VARAC Vintage Grand Prix Program 2024

PRO-KIT Springs

Eibach PRO-KIT springs deliver upgraded performance and ride comfort using our progressive spring technology. By lowering the Center of Gravity (CoG) the PRO-KIT increases steering response and improves vehicle dynamics for a sportier, more balanced feel. Additionally, the reduced height eliminates excessive ground clearance and fender gap giving the 2002 the look it deserves.

Stock

Eibach PRO-KIT

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

Porsche is the featured marque at this year’s Vintage Grand Prix.

Photo by Richard Coburn

GREETINGS, VINTAGE FANS

WELCOME TO THE 44th VARAC VINTAGE GRAND PRIX

Welcomegals and guys and thank you for joining us for the 44th running of the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix, one of the largest vintage race weekends in Canada.

The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada [VARAC) was founded back in 1976 and is still going strong in 2024.

2023 was a good year with over 210 entries we have all wintered well and are anxious to get back to what we love to do: go racing, meeting old friends we race with and lying about how fast and good we are. So, let’s go racing.

This year we have race groups comprised of Vintage Historic, including cars built before 1979, Classic group cars that were built before 1999, a new Modern Classic group comprised of production cars built up to 2006, and Formula Classic also known as Monoposto. We are also happy to welcome back the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship series.

New for 2024, we are also pleased to welcome back (FFCS) Formula Ford Classic Series who primarily race in the US and have ventured north to Canada to participate in this year’s Grand Prix. VARAC would like to welcome them to our event, this year, and for years to come.

We have with us again Mini Meet North who will be on the grass at Corner 2, and also on track Saturday for parade laps during the lunch break. Please take a walk and see these beautiful cars.

Sunday morning, the ‘Field of Dreams’ car show will take place at Corner 8. And at noon, these amazing vintage cars – including Porsche, our feature car for the 2024 VGP – will be doing parade laps on the track.

We couldn’t hold this event without our partners at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP). The VARAC Vintage Grand Prix is run as a joint effort by VARAC and CTMP. Without their expertise and efforts, as well as access to their world class facilities, we would be hardpressed to make this event as large and successful as it has become.

On behalf of VARAC, we’d like to thank the staff at CTMP for making this a world class event. We would also like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who are working on our behalf, thereby allowing us to do something we love to do ... go racing! VVGP

PETER LAMBRINOS

VARAC

Onbehalf of the Board and all our volunteers I want to welcome all our guests from north and south of the border.

Peter Lambrinos has done a fantastic job of organising a very full four days. There will be a VARAC tent setup at the far left end of the top paddock if you need any help. Please stop by and say ‘Hello.’

I’ll be wandering the paddocks throughout the weekend to say, ‘Hi’ ... and to try and recruit you for next year!

JOHN HAWKES

VARAC PRESIDENT

VARAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Hawkes | President

Dave Good | Race Director

Simon Tomlinson | Secretary

Gavin Ivory | Treasurer

Ed Luce | Membership

Del Bruce | Vice President, Classic

Doug Switzer | Vice President, Formula Classic

Brian Thomas | Vice President, Vintage/Historic

Ivan Samila | Conduct Chair

Chris Rupnik | Eastern Dir., Rules & Regulations

Martino Beretta | Communications & IT Director

Peter Lambrinos | VGP Director

Gord Ballantine | Deputy Conduct Chair

Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada, 10539 Community Centre Rd, Baltimore, ON KOK 1CO

INSIDE TRACK COMMUNICATIONS INC.

The 2024 VARAC Vintage Grand Prix program was produced by Inside Track Communications Inc.

