Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is known for hosting some of the most fast paced, adrenaline spiking races in the world. From the GNCC motorbike and ATV races to the World Cup Mountain Bike races, Snowshoe is the place to be for high octane events.
That’s why Back Roads of Appalachia is returning to the mountain for the annual West Virginia Hillfest August 8-10.
Drivers compete in three classes – street vehicle, race vehicle and drift vehicle – careening up and down the south side of Snowshoe Drive, all in hopes of winning it all.
Snowshoe marketing director Shawn Cassell said this is the second year Hillfest has come to the mountain and he thinks it will be a good draw for people who like racing and beautiful cars.
“I think what’s really cool about Hillfest is – we close one way to get up to the mountain – but other than that, everything else is business as usual,” he said. “So, you can come experience that event, but still get the full Snowshoe summer experience, too.”
There will be four spectator areas during the race, as well as vendors and a car show in The Village throughout the weekend.
Participants in Hillfest take great pride in their cars, so there will be a great variety of souped up cars on display.
“They’ll have a lot of these cars parked up around The Village and in the parking lot,” Cassell said. “Even if you don’t come for the race, people who are into cars, can just come and see some cool ones.”
As for the divisions in the race, street vehicle is for cars that are currently registered and licensed; race vehicle is for cars that are not licensed for street use and unlimited modifications are allowed; and the drift vehicle category is for licensed or unlicensed cars.
Cars in the drift category must drift during the race.
For more information on the race schedule and to see a map of the spectator areas, visit westvirginiahillfest.com
