KTM X BOW Tag

Celebrate the Holidays at Simraceway

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to start planning holiday festivities.

Whether you are planning a corporate holiday event, a family celebration or activity, or even a bachelor party, Simraceway offers a one-of-a-kind experience to make a big impression. 

The Greatest Corporate Event You’ll Ever Throw

Simraceway offers the perfect alternative to the stale company holiday party we all know.

Instead of giving your hard-working employees a couple of drink tickets in a nearby hotel conference room, why not treat them to a hair-raising, adrenaline-fueled experience that they’ll be talking about for years? 

Simraceway has a reputation for being experts at corporate entertainment, and we pride ourselves on being engaging, fun, and safe.  

Go Karts – Arrive and Drive: $150 Per person/Min 24 People, for Up to 2 Hours

Our Go Kart Arrive and Drive experience will put your staff behind the wheel of high-performance 70-mph Go Karts on the longest and most challenging circuit in California with all necessary equipment over the course of two hours.

Everyone will get as much seat time as they could possibly want, and your employees will leave with an adrenaline rush.

Additionally, our packages and experiences encourage people to push their limits, become more competitive, work together as a team, and seek perfection in everything they do.

While many employees may roll their eyes at “company team-building exercises,” our bolt-on experiences like the Go Kart Relay Race, Junkyard Challenge, and F1-Style Pit Stop Challenge will challenge them to work and grow together in a fast-paced and fun environment:

• KTM X-Bow Demonstration Laps: $195 per person, for up to 30 minutes
• Go Kart Relay Race: $75 per person, for up to 1 hour
• Go Kart Junkyard Challenge: $50 per person, for up to 30 minutes
• F1 Style Pit Stop Challenge: $50 per person, for up to 30 minutes
• Autocross Time Attack: $295 per person, for up to 1.5 hours

KTM Experience: $795 Per Person/Min 6 People

If you’re looking to reward a few exemplary employees or a top client with something downright magical, our KTM Experience is a better “thank you” than any gift card or plaque.

Your employees will get behind the wheel of the 300-horsepower carbon fiber KTM X-Bow R and take it around one of America’s premier racetracks at full speed. Needless to say, save the drinks and celebrations for after the victory lap.

Go Kart Competition: $275 Per Person/Min 8 People, for Up to 3 Hours

Do you have hordes of people descending on your home from out of town for the holidays and need a reason to get out for some fun?

Our Go Kart Competition package is perfect for smaller groups like families and friends, encouraging you to compete with each other and have more fun than you can imagine. It is the perfect opportunity to insert a bit of levity into your group and break up the monotony of holiday traditions.

Simraceway has Fun for Everyone

Simraceway also offers options for those who are too young to drive but have a budding interest in all things automotive.

Our garage tours will allow them to come face to face with some legendary racing cars, exotics, and a few other surprises that are kept at Sonoma Raceway. We also offer the Polaris Circuit Tour, in which a professional driver will take you around the track’s perimeter road in our off-road buggy, showing off its capabilities, giving you a thrill ride along the way. 

• Polaris Circuit Tour: $50 per person, for up to 30 minutes
• Garage Tours: $50 per person, for up to 30 minutes

Book Your Event Now!

If you are interested in hosting an event at Simraceway, visit our Holiday Party page to make reservations online, or call 1-800-733-0345.

For more on the facilities and programs, be sure to check out our website to see all that we have to offer. 

Labor Day Sale: Work Hard, Play Hard

20% off all KTM racing school programs now through Monday!

• Racing School Stage 1 – $4,250 20% off! $3,400
• Racing School Stage 2 – $4,995 20% off! $3,996
• Racing School Stage 3 – $5,995 20% off! $4,796
• Three Day Racing School – $6,495 20% off! $5,196

You work hard, now it’s time to play hard.

In honor of the upcoming Labor Day holiday, Simraceway is excited to announce a 20% discount on its Three Day Racing School and Racing School Stage 1, 2, and 3!