P.O. Box 370 Brights Grove ON N0N 1C0

Phone: (416) 962-7223 Fax: (416) 962-7208

Website: www.InsideTrackNews.com

Publishers: Greg MacPherson, David Weber & Mike Galipeau // Advertising Sales: David Weber & Mike Galipeau

Production / Editorial: Greg MacPherson, Elisa Ward

Writers & Contributors: Bryce Turner, Peter Lambrinos, Jeremy Sale & Dave Good // Photographers: Richard Coburn & Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

COPYRIGHT

All rights reserved. Reproduction without prior written permission of Inside Track Communications, Inc. is strictly prohibited. VVGP

Peter Lambrinos

John Hawkes

CAR CLASSES

THE VARAC VINTAGE GRAND PRIX FEATURES PRE-WAR TO 2005 VEHICLES

By Dave Good / VARAC

The 2024 VARAC Vintage Grand Prix is a world-class celebration of vintage car racing that traces its history to VARAC’s first event, in 1979, at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

Forty-five years later, the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix has grown to the largest event of its kind in Canada. With the support of our event partner, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, VARAC has successfully operated the Vintage Grand Prix on the facility’s historic Mosport Grand Prix Circuit.

For Canadian racers and fans, this is truly hallowed ground. Founded in 1976, VARAC was created to provide a friendly, competitive environment to people who love racing vintage cars.

The club currently boasts more than 200 members and is one of the founding clubs of the Vintage Motor Council, a collection of vintage racing organizations from across North America. To present period-correct grids, VARAC’s racing vehicles are divided into the following classes.

PRE-WAR CARS

This class includes classic pre-war, single-seat, sports cars and post-war T-series MG race cars.

VINTAGE PRODUCTION

This is the most popular vintage class and is widely considered the most affordable to get on track. This class consists of cars like the Austin Healey Sprite and 3000, Lotus Seven, Triumph TR3/4, MGA, Porsche 356, and other mass-produced street cars. Cut cut-off date for these cars is December 31, 1961.

HISTORIC PRODUCTION

Later than Vintage Production and features Sprite/ Midget, MGB, Lotus Elan, Shelby GT350, as well as various sports cars and Trans-Am cars. Mini Cooper S race cars are plentiful and fast in this class. Volvos, Cortinas and Escorts are popular, too. The class cut-off date for vehicles in this class is December 31, 1979.

CLASSIC & MODERN CLASSIC

The Classic grid – previously known as Group 70+ and Group 90 – includes production-based and purpose-built race cars that were designed to race in IMSA, Trans-Am, SCCA and CASC GT.

An exciting mix of style and speed, these grids feature Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, Ferraris, BMWs, Porsches and similar. Classic vehicles are from the years 1973 through 1997. This grid now includes Modern Classic, an extension of the Classic division for cars from 2000 – nominally 2005.

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

CAR CLASSES

FORMULA CLASSIC

Formula Classic is VARAC’s open-wheel or Formula Car grid and can include a wide range and mix of special-built, open-wheel cars, including Formula Juniors, Formula Fords, Formula Vee, Formula 1200 and Indy cars. The class also features F5000 cars and other examples of Formula cars from the iconic series that ran from the 1960s through the 1990s. This grid showcases great examples of the evolution of race car technology over the last 60 years.

OTHER CLASSES

Also participating in this year’s VARAC Vintage Grand Prix are the following classes:

FORMULA FORD CHALLENGE SERIES

This series, now in its ninth year, supports and runs historic Formula Ford (FF) cars. FF, created almost 50 years ago, is an open-wheel “formula or rule set” equipped with the same engines as the Ford Cortina (thus the name). Many of the well-known race car makers built vehicles, including Lotus, March, Lola, Merlyn, Crosslé and even some Canadian cars from Chinook.

Back in the day, this created low cost, highly competitive racing. The series became a springboard for many renowned drivers such as Ayrton Senna, Gilles Villeneuve, James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jodi Scheckter and Phil Hill, to name a few.

The series provides a sustainable, safety-oriented, fun and friendly environment for Formula Ford racers and their families. The 2024 schedule offers Formula Ford racers the opportunity to race on the most storied race circuits in the eastern United States and Canada.

