Thursday February 4: The Automotive Fine Arts Society Will Have A Big Exhibit March 12-14 At The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. This major exhibit of paintings and sculpture is Friday and Saturday in the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island and at the adjacent Concours field in an AFAS Marquee on Sunday. The exhibit attendance is free and all the works by over 20 artists are for sale. Each artist is on hand with his work for discussion or commission of a commissioned work. 

Tuesday February 2: AutoVino Racers Lunch February 17 Celebrates Carrera PanAmericana The great PanAmerican Road Race, The Mexican Road Race, was perhaps the greatest of all the open road races of the early 1950s.  From 1950 thru 1954 the event raced in one day from the southern tip of Mexico to the Texas border.  All the great American and international auto makers participated, as did the top SCCA, USAC, FIA, NASCAR, Indy racing drivers plus amateurs.  The event celebrated the opening of the Pan-American Highway.
    For the past several decades the event has been recreated as a five-day rally – race called the La Carrera PanAmericana.  Top pro, amateur and vintage racers compete each fall in this rally – race that run the length of Mexico.  For 2010 the event date is October 22-28. 
    The speakers at the AutoVino Racers lunch February 17 are 2009  La Carrera PanAmericana participants Martin Lauber and Conrad Stevenson.  They will present a multimedia program about competing in their Alfa.  Lunch is $20.  RSVP to AutoVino 650-533-3809.  The location is 205 Constitution Avenue in Menlo Park California.  94025, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.

Thursday January 28: Preliminary Arizona Auction Observations By Victory Lane Magazine’s Auction Reporter Rick Carey Noted That Most Auction Companies Achieved Their Sales Goals In Spite Of Challenging Weather On Thursday And Friday January 21 And 22 As Saturday, Sunday And In One Case Monday Sales Were Good.  Gooding and Company sold over $33 million, Barrett-Jackson preliminary results were more then $68 million; R&M Auctions sold nearly 20 million; Russo and Steele results were not available yet. There were high prices for some rare collector and performance cars. Including $3 million for a D Jaguar, $1.1 million for a Costin Lister Jag, an Aston Martin DB4-GT for $1 million. There were measured sales but most lots sold. Bidders were acting prudently with prices at value levels. Solid cars brought fair value.

Tuesday January 26: AutoVino Racers Lunch February 17 AutoVino invites all types of racers to a new regular series of lunch gatherings every third Wednesday of each month. Special guest speakers, videos and racing panels will entertain lunch participants. The lunch ticket is $20 and will be a catered Italian menu. All racers, fans and auto enthusiasts and would be racers are invited RSVP 650-533-3809.
            AutoVino is a member social club for auto and wine enthusiasts. The Menlo Park California facility includes a large collector car display area and wine lockers available for members rental. An on site winery, race car display, club meeting area, racing simulator, TV area, are some features of the facility. Info call 650-533-3809 (CA). 

Tuesday January 26: Club Auto Sport Has Teamed With The BMW M6 of PRI Motorsports for the Grand Am Daytona 24 Hour Race January 30-31.  The car driven by Max Ityatt and Co-drivers will carry the Club Auto Sport name, colors and web address www.clubautosport.net. After the big race Max and the BMW M6 will be at Club Auto Sport on February 14 during the Daytona 500 party organized by Club Auto Sport to recap their experience in the 24. Max will also be the newest pro driver instructor with the Borelli Motorsports Driver Development program whose headquarters and workshop is at Club Auto Sport in San Jose California, near the San Jose Airport. For more information on Club Auto Sport go to www.clubatosport.net.

Friday January 22: Auctions in Arizona had added excitement when high winds and a tornado warning affected several auctions as well as attendance on Thursday. The Barrett-Jackson auction paused and outdoor personal took shelter for a short while in early evening. The vendor tent was evacuated. The auction continued onward after that.
            Russo and Steele had one of their staging tents actually blow away onto a nearby freeway Thursday late afternoon. The auction was halted and is expected to continue Friday.
RM Auctions are all indoor at the Biltmore Hotel and were not affected.
Gooding and Company at the Scottsdale Fashion Center moved cars to the underground parking area and was little affected.