These terrific programs will help sharpen your skills and prepare you to climb the ladder to advanced programs like the KTM X-Bow Cup USA and Simraceway Series. If you’ve ever thought about tearing it up Sonoma behind the wheel of KTM’s ultimate track weapon, the X-Bow Comp-R, here’s your chance to start racing!

As one of the premier racetracks in the country, Sonoma offers driving experiences like nothing else. Simraceway proudly offers unique programs and instruction that can not only provide incredible memories but also help you become a better driver.

Racing School Stage 1, 2, and 3

Simraceway’s Racing School Stage 1-3 offer progressive instruction, high-level training, culminating in open lapping with the incredible KTM X-Bow Comp-R.

The focus of Stage 1 are the fundamentals of racing and driving a performance car on the track. The farther you progress through the stages, the more detailed and specific your training becomes.

These programs include:

• Classroom time
• Car control exercises on our dynamic skidpad
• Guidance on how to get the most out of the X-Bow
• Instructor-led lapping sessions around Sonoma Raceway
• A comprehensive focus on developing you as a driver and bringing down your lap times

All three stages run two full days, with day two focusing on refining the skills and techniques taught on day one. If you’re looking for the perfect entry point to your racing career, you just found it.

Three Day Racing School

The three-day Racing School program is for those looking for in-depth, comprehensive racing instruction from our world-class coaches, and tons of track time. Graduates who complete this program will have all the necessary qualifications to receive an SCCA Full Competition Racing License.

A wide range of skills is covered including:

• Threshold braking
• How to downshift effectively
• Proper track etiquette

In the classroom, participants will review items like the many complex theories of chassis dynamics, and then they’ll tackle the skidpad to explore the boundaries of grip and chassis manipulation.

The first day ends with a lapping session to familiarize you with the capabilities of the KTM X-Bow and the unique challenges of Sonoma Raceway.

Day two centers around more technique training on both the track and skidpad. After some important classroom time that covers the basics of open-lapping and how to participate safely, you’ll jump back behind the wheel and test your new skills in two adrenaline-pumping on-track sessions.

And finally, day three will be taking things to the next level and build on all the lessons learned thus far. Our instructors will also introduce new tools like high-speed aerodynamic driving exercises on full slick racing tires and data acquisition.

These powerful programs will assist you in refining your skills and bringing down your lap times during your three on-track sessions. Once you’ve completed this course, you’re ready to get your SCCA Full Competition Racing License!

Why it’s Worth It

The hard work it takes to improve as a driver is all worth it when your times improve and your confidence grows.

Both the Racing School Stage 1 or Three Day Racing School will provide you with valuable skills that can translate directly into whatever racing path you choose to take. And now that both are on sale for Labor Day, it’s the perfect time to pursue your racing dreams!

New Promo Film with UltraArm SF

Simraceway is excited to announce a brand new promo film that we shot with the talented UltraArmSF crew. 

Essentially, we wanted to create a visual experience to capture the adrenaline and excitement of racing on a world-class track in the heart of California. 

“It was a collaborative process,” says Sean Rivers, partner at UltraArmSF. 

“For Simraceway, we used a new remote arm (Motocrane Ultra) camera car rig for their campaign. We had DP Ethan Indorf, AC Jeph Folkins and Kevin Jones with SkyHopperAerials to help out on the production. And Layer Media brought the expertise with the post-production, sound design, color and further developed the creative, and finalizing the spot.”

The main objective was to create something short, snappy, and thrilling to encourage people to spend time on the race track. 

Check out the video below to experience Simraceway for yourself!

UltraArmSF

With an impressive film background, Sean Rivers, Robert Barcelona and Patrick Roth have since launched their own commercial and film remote arm car company. And with that new venture comes the use of UltraArmSF to capture difficult shots and moments with an artistic flair. 

“We started this company with other experienced production veterans with a love for the creative process. We specialize in dynamic camera movement, and UltraArmSF is a joint venture between myself, Robert Barcelona and Patrick Roth.”

