Virginia Tech Hopes to Clone VIR's Fallen Oak Tree
During the summer, the infamous Oak Tree at Virginia International Raceway fell, broken at the base.
After standing for over 200 years at the famous track, the giant oak tree is missed by the community and racing enthusiasts at VIR. The track’s management is hoping to clone the fallen tree with help from Virginia Tech’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
SEE ALSO: Virginia International Raceway Famous Oak Tree Falls
“To be able to honor the grand old oak tree in such a historic and innovative way is really special for us,” said Connie Nyholm, the track’s owner and CEO. “We’re so grateful to the IALR for helping us with this, and we’re excited to be able to share the cloned tree with VIR fans. Nothing will replace the old tree, but this will serve as a great tribute to it.”
If the project succeeds, the cloned saplings from the oak tree will be made available for fans to plant wherever they wish. In addition, the team at VIR is updating its facility ahead of next year’s race season. The track will be entirely repaved and certain sections will be widened as the United Sports Car Series will be heading to VIR in 2014.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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