SUBCLASSES:

HISTORIC FORMULA FORD: First-generation cars 1967-1972, generally fitted with front radiator, outboard suspension and brakes.

72 CLUB FORMULA FORD: Second-generation cars 1973-1981 with outboard suspension on at least one chassis end.

POST-CLUB FORD (PCF): A specific list of eligible cars, third-generation Fords raced after the1981 season using front and rear inboard suspension and vertical dampers not operated by bell cranks.

F1600

F1600 is an entry-level class of single-seat, openwheel formula race cars. A global class, it has been the gateway to stardom for several prominent Canadian and international racers, including Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, James Hinchcliffe and Kyle Marcelli. More recently, Canadians Zacharie Robichon and Mac Clark have honed their crafts in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship. This class features aspiring young races starting their careers, as well as veterans who crave competitive, open-wheel racing. VVGP

2182 Queensway Dr. Burlington, ON Phone: 905-635-9356

Email: wolff@wolffautowerks.com wolffautowerks.com

Veteran racer Russ Bond in his 1975 Mazda RX3.

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

EVENT SCHEDULE

RACING GROUPS

Group 1 Vintage Historic A, 1, 2, and 3 (VH < 1:45 lap times)

Group 2A Vintage Historic 4 [VH4 > 1:45; < 1:47.5]

Group 2B Vintage Historic 4 [VH4 > 1:47.5; < 1:50]

Group 2C Vintage Historic 5 [VH5 > 1:50]

Group 3 Classic / Modern Classic 2, 3, 4 & 5 (CL/MC 1:35]

Group 4 VH over 2500, Classic B, A, 1; Modern CL B, A, 1 (VH (Hvy), CL/MC < 1:35]

Group 5A Formula Classic [FC; ex Formula Ford classes]

Group 5B Formula Ford Challenge Series [FFCS]

Group 6 Toyo F1600 Championship

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

7:45 a.m.

SATURDAY,

JUNE 15

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

End Of Event. Safe travels! Thanks to all the volunteers! VVGP The Grand Prix Circuit at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park will be busy

VARAC Vintage Grand Prix. Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

CHECK OUT THE ‘CAN’T MISS’ EVENTS AT THE 2024 VARAC VINTAGE GP

TheStory by Bryce Turner / InsideTrackNews.com

44th annual VARAC Vintage Grand Prix, one of five major events on the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) calendar, will once again feature a busy line-up of both on-track and offtrack activities.

VARAC competition will be split into Vintage Historic (VH), Classic/Modern Classic (CL) and Formula Classic (FC). These three categories are further divided into classes, which then race together in various groups.

VH classes with lap times under 1:47.5 will race together in Group 1/2A, while VH classes with lap times over 1:47.5 will race together in Group 2B/2C. The age cut-off between Vintage Historic and Classic has been updated for this season, with VH including models up to 1979, such as MG, Triumph, Lola, Mini and Ginetta.

CL classes with lap times under 1:35, plus VH cars weighing over 2,500 pounds, will race in Group 4, while CL classes with lap times over 1:35 will race in Group 3. CL cars feature models from 1980 to 2006, including Porsche, Mazda, BMW, Audi, Ford and Toyota.

Formula Classic splits into classes based on vehicle year and type, with all cars racing in Group 5A. These open-wheel cars feature models from 1966 to 2000, such as Van Diemen, Lola, BRD and Lotus.

In addition to the VARAC competition, there will be a pair of touring series taking part in the Vintage Grand Prix. The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship will be the one exception to the vintage rule, with the entry-level series featuring modern-day open-wheel cars. F1600 is a step on the racing ladder, with some

aspiring talent found in its ranks.

Meanwhile, the Formula Ford Challenge Series features first-, second- and third-generation Formula Ford cars from 1967 to post-1981. This is the only Canadian stop on the series’ 2024 schedule, with other events taking place in the northeastern US.