Rivers explains it as “a remote crane on top of the car,” which was originally called a Russian Arm by the inventors of the technology in the 1990s. However, Rivers and his team have become the first and only remote arm car in northern California.

In the video, you can see the UltraArmSF at work, providing superb clarity for high-speed footage, full 360 turn capability, and the ability to film really low to the ground or high in the air. 

Every shot in the new ad was filmed with UltraArmSF, and you can explore some cool behind the scenes footage with the crew to get an idea of what the total experience was like. 

For more information about UltraArmSF, click here. You can also explore Simraceway for other racing insights and opportunities to get involved.

Photos from Weekend 2 of the X-Bow Cup

If you missed the action from last weekend at the X-Bow Cup, check out these photos to get back up to speed!

X-Bow Cup USA Weekend 2 – The 8 race incident free run continues

For the 2nd weekend of the X-Bow Cup, 2019, temperatures were a bit higher than usual, but the cars and competitors did very well. 

With 8 races completed by the end of last weekend, there have been zero on-track incidents, which serves as a testament to the KTM X-Bow platform.

New Drivers to Watch Out for

There were also two new faces in the X-Bow Cup paddock this past weekend, Josh Sarchet and Mathias Pelzmann.

Sarchet is an interesting racer with experience in Formula Ford cars and lots of time behind the wheel of go-karts. 

Mathias Pelzmann is a competitor from Europe and a regular driver in the X-Bow battle across the pond. Stateside, Pelzmann did quite well, but he noticed some major differences between the European Circuits he’s used too and the course at Sonoma:

 “The car is familiar to me, but the track here is challenging compared to the tracks in Europe.” 

He agreed that a racing school set at a track like Sonoma Raceway is a huge advantage to learning drivers. 

Top Performers for the Weekend

On the other hand, a few returning riders enjoyed the challenge and showcased impressive results.

Daniel Doerr, Michael Kopper, and Will De La Rosa flexed their muscles on the track, but the first race belonged to newcomer Josh Sarchet.

This was his first event and first time at Sonoma raceway, and after doing some simulator work and studying race videos, he won the first race and posted the fastest time that session. 

Daniel Doerr took second, Michael Kopper placed third. 

In race two, things improved for everyone across the board. Will De La Rosa, a 15-year-old phenom who still only has a driving permit, won the 2nd heat of the day. 

Josh Sarchet was second on the podium, and Mathias Pelzmann placed third.  

For race number three, Josh Sarchet won again, Daniel Doerr finished second, and Will placed third. 

In the final race, Daniel Doerr led the pack once more with Josh Sarchet behind him, and Will De la Rosa at third. 

KTM X-Bow Cup Driver Takeaways

According to Matt Bell, Chief Instructor and manager of the KTM program, he states that everyone performed quite well.

“Josh Sarchet just tapped into some of his Formula Ford experience and really ran super smooth races. Even if he wasn’t the fastest guy out there, he found where the difficulties were for other people to pass and exploited them.” 

“Daniel Doerr was just a missile all weekend long. He posted some of the fastest times and made some great passes, but in the end, he didn’t win the weekend because he was too fast for his own good. Tire attrition is a great lesson to learn”

It’s important to consider that everyone was on a new tire package—Michelin tires which tend to go longer throughout the weekend, but harder to cool off if abused. 

Despite the changes, “Will De La Rosa was consistent the whole way through. He maintained the same lap times every race and had no real issues the entire weekend.” Bell explains. 

“However, Mathias Pelzmann found the track really challenging but still managed to stay consistent. By Sunday, he really showed his competitive nature, giving some of the other racers a hard time. 

Lastly, “Michael Kopper increased his times with each lap and each race, steadily climbing up the ladder. He’s just happy to be here and his enjoyment really shows. Every weekend he spends with us he gets closer to that top step of the podium.” 

Final Event Results

By the end of the weekend, it was Josh Sarchet with 90 points, Daniel Doerr with 79 points, Will De La Rosa with 69 points.

