If there is a business lesson from the past couple of years, it’s that you have to be flexible yet keep your eye on the prize. As we’ve all experienced, life can throw you a curveball when you least expect it.
Regardless of what’s thrown at him, Tony Parella, the CEO of SVRA and owner of Trans-Am Racing, keeps his eye on the prize. While other businesses have faltered, SVRA & Trans-Am have grown.
With the early 2022 racing season in full swing, we caught up with Tony Parella to take a moment to reflect on the beginnings of SVRA & Trans-Am and shed some light on this year’s additions.
What follows are excerpts from the edited transcript of our discussion.
10 Years Of Steady Progress
Rod Worley – Editor – You have to be thrilled about your progress over the past ten years. What were your goals for the series in the beginning?
Tony Parella – CEO SVRA & Trans-Am – You know, my goal when I bought it all those years ago was to elevate vintage racing to the point where it was mentioned in the same breath as other sports properties of mainstream motorsports in America.
Along the way, we acquired the SCCA Pro license, so we could sanction our own races for the Pro series. So we’re continually making strides as a company that keeps our team fired up.
Looking back from where we started, through the years, to where we are now, you can see the steady progress we’ve made. Today, our tracks events read like the Who’s Who of America’s top road courses.
Usually, when you’ve got ten years under your belt running a business, sometimes you feel like you’ve reached your peak. But, honestly, I don’t think we’ve even scratched the surface of what we will become.
2021 Brings Another Year Of Success
Rod Worley – Editor – Tony, 2021 was an exciting year for SVRA and Trans-Am Racing, even with the COVID pandemic. What were some of the highlights that stood out this racing year in your mind?
Tony Parella – CEO of SVRA & Trans-Am – Well, you know, honestly, Rod, going into 2021, there was so much uncertainty because of COVID. One of the highlights must be knowing that we ran 19 events, and none of our competitors got sick at one of our events for an entire year.
We took as many precautions as possible, but that’s still incredible.
Also, in 2021, despite COVID, we set records at several events, especially in our Trans AM series. That series is just exploding with enthusiasm.
An excellent example of that enthusiasm would be our last race of the year held at the Circuit of Americas.
You see, typically, grassroots professional racing teams are running out of money by the end of the season.
They’ve hit their budget, or they’re not in the hunt, and your numbers go down. But, we had 81 cars compete, which broke a record held since 1966.
We also had another fantastic race with IndyCar at the Big Machine Vodka Music City Grand Prix. Then, finally, at Road America, the first weekend in July, we raced with NASCAR Cup with Trans-Am.
With SVRA, we had a record turnout at several of our events, including Sebring and Circuit of the Americas. In addition, Mid-Ohio was off the charts.
The Watkins Glen event was far and away from the biggest Watkins Glen turnout we’ve ever had. So as you can tell, I’m really excited about our potential in 2022.
Enhancing The Race Experience
Rod Worley – Editor – Tony, one area that has always impressed me, is your team’s use of technology. Yes, you have the Speed Tour Quarterly print magazine, but you’re also innovators in using technology to enhance the race-day action for spectators.
Can you tell us more about SpeedTour.TV?
Tony Parella – CEO SVRA & Trans-Am – Rod, you’re right. We are always looking for new ways to engage our spectators in the action. Now, our fans can watch free coverage from at least 10 SpeedTour events throughout the year.
In addition, we have free streams showing on YouTube, social media, and the newly developed SpeedTour.TV website.
You can watch the full day of coverage at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV or on SpeedTour.TV. In addition, SpeedTour gives you live coverage and highlights from each series on that series’ respective social media pages and YouTube channels.
Additional SpeedTour events we’re broadcasting include Trans Am SpeedFest at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (April 23-24) and Mission Foods Sonoma SpeedTour (April 30-May 1). We will also have the Trans Am Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park (May 28-30) and Mid-Ohio SpeedTour (June 25-26).
They will also be broadcasting from Watkins Glen SpeedTour (September 10-11), Mission Foods VIR SpeedTour (October 8-9), and the Mission Foods Austin SpeedTour (November 5-6).
We always try to add value and find ways to immerse our fans in the road course action. SpeedTour TV is our latest step forward.
Optima Battery – Ultimate Street Car
Rod Worley – Editor – It’s clear that SVRA and Trans-Am Racing are growing with all the additional tracks you’ve added.
I know you’re busy, so I’ll get you out of here on this last question.
In addition to the additional track events, have you added anything else for 2022?
Tony Parella – CEO of SVRA & Trans-AM – I do have some exciting news to share for 2022. OPTIMA Batteries has been announced as the latest partner to join the SpeedTour family.
The agreement establishes OPTIMA Batteries as the “Official Battery of Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA)” and the “Official Battery of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli.” Additionally, this agreement allows us to participate in OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car national points championship series in select SpeedTour events throughout 2022.
They will be joining us at six of our events this year. With all the experiences we’re offering our fans and racers, it’s shaping up to be another great year!
I know you have a nationwide following of dedicated Corvette readers, so I wanted to take a moment and mention that we have enormous car shows scheduled at several of our events this year.
Along with the car shows, we also offer a track tour during lunchtime or the last lap of the day. Again, it’s an excellent opportunity to get a sense of what the track feels like in your car.
All of this adds significant value to our event weekends.
Focused On The Experience
Indeed, much has changed in our world over the past two years. But thankfully, Tony Parella and his team at SVRA & Trans-Am have always remained focused on providing the best fan and racer experience.
True to that goal, the March 2022 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta event provided some thrilling racing and a chance to meet drivers. As you recall, we covered the event in our article, SVRA/Trans-Am Showcases Exciting Racing At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
After covering SVRA & Trans-Am for the past few years, one thing is undeniable. Tony Parella and his team have their eye on the prize for 2022.
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