Sam true has learned salesmanship.
And in doing so he has events booked at the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research in Garysburg all the way through November.
True, who came to the center as operations manager in 2012 with a background in electronics and instrumentation, started figuring out ways to market the facility, which lies off Highway 46 beyond the Lowe's Regional Distribution Center.
(For more information on events at NCCAR visit its events page. The EV Challenge begins with registration Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. It includes oral presentations, troubleshooting and EV Jeopardy. The acceleration event begins at 2 p.m. and the range event ends when the last vehicle battery dies. The Autocross event will be held Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the awards ceremony to follow at 11:30 a.m.)
“I know it has to be an income generator to pay the bills,” he said today as the center prepares for this weekend's EV Challenge, which features nine schools and their electric cars from as far away as Miami. “I started out looking at what other places are doing. I started pushing social media and contacting people working for Grand-Am and LeMans teams. We started testing with those teams.”
Garrett in the VW.
Then came Silver Dragon Racing, a drift team, and Karting, which will hold a club event and a World Karting Association event.
Silver Dragon Racing, the drifting team, has booked four events.
For True, it's all about the people. “My favorite thing is the people. You can have a person with a $20,000 BMW or Ducati in an expensive hauler parked next to a station wagon with a trailer and they'll pitch in and help. The community is my favorite part. They come out here and enjoy themselves.”
True will work the paddocks and greet the participants, and then there is a team of volunteers who make sure the events are safe for participants and spectators. “We've got a first class team of volunteers.”
Heading into a curve on the track.
He sees the events as a way to not only benefit the center, but the local economy as some events bring as many as 250 to 300 people to the area. The national Karting event will bring 500 participants to the area.
In addition to the events, the center has become part of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and True has applied within the past week so it can become the site for teaching people to get their motorcycle endorsement.
While the research end has been slow in coming, True believes the events scheduled will lead to more of the technical aspects of the facility opening up in the future. “I see grassroots motor sports being our base that will pay the bills and keep them operating.”
"Refueling" the VW.
Steve Garrett, executive director of the EV Challenge, says the test track at NCCAR is perfect for the weekend event that in the past has had events in mall parking lots, airports and through the streets of Raleigh for some phases. “You can see the entire track. It keeps the kids actively engaged and gives them a source of pride.”
The public is welcome to the events, True said. Most events are $5, although the Drifting team sets its own admission fee.
At some point True would like to add grandstands but there is a grassy area which accommodates lawn chairs and offers a view of the entire track in an alcohol-free environment during events.
As far as this weekend's EV Challenge, True is proud to host the event. “When the EV Challenge was really big they would go to the racetrack in Richmond and Phoenix. As it fell off they had to use parking lots at malls.”
The center's test track, he said, “Is good for control and gives them a sense of pride.”