As far as the Championship results go…

Daniel Doerr is leading with 177 points

Will De La Rosa is in second with 151 points

Michael Kopper is in third with 98 points

Josh Sarchet is in fourth with 95 points

Learn More About the X-Bow Cup at Simraceway

With two more weekends left in the X-Bow Cup, it’s still anyone’s cup. 

Not to mention, the winner of the X-Bow Cup receives a voucher to compete in the X-bow championship in Europe in 2020, so there’s bound to be some fierce competition ahead. 

To learn more about the X-Bow Cup and to inquire about races at Simraceway, visit our site or contact our team. 

KTM X-Bow Comp R Featured in Road & Track

In the September issue of Road & Track magazine, fans and drivers of the KTM X Bow Comp R Limited Edition can find a nice write-up of the Young Schwarzenegger (a nickname given to the car by R&T editors) to gain some valuable insights about its performance, build, and thoughts from industry pros.

Overall, the KTM X-Bow Comp R has gained lots of popularity in the racing world, claiming its own profile last February in R&T by the same writer, Sam Smith.

In his initial breakdown, the KTM X-Bow Comp R boasts…

-300 hp @ 6400 rpm

-310 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm

-Six-speed manual transmission / Six-speed twin-clutch automatic

-Rear-wheel drive

-0–62 mph: 3.9 seconds (MFR testing)

-Top Speed: 144 mph (MFR testing)

-MSRP: $104,500 (Plus destination charge, which varies by dealer)

Fast-forward a season later, and Smith and other racing pros are still impressed with the high-performance machine:

“It’s an impressive race car, and that’s what it is; a race car. When I climb in, I close my brain’s road-car file and open the one for open-wheelers. Get the tires up to temp, really work them. There’s noticeable downforce.”

If you’re questioning whether or not the KTM X-Bow Comp R is right for you, Smith recommends the experience for “anyone who takes life seriously.”

Check out the full article by clicking the download below or visit R&T to learn more! For information about our racing programs or to get involved in our Simraceway Series, feel free to contact us!

Meet Project Wondercar: The KTM X-Bow COMP R

This is what adrenaline feels like.

A street legal racing car. It’s the dream and a term that gets used and abused by manufacturer special edition barges with racing stripes and deep dish alloys. With Project Wondercar, the KTM X-Bow COMP R, we have the purist, rawest and most spectacular driving experience you can get on four wheels. 

The Austrian superstar is ready and waiting at our performance center at Sonoma Raceway, California, to show you a whole new world. It’s a world without windshields, it’s a world where the wind pounds your full-face helmet and it’s a world of go-kart fast reflexes and driving fun.

Skim the asphalt at 145mph!

Icons Give Way To The Experience

The X-Bow is different. It’s small, its exposed and it’s a racing car tamed just enough for public consumption. It’s the ragged edge of driving. 

We have learned lessons from the past and previous track car titans that included the Audi R8 V8 and McLaren 570 S. They were apex predators, but they were built for the road. These high-powered rockets were built to insulate the driver from the experience. They are polished, and we wanted visceral.

With just 300bhp and 310lb/ft of torque, the X-Bow COMP R isn’t intimidating to drive, but it’s seriously quick. It weighs just 1,740lb. That’s basically half a Porsche 911 and it’s this power-to-weight ratio that is the essence of the X-Bow COMP R’s magic.It’s a super sportscar like you’ve never experienced before. It’s a real racing car for the road.

Track tires and downforce are all part of the KTM X-Bow experience. This car will raclibrate your sense of speed.

Racing Car With Added Toughness

We know racing cars and have run them for years at Sonoma Raceway and across the United States. A racing car is a different animal. We wanted to bring that pure feeling of speed you get in an open-wheel racer to the people, without the complexity, breakdowns and headaches that go with thoroughbred racing cars. 

Safety was always a non-negotiable. We want our clients to enjoy the same protection as elite racing drivers, from the carbon-fiber chassis through to the FIA crash box and 6-point safety harness. We also wanted an approachable car that the driver can push without relying on a mass of electronic driver aids. 