Porsche is the featured marque this year and will be highlighted in a pair of special races on Sunday afternoon. The All Porsche Race will have drivers pitted against each other, before they team up to battle competing manufacturers in the Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup. The top-ten finishers are scored in the Nation’s Cup (winner gets 10 points, second-place gets 9 points, etc.), with the highest scoring team (Porsche or the field) taking top honours.

There will be three other special races held during the Vintage Grand Prix. The MG-Triumph Challenge will see the top MG and Triumph, plus the overall winner, awarded; joining that contest on Friday afternoon will be an All Volvo Race. And the Ludwig Heimrath Open Wheel Challenge will conclude action on Saturday.

Over 200 cars are expected to take part in the Vintage Grand Prix. With vintage racing being front-andcentre on one of Canada’s most storied circuits, the annual tradition is often circled on drivers’ calendars as one to win. With fans camping and coming for the day, the atmosphere is something worth noting.

“We want to have people come out and enjoy the racing,” said Vintage Grand Prix director Peter Lambrinos. “We have the car shows, the Mini Meet North. We want people to enjoy that and see vintage vehicles all weekend. The fans can tour the paddock

VARAC competition is divided into three categories: Vintage Historic (VH), Classic/Modern Classic (CL) and Formula Classic (FC). These groups are further divided into classes, which race together in various groups.

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

THE ORIGINAL RACING MOTOR OIL

From drag strips to paved & dirt ovals, racing performance demands race-level protection. Which is why motorsport teams and enthusiasts depend on Valvoline VR1 Racing Motor Oil, America’s #1 racing oil. Our exclusive high zinc and phosphorus formula is engineered specifically for modern and classic high-performance engines both on and off the track. Go with the proven winner, Valvoline. The trusted motor oil brand for over 150 years.

Tested on The Track, Trusted on the Road

On the Saturday night of the VGP, ‘The Mudmen’ will return to entertain racing fans with their annual ‘party on the hill.’

areas, where all the cars are, and talk with the drivers and look at all the classic and vintage cars that are out there.”

The passion on display at the Vintage Grand Prix is something that stands out to Robert Offley, who drives a 1972 Porsche 911 in the Classic category.

“It’s the main event of the year…you spend most of the winter focused on it and getting ready for it,” said Offley. “Once you’re there, you can really enjoy the whole atmosphere, the smell, the people, the racing, it’s just a very upbeat, high-energy event.”

There will be plenty to see and do off-track for fans and competitors alike. Saturday will feature Mini Meet North, a meet-up of car clubs, with Austin Minis, Mini Cooper and Cooper S models. The group will run parade laps around CTMP during the lunch break.

On Sunday, the Field of Dreams car show will feature a variety of performance vehicles at turn eight, with the many spectacular rides then parading the ten-turn road course during the lunch break. Last year saw 192 cars in attendance, with 100 lapping the track.

Publican House Brewery, from Peterborough, ON,

will return to provide beer and barbeque for the festival atmosphere that happens after the track goes silent. For early arrivals on Wednesday, there will be food and the band Who Stole the Cookies? in the lower paddock. Thursday’s barbeque and band will feature Fun Comes Fast, a group made up of racers.

The John Greenwood Reception & Dinner will be held in the CTMP Conference Centre on Friday evening, before a party in the lower paddock, with the band Dramazoid. The ‘CPS Paddock Crawl,’ sponsored by CPS Flooring, will have food stations set up in the paddock, along with Publican House beer, on Saturday. Working alongside the track safety team to provide live entertainment, the group Mudmen will perform during a party on the hill.

With off-track activities throughout the entire event, the Vintage Grand Prix hopes to provide something not found at other races.

A BIG SOCIAL EVENT

“We look at it as a big social event,” said Lambrinos. “I’ve gone to a lot of races in the States and they may have a banquet and that’s it, whereas we want to encourage people to come and enjoy the whole weekend; day racing, evening camaraderie – the music, the beer flowing, the food’s there, just to get everybody involved…a lot of people from out of town, who aren’t part of our club, love that because they don’t get that in the States or out east or out west.”

