking their cars for the very first time, many more are of the casual variety, with Fastivus serving as their only track time each year. The result of having so many every day owners as opposed to professional weekend warriors is one of the most down to earth paddock environments we’ve experienced at any European event.

Stroll up to James Strawson and his E85-tuned Mk4 R32 and he’ll gladly provide you line advice. Ask Tyler Setterstrom about that crazy 2,800 lb Mk7 GTI and he’ll walk you through every ounce of weight removed from the interior. It’s a one of a kind event that Southwestern Volkswagen fans are very lucky to call their own.

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Out on track, run groups went off mostly without a hitch as Speed Ventures did a fantastic job of separating folks by ability and speed. After each initial session, run groups received a download where anything unusual was called out to be corrected. Due to heavy traffic, later sessions saw the addition of a pre-grid to help eliminate congestion on the infield. Even with these precautions, there were a few instances of contact with the wall at speed and a few blown engines, but those were a small percentage of the 225 plus cars participating.

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Heading into the vendor area we were captivated by the sheer diversity of cars.  Volkswagen brought out all four generations of R, as well as an Amarok with bi-TDI power which was a real treat to see in person.

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During lunch Tanner Faust tore through set after set after set of tires in his 900 hp drift Passat, sliding his way through the infield. Each tire change was accompanied with a passenger change for those lucky enough to be chosen at random for a ride along. In addition to the drift demonstration, Tanner also took folks out in a Mk7 Golf R during several run groups. If you were passed by a brand new blue Golf R with ‘Golf R’ on the rear plate, hopefully you followed his lines to learn the fastest way around the circuit.

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At the end of the day trophies were awarded for certain achievements, like James Strawson who was the fastest Volkswagen around the track at 1:54.865, and many others winning prizes from that insane grab bag of goodies. If you missed the event this year youíll need to make sure you add it to your calendar for 2016 as soon as a date is announced. You can be certain BIG EURO will have it added to our calendar!

 

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