VIR joined Virginia's racing and tourism market yesterday with its first entry into the state's Racing Region guide.
State officials touted the racing's positive economic impact as officials from the Racing Region's three counties, Halifax, Pittsylvania and Henry, gathered to celebrate the joint effort.
With VIR, South Boston Speedway and Martinsville Speedway form the region's racing triumvirate.
Unveiled yesterday was the 36-page guide designed to help race fans and other visitors to the area find what they need.
"A visitor coming here is obviously a race fan first," said John D. Watt, an official with Virginia Tourism.
"But then they're going to start looking around for more things to see and do. By combining the multiple counties and using the Route 58 corridor as a spine, we can get them to see an awful lot of things and have a really enjoyable experience in the couple of days that they're going to be here.
"The goal, of course, is to get them back," continued Watt, "not just on a race weekend but on a weekend when we have a little more space and everybody can spread out and relax and really enjoy what is offered here."
The goal is to use auto racing as a vehicle to enhance tourism and the economic impact it has on the trio of counties.
However, just how much of an economic impact Virginia's Racing Region and the new visitor's guide can make is hard to gauge.
"The impact is going to be significant but it is going to be really hard to measure because we just don't have turnstiles on everything we have to see and do.," Watt said.
"We already know the significant impact VIR is having on hotel space in both South Boston and Danville and I think that the more we see our businesses in Southside Virginia doing well, we're going to hear more and more about the economic impact."
Although VIR is in its second year of operation, this is the first time it has been featured in the racing guide.
"I feel it brings everyone in as a big family," said VIR General Manager Jack Abbott.
"Racing is a family. South Boston Speedway and Martinsville and the entire area is racing oriented. We're happy to be part of that and to be thought about in that way."
South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice, who has seen the impact of the first Virginia's Racing Region Visitor's Guide, says the impact of this new one will be significant as well.
"As far as the guide itself, I think it will have a big impact," she said.
"It gives you everything you need to know about any part of the Virginia Racing Region.
"We were involved when they first started the Virginia's Racing Region," added Rice.
"It's getting bigger and better now. VIR coming on board this year has been wonderful."
Martinsville Speedway's director of corporate communications, Steve Shepperd, also touted the impact of the new guide.
"We have a lot of fans that come to Martinsville Speedway, VIR and South Boston Speedway from outside this area," Shepperd said.
"For them to be able to get this information and see what else there is to see and do in Martinsville and Henry County they may come a little bit early to the race or they may come back at some time on a vacation.
"It encourages people that have already been here and know this area to come back at other times," he added.
"It also encourages people who haven't been here to make their first trip to Martinsville, Henry County, Danville, Pittsylvania County and Halifax."
The booklet unveiled by officials of the Virginia Racing Region Committee includes histories and schedules of the three featured tracks.
It also includes a listing of 46 hotels and motels, 26 bed and breakfasts, 15 camping and RV facilities, 125 restaurants and 20 fast-food restaurants.
A listing of 50 historical and cultural attractions, 30 scenic recreational areas, and five public golf courses is also included.
The new guide also includes a Calendar of Events.
The 30,000 guides will be distributed through ticket sales, through the "Virginia Travel and Resort Folder," the "Virginia Travel Guide," and through sponsoring chambers of commerce.
Guides may also be obtained by calling toll free 866-632-3378.
In 1997, the Virginia General Assembly designated the counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick and the cities of Danville and Martinsville as Virginia's racing Region.
Members of the Virginia Racing region Committee are the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, South Boston Community Development, South Boston Speedway, Virginia International Raceway and Motorsport Country Club, and the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Other members include the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Martinsville Speedway, Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and Patrick County Chamber of Commerce.