There are limited breaks in a schedule that goes from racing during the day to party at night; the non-stop nature of the event is something that Offley enjoys.

“There’s a huge amount of track time, but to me, it’s far more than that,” said Offley. “You’re out on the track or you’re meeting fellow drivers or you’re talking to spectators and I think it’s just a great event for

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

everyone to come out and recognize vintage racing… to me, it’s connecting, friends on and off the track; enjoying competitive racing but also taking the time to enjoy the connections and the people.”

For the on-track schedule, practice and qualifying will make up the majority of Friday’s itinerary, with the first Formula Ford Challenge Series event and a pair of special races to follow. Racing action resumes at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, continuing until about 5 p.m., while Sunday’s on-track activity will run on a similar schedule. The exact timing and duration of the races are subject to change, depending on factors such as weather and wrecks. Trophies will be presented to the podium finishers of each class after the special and feature races; the feature races are the last events for each group. VVGP

VARAC VGP 2025 PREVIEW

Story by Bryce Turner

With another VARAC Vintage Grand Prix upon us, it’s almost time to shift focus to next year’s running. The 45th annual event will continue its Father’s Day tradition, scheduled for June 12-15, 2025 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

The featured marque won’t be the typical manufacturer, that can be found on roads and highways, as the purpose-built Sports 2000 race car will be highlighted at next year’s event. The VS2 NA Vintage Sports 2000 series, which took part in last year’s Vintage GP, will return to mark the special occasion in 2025.

“We have a very good relationship; they’ve been wanting to come here for years,” said Vintage Grand Prix director Peter Lambrinos. “They were slated to come here in 2020, when COVID hit, so everything got kiboshed for a few years. They showed up in 2022, with 11 cars, and they showed up last year, with 25 cars; because we’ve made them the feature, they’ll come with between 35 and 40 cars next year.”

Having a made-for-racing manufacturer as the featured marque isn’t new for the Vintage GP, though it is rare. The Sports 2000 cars are closed-wheel, open-cockpit vehicles that appear flat and close to the ground. They include a variety of

makes, such as Lola, Swift, Chevron and Van Diemen, and are powered by a Ford two-liter engine.

The role of featured marque means that the Sports 2000 cars will be centre stage in the traditional Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup and All Sports 2000 special races. As a hybrid vehicle, they’ll also get to participate in open-wheel competition, including the Ludwig Heimrath Open Wheel Challenge.

Lambrinos says that fans can expect similar offtrack festivities and on-track action to this year’s event, with well over 200 race cars expected to take part. VVGP

For car and racing enthusiasts, the VARAC Vintage G.P. is a fun and unique opportunity. Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

Vintage Sports 2000 NA will be the featured marque at the 2025 VARAC VGP.

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

PORSCHE: FEATURED MARQUE

LEGENDARY GERMAN MANUFACTURER PORSCHE IS THE 2024 HONOUREE

By Bryce Turner / InsideTrackNews.com

One of the more highly recognized and beloved brands in the road racing world will be centre stage at the 44th annual VARAC Vintage Grand Prix, with Porsche being honoured as the featured marque.

The manufacturer will have no shortage of cars taking part in the on-track action, including the No. 38 1972 Porsche 911, driven by Robert Offley. A British expat who grew up watching Porsches succeed on track, Offley started racing a Porsche 944 in 2014 and has stayed loyal to the marque.

“I went to watch a lot of these when I was a kid, racing around Brands Hatch, Silverstone, etc., in some of the endurance races, so I always had an affinity for the Porsche brand as a winner in motorsport,” said Offley. “I also love the engineering of Porsche cars, the simplicity…(they’re) incredibly simple and easy to work on, but very effective on the race track.”

Offley says the 944 is a great starter car and that he eventually migrated to the 911. He likes the analog feel of the car, noting that there’s no real traction control or driver aids and that it creates the challenge of being able to control the rear-engine car, given the weight balance.