Thursday January 21: A New Group Of Vintage Formula Vee Feature Races Across North America Is Being Launched By Seven Vintage Racing Clubs And Victory Lane Magazine. The Victory Lane Vintage Formula Vee Festival Race Schedule Opens With HMSA March 27-28 At Thunderhill Raceway Northwest Of San Francisco.
  Vintage F-Vee Features will be held by each participating vintage racing club. Entrants will receive participation awards from Victory Lane Magazine. All ages and categories of Vintage and Historic F-Vees will run in the Feature. There are five classes representing the different rules and specifications of F-Vees over time and with different vintage clubs. There will be various special awards.
  The current schedule for the events hosting a Victory Lane Vintage Formula Vee Festival Race is:

• March 13-14 with HMSA, Thunderhill Raceway Park Willows, California.
• April 9-11 with VDCA, Virginia International Raceway Danville, Virginia.
• April 24-25 with HMSA, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California.
• May 15-16 with RMVR, High Plains Raceway Denver, Colorado.
• July 24-25 with VSCDA, Autobahn Raceway Joliet, Illinois.
• September 4-6 with SOVREN, Portland International Raceway, Oregon
• September 11-12 with VARA, Buttonwillow Raceway California
• October 1-3 with CVAR Hallet Raceway Tulsa, Oklahoma

  For information on the group of Victory Lane Vintage Formula Vee Festival Races call Victory Lane Motorsports Marketing, Dan Davis or Pam Shatraw 650 321 1411. To enter the first Feature with HMSA call 818-249 3515.

Thursday January 20: Phoenix International Raceway Track Management has cancelled the next few scheduled events in 2010 due to construction improvements on the facility. This includes the scheduled HSR-West Drivers School and Vintage Races set for February 5-7. HSR-West season opening vintage racing weekend is now set for March 27-28 at Willow Springs International Raceway. Contact HSR-West at 310-750-6933 (CA)   

Wednesday January 20: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a new name and look for the big August historic racing event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Automobile enthusiasts and vintage racers worldwide have been filling the Monterey, California peninsula each August for the past 36 years. They come to enjoy the great pre-and-post-war racecars competing as they were originally intended on the challenging road course. This rich tradition continues August 12-15 with a fresh new look and name – the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
  The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the confluence of historic racecars, vintage race drivers, and motoring enthusiasts. “Our new name and logo captures the spirit that has made this event one of the most respected gatherings of its kind worldwide, “ said Barry Toepke, vice president of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “It’s a new dawn for the event and we are embracing it by honoring the authenticity of the race cars and integrating social and lifestyle elements that present guests with new discoveries and surprises to keep it exciting and innovative.”
  Rolex is the new title sponsor and according to Peter Nicholson, vice president of Rolex Watch U.S.A., the event is one of the perennial favorites on the Rolex calendar. “We look forward each year to the camaraderie of the participants who bring their extraordinary race cars to the track, sharing its history with the fans. Rolex is proud to be a partner with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in helping bring this history to life,” Nicholson said.
  Formerly known as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, the event is now produced exclusively by SCRAMP, Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula, a non-profit organization established in 1957 to operate the facility for the County of Monterey. A professional staff is supported by thousands of community volunteers and a volunteer board of directors who have been the backbone of this event from its inception.
  “Each one of our 27 SCRAMP board members will spend hundreds of hours on this event, just as the board has done for the past 36 years that historic racing has been in Monterey, “ explained Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Our directors and volunteers are amazing and are integral in every aspect of the event. From the paddock, concessions and parking to registration, ticketing and on-track safety, they do it all.”
  The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will continue the annual tradition of honoring one marque each year that is chosen for its historical significance and achievements. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will announce the featured marque in the coming weeks.
  Approximately 400 cars from hundreds of entries will be accepted based on their racing pedigree for the 14 race groups. This year’s featured cars and groups are vintage and historic Formula 1, which celebrates the contemporary F-1 60th anniversary this year; Trans-Am; and for the first time ever, Stock Cars with drum brakes that competed between 1966 and 1975. Additionally, the Bugatti Club of America will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an exclusive Bugatti Grand Prix, with cars entered from as far away as Australia, France, Germany and Switzerland.
  For ticket and additional information or for entry submission, which is due by January 31, please visit www.Mazdaraceway.com or call 800-327-7322.
  Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was established in 1957. Many great amateur and pro weekends have been held on this legendary track. This has included: USRRC, Can-Am, Continental Grand Prix, IMSA GT/GTP, IMSA WSC and CART Champ/Indy. The world-renowned raceway has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), a not-for-profit 501C(4) corporation. Each race season, SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help put on the races.
  Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s world-class 2010 racing schedule includes the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patron May 21-23, the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring MotoGP World Championship July 23-25, the Pre-Historics August 7-8 and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 12-15.
 