Two pilot-project convenience centers with green boxes, as well as a new zoning district dealing with manufactured homes, will be recommended to supervisors by the planning commission.
Halifax County Planning Commission members unanimously approved the recommendations during their Tuesday night session.
Planners also will recommend approval of VIR's request for overnight camping for spectators at the site on Friday and Saturday nights.
"We are applying as a convenience to spectators," said Connie Nyholm, vice president of Blue Chip Racing Resorts.
No one spoke in opposition to the amended conditional use permit request during the public hearing Tuesday. Following the hearing, planners unanimously approved the VIR request for recommendation to supervisors.
The Planning Commission, in its solid waste study, has been studying the county's need for green box sites, consolidation of sites, manned versus unmanned sites, recycling needs, projections for future needs and estimated costs.
Commissioners agreed Tuesday to recommend that two trial convenience centers be established, as well as the addition of another truck to allow more frequent pick ups at established green boxes.
"With hope of going to commercial centers," added Commissioner Jim Davis.
Convenience centers feature multiple green boxes and are unmanned operations, but commercial centers are fenced, manned and contain compactors. An estimated cost for a commercial site is $110,000.
The recommendation comes as the county continues to develop a program that will consolidate green box sites but offer additional green box/recycling opportunities to better serve residents. Cleanliness of sites is another goal.
Planners also approved, and will recommend to supervisors, a new zoning district proposal for residential manufactured housing.
The proposed ordinance amendment addresses lot area and width regulations as well as setbacks.
The proposed district would be composed of medium density residential areas with manufactured, modular and site-built homes, plus certain open areas where similar residential development appears likely to occur.
The regulations for this district are designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the district, to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life, and to prohibit commercial activities, according to the proposal's statement of intent.
Uses are limited to single unit dwellings providing homes for the residents plus certain additional uses, such as schools, parks, churches and certain public facilities that serve the residents of the district.
Planners will recommend manufactured homes with block, brick, stone or concrete underpinning.
If served by both water and sewer, residential lots shall have a minimum of 100 feet or more in width at the building line and 10,000 square feet or more in area.
If served by only water or sewer, the recommendation calls for lots to have a minimum of 100 feet or more in width at the building line and 15,000 square feet or more in area.
If served by neither public water nor sewer systems, lots shall have a minimum of 100 feet or more in width at the building line and 20,000 square feet or more in area.

Strolling through Terry's Bridge Antiques will bring back childhood memories for local residents.
Sue and Cecil Lacks hope to "jog" some more memories at the 2001 C.H. Friend Antique, Art and Craft Show, March 10-11.
A Blue Ribbon Dairy "ice cream clock," milk bottle and half-pint chocolate milk carton are some of the more recognizable items in Cecil and Sue Lacks' antique shop on Route 304 near Scottsburg.
An Old Colony soft drink bottle from the Orange Crush Bottling Company in South Boston, and flour sacks from Brookers and Halifax Roller Mills are also displayed.
There is a great deal of variety in the other collectibles found in the shop, from glassware and Coca-Cola memorabilia to old toys, games, lanterns and thermometers.
Other items include Luzianne coffee tins of differing sizes, as well as wooden chairs, advertising Piedmont Cigarettes, which graced the sidewalks of Clover many years ago.
"I think people used them to sit and play checkers," said Lacks.
Cecil and Sue Lacks have operated their antique business for about eight years, having begun collecting seven years before that.
"We have general antiques so there's something for everyone," said Sue Lacks.
"The first piece we bought was a walnut buffet table about 15 years ago. We caught the 'collecting bug' after that."
Among the glass items in the Lacks' shop are "Depression pattern" glass ware, known for their serrated edges.
"It's officially know as a 'Sierra' pattern," said Lacks, but it reminds some people of a pinwheel, so they call it that. Its colors are primarily green and pink, but you do see it in cobalt, clear and amber colors.
"I like it because it was only made about two-three years, from 1930 to 1932."
The Lacks will also bring Watt Apple and Tulip style ceramic pitchers to the show, as well as several types of Coca-Cola memorabilia.
This year's C.H. Friend Antique, Art and Craft show will be the couple's first, but not last, effort to display their wide range of collectibles.
According to Sue Lacks, her husband recently retired from the State Department of Corrections, now has time to travel locally to antique shows.
"It seemed that before, he always had to work the weekend of the C.H. Friend Show," she added.
Now that they can devote more time to their trade, the Lacks hope to make more trips to New York and Louisiana to purchase collectibles in order to bring back even more memories.