Offley won the Class A championship, in the Classic group, in last year’s VARAC Drivers Challenge. Runner-up Tim Sanderson is another top contender, driving a 1982 Porsche 911 SC. Martino Beretta (1992 Porsche 968) won the Class 1 title, while Jeff Gardner (1987 Porsche 944) won the Class 3 championship. Dave Margolese and Offley’s Euro Tune teammates

Mike Steplock and Tammy Moore are also among Porsche contenders.

The manufacturer was found throughout the Classic and Vintage Historic fields in the season opening BEMC Spring Trophy Races in early May.

Marco Beretta drove a 2005 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup car to one overall victory and a weekend sweep of the MC-A class, while Sanderson took his 911 to the CL-A class wins and runner-up finishes, overall, in all three races.

Thirty-one Porsches were noted in the final VARAC Drivers Challenge standings from last season; the number of vehicles found in competition will make things interesting for the two special races that highlight the featured marque.

The All-Porsche Race will feature the cars battling each other, before they team up to take on other manufacturers in the Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup.

“We’ve got a grid of 30-plus cars, I think that’s still growing as we speak; we’re seeing people come up from the US, as well as people from Canada,” said Offley. “It’s kind of rare that you see an all-Porsche grid in North America…it’s going to be pretty exciting to see that many Porsches on one grid and I’m sure we’ll give a challenge to some of the other brands in the second race too.”

Both special races are held on Sunday afternoon and will be followed by podium trophy presentations. The top-ten finishers in the ‘Porsche vs. The Field’ Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup are awarded points in descending order, where the group with the highest points total gets the win.

Robert Offley (No. 38 1972 Porsche 911) enjoys the speed and simplicity of Porsche race cars. Photos by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

MARQUE

While vintage racing has a reputation for courteous driving styles, with a focus on showcasing the cars and not tearing them up, there will still be some fun competition to watch. Offley says that vintage racing has a mix of everyone having fun but also challenging themselves to have a good outcome and do well; he expects there to be battles throughout the field.

Vintage Grand Prix director Peter Lambrinos says that Porsche’s prominence in the event is part of the reason for the brand being honoured as this year’s featured marque.

“Porsche hasn’t been a feature for 10 or 12 years and we do have a lot of club Porsches that race for VARAC and CASC,” said Lambrinos. “We chose to make them the featured marque and to see if we could encourage a bunch of racers from clubs in the States to come up.”

MANY MAJOR PORSCHE CONNECTIONS

Lambrinos also acknowledged the manufacturer’s history in Canada, with notable racers including a Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame driver who the Vintage

Grand Prix’s Open Wheel Challenge is named after.

“Ludwig Heimrath was the big name, in terms of Porsche, one of the great Canadian racers,” said Lambrinos. “(Porsche) has history everywhere, it’s just such a great race car and a great touring car as well.”

The Porsche connections will not be limited to ontrack competition, with the popular Field of Dreams car show featuring a large variety of collector and

VARAC officials are expecting another large field of Porsche cars, representing many different years and models, at this year’s Vintage G.P.

Photos by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

FEATURED MARQUE

LEGENDARY GERMAN MANUFACTURER PORSCHE IS THE 2024 HONOUREE

daily-driver vehicles at turn eight on Sunday. The vehicles will then parade the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit during the lunch break.

Porsche enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunities to see their favourite cars up close at the Vintage Grand Prix. The paddocks are open to the public, meaning that fans can tour the work areas and see the large assortment of vintage cars between sessions. The ability for fans to travel through time and get an all-access pass is something that stands out to Offley.

“You’ll be able to see cars that were designed in the ‘50s and ‘60s, right through to modern times, so it’s just a great opportunity, if you love the brand and want to know more about it,” said Offley.

“I think a lot of people get exposed to modern day cars,” he continued. “Porsche has been going for 75 years but the 911 has been going for a majority of those years, and just seeing the evolution of the

design; seeing some of these cars and talking to the owners, the mechanics and learning about maintaining or running these cars, is a rare opportunity.”

