Track Focus – Tamiya Raceway

Track Name – Tamiya Raceway
Country – USA
Location – Aliso Viejo, California
Surface – Asphalt
Direction – Anti-Clockwise
Previous Reedy Races hosted – 8

Tamiya Raceway hosts the Reedy Race of Champions for a 9th time in 2016, the iconic touring car race continuing to enjoy a revival since it returned in 2014 to what many drivers describe as the best onroad track in the World.  Built in 1994 as part of Tamiya’s then US headquarters facility, the track hosted its first Reedy Race in 2002 but after a run of 6 years the site was put up for sale leaving the famed race format of one of the sport’s great pioneers Mike Reedy to move elsewhere.  While Tamiya would move their HQ 8-miles away to Irvine after the sale of their huge building, they would retain ownership of the track but with no offices the obstacle now was an issue of parking. With drivers constantly seeking the race to return to what is actually quite a small track, their hopes of racing there again finally happened when Scotty Ernst took over the running of the event 3-years ago and a temporary parking area was created.

Built in an area 170 ft wide by 70 ft deep, the first observation one makes on seeing the track in the flesh is how small it is but mention that to the drivers who have driven it before and they don’t care. The size is irrelevant, they just love it because of the overtaking opportunities making it perfect for the 12 rounds of heads up racing that make will determine the Reedy Race Champion.  Unfortunately last year the surface of the track had come to the end of its life and meant there was a very narrow race line which effected the quality of the racing.  The track subsequently had the top layer resealed and while reigning champion Marc Rheinard said ‘it is an improvement’, the Tamiya star added ‘the grip is not as good as I was expecting and its still dirty off line’.  Making his Reedy Race debut at this the 19th running of the event, factory Awesomatix driver & star of the recent first outdoor ETS encounter Viljami Kutvonen’s first impressions of the track are ‘it’s quite different’.  The Finn added ‘I like it but its quite challenging to get a perfect lap’.  Commenting on the track’s famous centre kink, a corner that has seen the demise of many a driver’s Reedy Race title aspirations, he said ‘it’s fun and you want to take it as fast as you can but then it’s dangerous’.

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