A stolen vehicle led to an all-out manhunt Tuesday evening when the driver and a passenger fled on foot from police officers and avoided capture, despite a search by a canine unit and a helicopter provided by the Aviation Unit of the Virginia State Police.
Chris Brooks, 30, of South Boston, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by the South Boston Police after an anonymous tip led to a relative's house.
Officer E. Fallen said Brooks was charged with felony counts of grand larceny and escape.
Brooks was driving a stolen 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee with one passenger, Jesse Sims, 23, of Woodbrook Street in South Boston.
At 6 p.m., the vehicle was stopped at the entrance of Westside Apartments by Officer C. Carswell for an identification check, Fallen said.
Fallen said the vehicle was turned away because of improper identification and then a tag check indicated the vehicle had been stolen in New York.
Officers Carswell and Fallen searched for the vehicle in the vicinity of the Sims residence and Carswell noticed the suspects riding in the vehicle behind him.
The officer allowed the vehicle to pass him before the suspects were pulled over for the arrest.
Officer Fallen said the suspects had surrendered with their hands placed on the car, but before the handcuffs were applied, both suspects fled on foot.
Brooks ran across a railroad track and then crossed a creek before disappearing in a field near Gravitt Street.
Once the suspect crossed the creek, he shed his shoes, shirt and pants and laid down in a briar-infested field, covering himself with debris to avoid the officers' search, Fallen said.
Brooks later left the field, hiding under vehicles during the night.
A canine unit from Camp 23 was brought in by Officer Sherwood Forline and a helicopter, using an infra-red heat sensor, entered the search.
The dog picked up the scent at the creek bed and led police as far as Broad Street before the scent was lost.
Brooks entered his sister's residence around 4 a.m. Wednesday morning where he remained until the arrest at 1:30 p.m.
Sims had fled to a girlfriend's resident during the night and then entered the police department around 11:30 p.m.
No charges have been filed against Sims.
The Halifax County Sheriff's Office and the Town of Halifax Police also assisted in the hunt.

Estelle Kirby, a 54-year-old Halifax resident, has until March 28 to prove she is not the person that Michigan authorities want in connection with a murder that took place in Port Huron on October 7, 1970.
That is the date of an extradition hearing scheduled for General District Court in Halifax.
Halifax County General District Court Judge Joel Cunningham granted defense attorney William Watson's motion for a continuance before an initial extradition hearing could take place on Wednesday.
Watson plans to use the intervening time before the hearing to seek additional documentary evidence that Kirby was here and not in Michigan when the crime occurred.
"I have been talking to witnesses here in the community who can help validate her appearance here in the community," said Watson.
Kirby was arrested on January 11, on a "fugitive from justice" warrant from Michigan, in connection with the October 7, 1970 stabbing death of Donald Simons in Port Huron, MI.
Kirby has been out on bond since the time of her arrest.
"Authorities in Michigan have reason to believe Mrs. Kirby perpetrated a homicide there in October of 1970," said Watson.
According to a Michigan State police investigation, Simons was found unconscious in his car during the early morning hours of October 7, 1970, after the car had crashed into a residence in Port Huron.
Simons had been stabbed in the chest and shoulder - he was dead on arrival at Port Huron Hospital shortly thereafter, according to the investigation.
"We're looking for doctors' records, social security records and employment records," Watson added.
"There are numerous people who are willing to testify she has been a resident of Halifax County and has been here through that time.
"Hopefully, we will be able to get this resolved without having to have a hearing. I believe it is a case of mistaken identity."

By Joe Chandler
Will the third time be a charm for Ashley Epperson?
The Halifax County High School junior hopes so.
Epperson will represent Halifax County High School in this weekend's State Group AAA indoor track meet at George Mason University.
This will be Epperson's third trip to the big show, her first, however, in indoor track.
"I'm excited," Epperson said Wednesday during a break in one of her training routines.
"I'm very excited about going to the state and competing against the many good athletes that will be there. I hope I can place."
Epperson qualified for the state meet earlier this season when she hit 18 feet in the long jump.
That proved to be very beneficial for the Halifax County High School track standout.
Epperson injured a knee and had to sit out the last couple of meets of the season. She also had to sit out the Western District meet.
The Halifax County High School junior returned to compete in the recent Northwest Region meet and placed third in the long jump.
This year an extra week was built in between the Northwest Region meet and the state meet.
That has been to Epperson's advantage as this week marks the first week that she has returned to full training since injuring her knee three weeks or so ago.
Eventhough she has been hampered by her injury, Epperson says she doesn't feel that the long layoff and limited activity will be too big of an obstacle to overcome.
"The long jump is something that comes almost automatically to me because I've been doing it so long," Epperson said.
"It's almost like tying my shoes."
Epperson has been a standout on the Comets outdoor track teams since arriving on the scene as a freshman.
In her first year on the outdoor team, Epperson advanced to the state meet as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team.
The following season, her sophomore year, Epperson made her way to the state meet in the long jump.
It was only this year, however, that Epperson turned to the indoor version of the sport.
Epperson had played on the Halifax County High School girls basketball team. But she ditched basketball in favor of track.
"There wasn't a lot of emphasis on girls basketball," she said.
"I felt like I had a much better chance of advancing and doing well in track."
Epperson's road to success in track began at Halifax County Middle School.
"At the middle school I originally wasn't going to try out," Epperson explained.
"But the coach asked me to and I did."
While Epperson discovered something about what track was on the middle school level, she says it went only so far in preparing her for what was ahead on the next level.
"It was good in terms of learning the running and jumping but you didn't know what defeat was because you always won," she said.
"It was the same thing in middle school basketball. It took me a season to compete and learn what the next level of competition was and learn how hard I had to work."
With a successful high school career well underway, Epperson is casting her eyes toward the future.
"I want to go on and compete in college," Epperson said.
"If it's possible, I may like to try to go pro. With hard work and determination I think I can do it."