Whether you’re the proud owner of a Porsche or a loyal fan of Porsche in motorsports, there will be plenty to see and appreciate at this year’s Vintage Grand Prix, with the world-famous automaker in the spotlight as this year’s featured marque. VVGP

Fans in attendance at the VGP can expect to see Porsche represented by more than just the legendary 911 cars. Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

VARAC MEMORIES

J. WALLY NESBITT RECALLS SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE VINTAGE G.P. MOMENTS

By J. Wally Nesbitt

“I don’t see what makes these cars vintage, I remember them when they were considered ‘state of the art.’”

– Overheard at an early VARAC Vintage G.P.

Many years (decades?) ago, I reached into the glove compartment of my 1977 Mercury Zephyr and unfolded a road map of Southern Ontario, trying to locate this Shannonville Motorsport Park place where a vintage racing festival was supposedly taking place.

Eventually finding the track (after only getting lost once), I discovered an entirely new discipline of motorsport; one that I immediately fell in love with.

There were cars of my fantasies, but many more that I’d never had heard of, or even conceived of. They were rattling, spluttering, smoking, rolling and racing, works of art. I knew about MGs, Triumphs, Lotus (Loti?), Porsches and even a Ferrari or two. But what the Hell is a Sadler, or a Stebro or a Chinook?

Fortunately, I have since become better educated, and I still love these racing machines, especially the Canadian ones. I doubt if I have missed any of the VARAC vintage racing festivals that have taken place at Shannonville or Mosport, sorry, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). And I guarantee I will be at this year’s 44th edition to watch the headlining ‘Porsche versus the Field.’

Years ago, I wanted to share my experiences with my father – a man who cared not about motorsports –so I took him to a race at CTMP. Clearly uninterested in the cars, he did remark on the social similarities to his ‘old horse show’ days.

The dads worked with the animals (read: cars) while the moms socialized and made sandwiches and salads for the family. And all the while, the children generally ran roughshod over the premises.

But these days, it might be ‘Mom’ donning the firesuit, with Dad ‘spinning wrenches’ … while the kids continue to run roughshod over the premises.

But isn’t that the appeal of a casual vintage racing event?

“DON’T MENTION RACING – unless you’ve got an hour to spare.”

– A sign hung over the door of Roger French’s race trailer.

Another example of the openness of the VARAC Vintage GP is the accessibility of the drivers and the cars. Each car has a special history, as does each

driver, and the operators are often more than willing to share their stories.

And if you have children (when not running roughshod), they may have the opportunity to get up close and personal. They may even get to sit in one of these throwback pieces of motorsport art / history.

Over the years, I’ve become a fan of the exotics – the one-offs … the ‘what the Hell?’ of competitive machinery. My personal favourite happens to be Doug Durrell’s 1961 Dreossi Canada Class vehicle. It’s a ‘Frankenstein’ creation with all parts connected to a fuel drop tank from an F86 Sabre Jet. I simply don’t understand how he has the courage to drive that tiny open-wheeler at speed. But I thank him for doing so!

As a former journalist, I enjoyed the privilege of interacting with many racing personalities at the VGP. Drivers such as Canadian legends Bill Brack, John Sambrook, Ludwig Heimrath, Eppie Wietzes, Gary Magwood and Bill Adam, while also basking in the presence of Brian Redman, Bob Tullius and Joanne Villeneuve.

The fantasy part for the race fan attending the VGP is that they had, and will continue to have, the same opportunities.

At this year’s VARAC Vintage Grand Prix, there are expected to be almost 200 entries, with examples of everything from the British and Italian ‘tiddlers’ to the ground-pounding, high powered GT cars and possibly even some classic, open-wheeled, screaming marques. So, if you happen to find me in the paddock or sitting hillside somewhere… and I look lost, I am. Lost in some fabulous memories and happily recapturing the pleasures of motor races past.

