Owner of SVRA Expands Motorsports Platform to Enhance Racing Festivals For Fans
Parella Motorsports Holdings announced today they have taken a significant ownership position in partnership with The Trans Am Race Company, LLC (TARC), the operators of the professional Trans Am Series which this year is celebrating its 50 th anniversary. The move expands an already collaborative relationship between Parella Motorsports Holdings’ principal motorsports property, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), and Trans Am who have raced together several times during the last two years. Most recently the two organizations combined for a weekend of racing at Sebring International Raceway in March and they look ahead to three more joint weekends later this year.
“We see an opening in the marketplace for motorsports festivals on a national platform,” said Tony Parella who is the CEO of both Parella Motorsports and the SVRA. “Fans are responding to a show with a variety of automotive designs and engine sounds both in wheel-to- wheel competition and on display. SVRA and Trans Am have tremendous cultural synergies, including drivers crossing over between the two series. All of this promotes sponsorship investment.”
Organizers of racing festival weekends such as the Brickyard Invitational at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway report growth in ticket sales over the past three years. Along with the vintage racers of SVRA the weekends frequently include other features such as Historic Trans-Am, Motostalgia car collector auctions, the International GT series and evening entertainment with brand name musical performers. The addition of contemporary Trans Am promises to further enrich such gatherings. Already the SVRA has seen growth in sponsorships from premium brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Zenith Watch, Sunoco and Robert Talbott as well as increased investment from automotive and motorsports-related brands like Hagerty Insurance, Hawk Performance, Bell Helmets, Royal Purple, Optima Batteries and Simpson.
In addition to business growth both Parella Motorsports and Trans Am expect operational synergies by combining the latter’s race dates with the SVRA-organized racing festivals. The organizations will realize cost savings by integrating, among other assets, back office management systems, media production, and marketing and sales resources. Trans Am, through the new relationship, will also have expanded access to premier motorsports venues across the country to firmly establish the reach of a true national platform for the series.
“This move makes a ton of business sense,” said Trans Am President John Clagett. “We will join the SVRA weekends at VIR, NOLA and COTA later this year and have shared venues other times in the past. Our organizations know each other well and we have great chemistry. This is the next logical step in our shared mission of providing fans an alternative mainstream auto racing entertainment option.”
About Trans Am – The Trans Am Series, America’s Road Racing Series, began igniting the passion of motorsports fans across the world in 1966 and has been home to some of the greatest names in road racing. Today, Trans Am continues to honor its legacy, while challenging the status quo in racing, through meaningful racing platforms and a driver-oriented focus. The Trans Am Series is operated by The Trans Am Race Company, LLC (TARC), through a five-year agreement in which TARC oversees the management and marketing of the TransAm Series. SCCA Pro Racing sanctions Trans Am events and provides operations services to the Series. Defending Champions include: Amy Ruman (TA), Gar Robinson (TA2), Ernie Francis, Jr., (TA3 American Muscle) and Lee Saunders (TA3 International).
About Parella Motorsports – Parella Motorsports Holdings includes the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), the premier vintage racing organization in the United States as well as other assets including Vintage Racing Quarterly magazine. The SVRA was founded in 1981 and has over 2,000 active members. It is sanctioning 16 events in 2016 at some of the finest racing venues in the United States, including: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, Auto Club Speedway, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sonoma Raceway, Portland International Raceway, NOLA Motorsports Park and Virginia International Raceway. The rapidly growing organization hosted the first U.S. Vintage Racing National Championships at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas in 2013. Further information on SVRA, a complete annual schedule, and entry lists can be found on the SVRA website. Also be sure to check our Facebook page and YouTube channel.