Elizabeth Robertson Throckmorton

Elizabeth Robertson Throckmorton, 82, of 1097 Ponderosa Road, South Boston, died February 27 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Throckmorton was born in Halifax County on April 15, 1918, the son of Moses Robertson and Hassie Walker Robertson and was married to Ellic Throckmorton.
A memorial service will be held at Winns Creek Baptist Church on March 3 at 5 p.m. with the Rev. Richard Welch officiating.
Survivors of Mrs. Throckmorton include two sisters, Etta R. Moore of South Boston and Rose R. Nellcecero of Eathontown, NJ; one brother, Arthur H. Robertson; three nephews, Thomas and Billy Throckmorton and James Robertson; and three nieces, Betty R. Throckmorton, Joyce Perkins and Kathryn Holt.
The family will receive friends this evening, March 2, from 7:00 until 9:00, at the home of Betty and Bill Throckmorton.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Winns Creek Baptist Church, 3088 Howard P. Anderson Hwy., Halifax 24558.

Lois Allgood Flinn Johnson, 73, of Clarksville, died February 27 at her home.
Born in Mecklenburg County, she was the daughter of Herbert J. and Alice Campbell Allgood and was married first to Arnold Sinclair Flinn and then to Wayne C. Johnson. A member of Jeffress Baptist Church, she also attended New Hope Baptist Church, and was retired from Craddock Terry Shoe Company in Chase City.
Services for Mrs. Johnson will be held today, March 2 at 2 p.m. at Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel in Clarksville with the Rev. Wayne Wallace officiating. Burial will follow at Bluestone Cemetery.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis Flinn Harris and Mike J. Harris of Danville; a son, Dale Flinn of Clarksville; two grandsons, Robert Chesley Gordon of Washington, DC and Andrew Dale Flinn of Clarksville; and a special nephew, Terry Allgood of Clarksville. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by brothers, Ray and Rex Allgood; and sisters, Dorothy York and Geneva Currin.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Mecklenburg County Lifesaving & Rescue Squad in Clarksville.

Glenna DeLong Miley Stewart, 92, of 1190 Ramble Road, Virgilina, died February 26 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Stewart was born in Pleasant City, Ohio on October 21, 1908, the daughter of Joseph DeLong and Bessie Bates DeLong and was married to William Stewart.
Survivors include one son and his wife, Mancel L. "Sonny" Miley and Joy of Virgilina; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services and burial for Mrs. Stewart will be held in Senecaville Ohio. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Grace Baptist Church, Virgilina.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Grace Baptist Church or the church of your choice.

Mary Willie Daily McCargo of Saxe died February 27 at Duke University Hospital, Durham, N.C.
Survivors include her husband, Sampson McCargo Sr. of the home; two daughters, Mary Elizabeth Gaines of Charlotte Court House and Estelle M. Scott of Saxe; four sons, Sampson McCargo Jr. of Chase city, William H. McCargo Sr. of Drakes Branch, Josephe L. McCargo Sr. of Charlotte Court House and Alphonso McCargo Sr. of Saxe; five brothers, Henry Norris and Joseph Dailey, all of Red Oak, Howard Dailey of Drakes Branch and Bylinder Dailey of Keysville; three sisters, Inez Dailey and Rosa Lee Skipper, both of Red Oak and Lorraine Brown of Saxe.
Funeral services for Mrs. McCargo will be held March 4 at 2 p.m. at Rocky Branch Baptist Church in Saxe with burial in the church cemetery.