And to finish with one final quote: “Remember when tires were skinny and drivers were fat?”

The VARAC VGP offers something for everyone... including kids, according to Wally Nesbitt. Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

ENTRY LIST

GROUP 2: VINTAGE HISTORIC 4

GET INVOLVED

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE RACING ASSOC. OF CANADA

Story by Jeremy Sale / VARAC

Does watching all the great cars racing this weekend get you thinking, “I would just love to do this!” Well, guess what? All the people you see racing at the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix this weekend started off not knowing everything about how to get started, too!

But we all found a great group of people in VARAC who wanted to help us get the most from the vintage racing experience. And we would love YOU to join us out on the track, as well!

The cars we race range from pre-war machines to some built as recently as 1999. Somewhere in that range there’s likely a car that you have a fondness for. If you’ve thought about getting onto a racetrack and living your dream, please read on.

VARAC (Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada) is the representative body in Canada for vintage racing. It’s a non-profit group whose aim is to help its members to have the most fun you can have in a car without getting a ticket. And we’d like you to join us out on the track.

VISIT VARAC.CA

For starters, please visit our website: VARAC.ca. It has everything you need including rules and contact info. While there, check out the ‘VARAC Car Eligibility’ tab to see the cars we race.

Your next step is to do is get a membership with VARAC, which puts you in the company of a great bunch of very helpful people who will assist you in finding the right car to take out onto the track. This guidance will be invaluable.

Don’t spend a nickel until you’ve done the research and talked to some fellow members. Re-read that sentence, please! You can buy a race-ready car starting at about $20,000 and up to ‘you-name-it.’ But don’t assume that whatever car you may own or are interested in buying or restoring, is appropriate or legal. It might not be. So, check with us first.

One idea might be to buy a car that has raced with VARAC before, meaning it’s already been deemed ‘legal’ by the club. This route could help you avoid potential problems. But if you already have a car that

you want to race, get in touch with VARAC’s Eligibility Chairman to see what you can, and cannot do, to your car. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a keen new member show up with a car that’s ineligible to race. You will save time and money by asking the right questions and getting advice before you do unnecessary work.

There are many VARAC members standing ready to help you. People with a similar car to yours – perhaps MGBs, Alfa Romeos, Porsches, etc. – are happy to share tips. They can tell you where to get spare parts or connect you with good race mechanics. From our perspective, the more cars we have out on the track, the happier we all are. And if you’re in one of those cars, you’ll be happy, too!

To summarize: get your membership, join the VARAC chat group and start asking questions (including how to get a race licence). And then do your research and decide what car you want to race. The VARAC classifieds can be a handy source for leads.

Are you ready to be a racer? Of course you are! Is VARAC really racing? Most definitely, yes! When you’re at the wheel of your race car, going into Turn 8 on the Mosport Grand Prix Circuit... and there’s another driver going for the same corner – believe me, it’s racing! If you have the right attitude, you’ll meet a great bunch of people and you’ll have a ball racing with fellow motorsport enthusiasts.

So check us out at VARAC.ca ! And ask questions. We are ready to help you begin your journey! VVGP

VARAC features real racing in cars that have character. The VARAC community is eager to assist if you’d like to get in on the action.

Photo by Alex Smalley / GoFast Photography

When

it rains, we shine.

There’s nothing gloomy about rainy days. That is, when you have WeatherTech FloorLiners. Laser measured for your specific vehicle, the WeatherTech FloorLiner is guaranteed to provide a perfect fit and the ultimate carpet protection, for as long as you own your vehicle. So when Mother Nature is at her worst, don’t worry because we’re at our best. SCAN

Nothing gets your blood pumping like a WRXOUT in the Subaru WRX. The sheer sound of the turbo-charged 2.4L SUBARU BOXER® engine is more motivating than any playlist. And with standard Symmetrical Full-Time AWD, you’ll be tracking your heart rate far off the beaten track. Welcome to uncommon daily performance. subaru.ca/WRX Vehicle