We needed two seats so our expert driving instructors can show you just how to get the most out the car and the track, as well as offering high-thrills passenger rides where you can feel a modern supercar at the absolute outer limits. Then we looked for a car with potential for a racing series on US soil.

We wanted the impossible and scoured the globe to find it. On a chance trip to Austria, we found it.  The KTM  X-Bow R stepped up to the plate and delivered on all counts, smashing it out the park and becoming an instant hit on its arrival at Sonoma. 

Meet the fleet that will raise your heartbeat. 7 KTM X-Bows get ready for a hard day on the track..

Breaking Records at Sonoma

The X-Bow has already broken a number of the records at our home circuit, Sonoma Raceway, beating times set by its more powerful pre predecessors from Audi and McLaren.  The KTM is the new King of the Hill around our challenging 2.52-mile home circuit.

The lightweight, low-slung rocket that is the KTM X-Bow R has blown the competition off the track. It slams through 60mph in 3.9s and tops out at 144mph, but those numbers simply don’t do this road rocket justice. It comes alive in the bends.

You will attack corners like never before in the KTM X-Bow R at the Sonoma Raceway.

Connect With The KTM

You will see the car respond as the front wheel clips the curb on a high speed bend. You’ll feel the back end move as you learn to control the perfect slide under the watchful eye of our instructors and you will feel the Alcantara-wrapped wheel dance in your hands as you find the absolute limit.

You’ll take the hit in the back as the turbo comes on song when you power out of the bend and the engine screams in your ear to go faster down the straightaways. The wind will lash at your helmet, you’ll feel pure speed and it’s an emotional moment that will stay with you forever.

With the racing suspension, basic downforce and a lightweight frame, the KTM X-Bow simply destroys conventional road cars of any caliber in the corners. Grippy, track-bred tires mean you can corner on rails or slide through the bend. Either way, it’s a car that will recalibrate your concept of speed. 

Feel Part of the Car in the X-Bow

More than the Audi, more than even the McLaren, the KTM makes you feel part of the car. That instant, synaptic response will help make you a better driver, too, as you learn to master this grown-up go-kart that goes deep into triple figures. 

That low-slung front splitter and minimal ground clearance are a challenge on the public road, but at our performance driving center you don’t need to worry about the practicalities of life. It doesn’t matter that you’re almost lying down, with a crash helmet and racing gloves on. You’re just here to have fun and the KTM X-Bow R is mainlined adrenaline.

The X-Bow R has become a cult car in Europe, and now it has arrived in the USA at Sonoma Raceway..

The Birth of the KTM X-Bow

Motorcycle manufacturer KTM made its name with endurance and Moto X bikes. It announced its ambitious plan to bring motorbike like thrills to four wheels back in 2008. Now there’s a European racing series, the X-Bow is a star at tracks around Europe and it can do the same on US soil.

KTM worked with Audi and chassis experts Dallara, which produces cars for everything from IndyCar and Formula One and World Sportscars through to junior racing series. The resulting carbon-fiber chassis is stiffer than steel, lighter and safer. 

The X-Bow has transformed into the R, and the RR is coming…

Evolution of the R

KTM started out with a 240bhp version of Audi’s 2-liter turbo engine that features in everything from the VW Golf to to the Audi A6. Now it’s pumping out 300bhp in the X-Bow R and  the car has evolved over time. There isn’t much to the KTM, but everything there is race-bred and that comes at a price.

The X-Bow R isn’t official in the USA as yet and this is one of the first cars on these shores. Just know that you won’t get change from $100,000 for a KTM X Bow R that is fully ‘Ready to Race’. Of course, you can just come and drive ours like you stole it for the day instead. You have fun, and let us worry about the bill….

The KTM X-Bow R is the next step in driving thrills and it really is a cutting edge four-wheeled motorbike. Come and feel it for yourself, and find out just what this street-legal racing car has to offer. 

Check out the full range of KTM driving programs here.