Friday January 15: A reminder for those vintage road racers who wish to participate in the August 12-15, 2010, Monterey Historic Auto Races: and/or the August 7-8 Pre-Historics “The request for entry is due by January 31. The forms may be found at http://www.mazdaraceway.com/pages/2010_Historic_Participant_Registration Click on Events in the top bar and go to Monterey Historic Automobile Races in the pop down menu.

Tuesday January 12: Bobby Rahal Invites Vintage Racers To A Webinar January 12, 2010, 2PM. EST On HMP Membership. Bobby will explain the benefits associated with Legends Of Motorsports annual membership, update car classes and the status of 2010 events. Go to: www.hmpseries.com/webinar to register and participate. Conference call number: 1-712-432-8808. Conference ID: 14587.

Monday January 11: The United States Based New F.1 To Debut At Barber Motorsports Park In February. The Charlotte, North Carolina based team was started last year by ex F.1 Team principle and past F.1 newscaster, Peter Windsor and partners. The Barber Circuit was approved by the FIA for this event. Barber Motorsports Park will also be the site of the first HMP Bobby Rahal’s Legends of Motorsports weekend of vintage auto racing scheduled for May 20 through 23.  

Friday January 8: SouthWest Motor Sport 2009 Awards Banquet Albuquerque, New Mexico January 30, 2010. Members and guests will Honor Sponsor and participants of the 2009 SWMS racing season at the Elegante Hotel. New potential racers are invited. The club holds vintage and contemporary races at nearby Sandia Motorsports Park. The social starts at 6PM with a cash bar. Dinner and awards afterward begin at 7PM. The coast is $35 per person with a choice of menus. Out of town visitors receive special room rate of $79. RSVPs are required by phone to Ken or Viola Adams 505-296-8775 (NM)   

Friday January 8: Eyes On Design Excellence Awards Cobo Center January 12 In Detroit. Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was named as honoree chairman for the June 20 summer show and docent for the January awards. The January awards select special awards for vehicles on display at the American International Auto Show in Detroit. The awards are presented at the function during the show.

Thursday January 7: In A Future History Note, Legendary Lotus Returns To Formula One. The new Lotus Formula One Team is scheduled to take part in the official F1 test at Jerez, Spain on January 17. Experienced F1 drivers have been retained: Jarno Truli and Heilki Kovalainen. Mike Gascoyne is the chief technical officer. The team is based in Hingham England. Lotus under founder Colin Chapman was always noted for building innovative winning cars from the mid 1950s through the 1970s in road racing. Lotus Cars at Indy sealed the mid-engine revolution, later under other leadership the wins continued. 
            Lotus Sports Racing, Formula and Production Sports Cars are very popular in vintage racing. They are usually winners in their class and are highly valued by collectors.       

Wednesday January 6: The December Historic Can-Am Association Survey Of Owners/Drivers With The December Newsletter Has Been Mailed To All Historic Can-Am Registered Owners. Many of the “Intent to Enter” cards are now being returned to assist in the HCAA final Historic Can-Am Features schedule. If you are a car owner and have not received a newsletter call Pam at 650-321-1411 to register your car and receive a newsletter.

Monday January 4: Formula Vee Grand Prix Features East, Midwest, West Plus Annual Designated FVee Reunion Grand Prix in 2010.
Large Vintage Formula Vee Grand Prix Feature Races will be held with several clubs at great tracks across North America in 2010 and future years. One each year will be designated The Vintage FVee Grand Prix Reunion Weekend. The 2010 first event is expected to be with VDCA at Virginia International Raceway April 9-11. Other clubs are developing or are planning schedules including VSCDA, RMVR, and VARA. Several additional clubs are considering FVee Grand Prix races. These will be announced soon. The 2010 designated Vintage FVee Grand Prix Reunion Weekend will be set after additional clubs have joined and the total schedule is set. For information call Victory Lane Motorsports Marketing, Pam Shatraw 650-321-1411. (CA)