This evening I had the pleasure of interviewing Marshall Davis, owner of Next Orbit Speedfest. We had a lengthy conversation and let me tell you I’m excited for what’s to come! 

To start, I asked Mr. Davis about his next big plan for NOS. He stated

“we are working on a championship series starting around February. We are hoping for teams of no more than 3. But if people show up with only 2 people to a team, I will be okay with that.”

When asked about where the race would take place, he said

“Mostly here (LSIA) and Zancudo. Easier to build tracks and I would really like to incorporate the newly accessible Zancudo airfield.” 

Mr. Davis also explained a very interesting part of the coming events: it will be a whole series consisting of 6 races over 8 weeks! Up to 13 teams of 3 will race across several tracks across both airfields. However a big event like this has to have some drawbacks right? The only one I could find is the event is bring your own car which contrasts to their typical model of supplying the cars for a fair race. NOS is going to have a select number of vehicles that they are going to allow contestants to bring, and they must be fully upgraded! But fret not! The vehicle’s stock prices will range from $30k – $60k, so no Thraxes coming to bully the poor sunrise owners out there! 
Registration for NOS Championship Series will be opening in December for the public with the series beginning in February. Team structures will be entirely up to the applicants. If a company wants to apply as a group and go race as “LSSentinel Speedsters” they can! Or they can come together as a group of friends and hit the tracks as an unincorporated group. Its totally up to the racers.

I asked Mr. Davis if he would ever want to open it to more classes of cars or run several series at once.

“Oh absolutely. I would love to be able to open it up to more vehicles and classes and try different weird creative things. Eventually we could run them simultaneously in the long term. But for now we just gotta take one day at a time.”

I then approached him about some more philosophical questions regarding the racing company. Specifically if this type of company and these types of events helps bring people away from illegal, dangerous street racing and more in line with the legal side of things.

“Thats where it gets complicated. This is something I have wanted to do for 2 years. The street racers live for the thrill of it. And, I’ve been told this a hundred times, what we offer is too tame. I would love for it to be an outlet for them to do something with their passion that is legal. But I can’t expect the world of em.” 

This eventually came around to conversations about different types of racing. They expressed interest in aircraft and watercraft races, but currently its just not very possible with the technology they have at hand. This conversation also sparked a question about safety. NOS reassured me that they make sure their drivers and competitors are wearing FPE and protective equipment in the vehicles at all times and practice safe racing etiquette when possible. 

I asked Mr. Davis and Mr. John Brave who had joined us what their big picture goals for Next Orbit was.

“With Next Orbit Speedfest, something I’ve always strived for is giving people a unique experience. I want to give people the chance to be in the driver’s seat of a race and not get arrested for it. I want to grow the series and the races we run to as far as open wheel racing. Personally, I want you guys to get the opportunity to race, not so much as me. It’s about facilitating racing in a safe environment.”

After my evening with the racers on their track, I can happily say I am excited to see what they get up to next. We discussed the possibility of bike races coming soon as well! Keep your eyes open for potential moto events from NOS!

Make sure to sign up for their series this next month if it excites you. If it doesnt, come watch! The community that they have built is one of variety and diversity and is very welcoming. Huge thank you to Marshall Davis for taking me along with him on his course and showing me what NOS is all about.