With the announcement of NASA’s new dual-championship schedule, racers in the East who want to bag a title now will have a much shorter drive than they did in 2013. The first venue to play host to NASA’s Eastern States Championships will be Road Atlanta, which is located in Braselton, Ga., just an hour away from downtown Atlanta and not far from Atlanta’s main reservoir and aquatic playground, Lake Sidney Lanier.
History
Road Atlanta came into being in 1969 when Earl Walker, David Sloyer and Arthur Montgomery bought a piece of farmland outside of Braselton, Ga., to develop as a road racing track. The 2.54-mile course hosted its first race in 1970 and has long been a venue for multiple significant pro and amateur races, including the famed Petit Le Mans that was the final race ever for the American Le Mans Series in 2013. Former Road Atlanta owner Don Panoz brought the track up to FIA standards in 1996 to host more major races by adding a chicane to reduce speeds in the remarkably tricky Turn 12 downhill section leading onto the front straight and also eliminating a treacherous feature called The Dip. Other than that, the track has remained true to its original design. However, even though the big fast drop has been tamed a bit, the course is still a tricky beast full of big elevation changes, blind corners and very high-speed stretches.
Getting There
Getting to Road Atlanta is remarkably easy by air because Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the most serviced and busiest hubs in the country. Delta is the major carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson, but nearly all other nationwide airlines service the airport. The track is about an hour’s drive from the airport and is easily accessible from Interstate 85, which is one of the major arteries connecting the Southeast with the rest of the nation, so access to Road Atlanta is easy and convenient.
Staying There
When you head to Road Atlanta, there are plenty of options for lodging, ranging from luxurious to humble. At the exits near the track off I-85 and I-985 in Braselton or Oakwood, respectively, there are some serviceable chain hotels, but you can really live it up by staying at the four-star Chateau Élan in Braselton. Built by Don Panoz, Chateau Élan features such niceties as an in-house spa, seven restaurants and even its own vineyard. There is also the option to camp out in the paddock and enjoy the usual fun that is always present at a big NASA weekend like the Championships.
Eating There
Road Atlanta is near two good-size cities, Braselton and Flowery Branch, so there are plenty of the usual national dining options available from fast food to sit-down fare like Chili’s or Cracker Barrel, which are not too far away from the track. Local favorites include La Parrilla in Flowery Branch for Mexican food and Jeffrey’s Sports Grill for more traditional fare.
Driving There
Road Atlanta is a hilly rollercoaster with major climbs that strain the low- horsepower cars and huge drops that make the pit of your stomach slam into the floorboard. You can read the instructional story on how to get around the track quickly elsewhere in this issue. It is very similar in feel to Virginia International Raceway or Sonoma Raceway out west. Turn 1 leads you into a big climb that tops out at Turn 7 where you slingshot around into a nice, long run with the throttle pinned until the chicane at Turn 10A slows you down. You then have a nearly blind drop under the bridge and into Turn 12. As you hang on for dear life coming down the hill, you need to carefully manage your speed and trajectory to keep your fenders off the wall and your velocity at its maximum as you rocket toward the start/finish stripe.
As for services, there are plenty of local auto parts stores along Winder Highway, and the Eastern States Championships will have the usual array of tire and other service providers in attendance. The Atlanta metro area is also not too far away, so nearly everything you might need is within easy reach.
The NASA Eastern States Championships presented by Toyo Tires will take place August 28-31, 2014, so get your plans in place now to make sure you don’t miss out on some good ol’ Southern hospitality Road Atlanta style.
http://www.nasaproracing.com/nationals/Regs_East_Champs2014.pdf
The Facts
Road Atlanta
5300 Winder Highway
Braselton, Georgia 30517
800-849-RACE
La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant
3446 Winder Hwy.
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
770-297–0811
Jeffrey’s Bar and Grill
6332 Grand Hickory Drive
Braselton, GA 30517
770-967-8377
Stonewall’s Barbecue
6072 Hwy. 53, Suite K
Braselton, GA 30517
706-824-9990
Chateau Élan Resort
100 Rue Charlemagne
Braselton, GA 30517-2207
678-425-0900
Quality Inn
3469 Mundy Mill Rd.
Oakwood, GA 30566
770-287-1000
http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-oakwood-georgia-GA124?source=gglocalai1
Jameson Inn-Oakwood
3780 Merchants Way
Oakwood, GA 30566
770-533-9400
Hampton Inn & Suites Flowery Branch
4660 Holland Dam Rd.
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
770-965-0357
Holiday Inn Express Braselton
2069 Georgia 211
Braselton, GA 30517
770-867-8100
Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
925 Georgia 124
Braselton, GA 30517
770-868-5419
http://www.countryinns.com/braseltonga
Best Western Braselton Inn
303 Zion Church Rd.
Braselton, GA 30517
706-654-3081
