This is SOVREN’s annual big northwest vintage racing event attracting the best cars and largest spectator crowd to a top road racing circuit. This year the event features the history of the circuit and the 60 year history of Jaguar XKE
The history of the circuit includes United States Road Racing Championship and Trans Am races. In 1963, the first year of the USRRC, a 26 car field of international cars and drivers saw Pedro Rodrigues take the Driver’s Championship win in a Genie Mk8. The Manufacturer’s Championship race winner was a Shelby Cobra driven by Dave McDonald. Pacific Raceways continued to host the USRRC every year through 1968. The drivers were the who’s who of American racing: Jim Hall, Jerry Grant, Peter Revson, Mark Donohue, Bob Holbert, Ken Miles and Skip Scott. Many of the USRRC cars from those days are expected to be racing including: Cobra, Lotus, Corvette, Porsche, Jaguar, Lola, Triumph, Lotus Cortina, Alfa Romeo, Sunbeam and more.
Featured will be a full program of sprint races for every SOVREN class and type. There will be Sports Racing Cars, Production Sports Cars, Formula Cars, Sports Sedans and Trans Am cars. A special infield flea market of every type of automobilia and car parts will be an added feature this year.
Info: www.sovrenracing.org
This two mile road racing circuit in Illinois will host a three day vintage racing weekend with liberal track time making it a racer favorite. In addition to group races, there are several features: Closed Wheel Enduro on Saturday – Open Wheel Enduro on Sunday, Spridget Series Race, V8 Short Track Challenge Race. There is usually a good turnout of Formula Vees including visiting racers from CVAR. The VSCDA PreWar Racing group rates Blackhawk as a favorite with a good entry.
Info: www.vscda.org
Many Lotus racing cars were entered in the June 24th 1961 Players 200 at Morsport. This was the first major race at this legendary circuit now called Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
There will be six traditional VARAC group races for cars built before 1972. In addition, there are groups for classic cars built up to 1999, plus a group of Formula Classic for open wheel and Monoposto cars.
This is a non spectator event and area COVID protocols will be in effect.
INFO: www.varac.ca
CSRG's highly anticipated return to Laguna Seca proved successful on many fronts with participants treated to good weather and plenty of racing. The paddock was full of great cars, featuring a nice mix of CSRG stalwarts and racers who trekked to the event. The only thing missing was an audience in the grandstand and, hopefully, with California scheduled to reset gathering restrictions later this month perhaps their next event will have fans present to take in the sights and sounds.
Look for a report on the event in the July issue of Victory Lane Magazine and driver interview videos soon on victorylane.com
It was exciting for owner-drivers of Lotus 23s, Elva Mk7s, Genies, Lotus 19s, Shelby King Cobras, Ferrari Dinos, Chaparrals, McLaren Mk1 and 2s, Maserati Birdcages, Lola T70s, Lotus 30s, Porsche Spyders and more.
SCCA sports car racing is going bigtime! It was 1962 and the former all amateur Sports Car Club of America announced a new pro series for 1963: The United States Road Racing Championship. There was a Sports Racing Drivers Championship for two classes: over and under 2 liter cars plus a Manufacturers Championship for FIA GT cars. Races were scheduled in 1963 at Daytona, Pensacola, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Pacific Raceways, Continental Divide, Road America and Mid Ohio. The new series absorbed the pro racers from the short lived USAC pro road racing series. The USRRC ran from 1963 through 1968.
The USRRC Tribute Series feature with CSRG is Saturday afternoon June 5 with a record field expected. The USRRC awards party is later about 4:30 pm. The feature will be filled with some of those great legendary sports racers of the original series.
All CSRG classes are racing both Saturday and Sunday. There are also Crossflow Cup series races during the weekend.
Info: www.csrgracing.org
The Friends of Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show is been moved from June 5-6 to October 2 and 3. It is held at The Boys Republic in Chino, California. The theme is Le Mans.
The Huntington Beach Concours is moved from June 6th to August 1st at Huntington Beach library & Cultural Center. It will salute Chevy Impalas, Toyota Sports Cars and Avanti autos.
The Eyes on Design Concours in Detroit is moved from June 20th to September 19th and will salute Significant Designs of Bygone Brands. It will be at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House.
Three vintage racing events fill the June 11-13 weekend: VRG/VSCCA Vintage Morotsports Festival featuring Formula Cars is at Thompson Speedway; the RMVR Big Bore Thunder is at Pueblo Raceway and SOVREN with Speed Tour is at Ridge Motorsports Park. On July 18-20 VSCDA Blackhawk Classic returns to the Blackhawk Farms circuit.
The Vintage Indy Car Expo June 18-20 is on the Road America IndyCar contemporary racing weekend.
Vintage oval races are held at many short tracks in June. In the midwest, Colorado Vintage Oval Racers and the Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club have a busy June with three exhibition events each.
This 2020 Hall of Fame inductees are: Mr. James Cline, Mr. Ivo Estes, Mr. Jody Franklin, Mr. Charlie Roberts. Past Legends to be inducted are: Mr. Bob Eastridge, Mr. Herman Moore, Mr. Evans Norris, Mr. John Ray.
The event is at the International Hall of Fame located at the Talladega Speedway. The event begins with a 10 am meet & greet followed by lunch and the inductions.
All members of Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers, race fans and racing participants are invited. Tickets are $40 purchased online at www.aarpinc.org.
Info: Phone Ed Kovalchick at 1-205-937-1792
The Shadow DN4, driven by Jackie Oliver to the 1974 Canadian American Challenge Cup Series Drivers Championship, took the top sports or competition car honors at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The car is owned by Jim Bartel who also entered it in numerous Historic Can-Am races.
The Best of Show Concours d’Elegance winner was the 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet with Cabriolet style coachwork by Henri Capron. It was entered by Jill and Charles Mitchell.
Special honoree for 2021 was racer, writer, broadcaster Lyn St James who was feted at the gala Saturday night banquet and with a display of cars she raced on the concours field.
Info: www.ameliaconcours.org
It is a very impressive book by Stuart Codling and great photographers. The sub title is: “Every Race Car Since 1950” that includes all cars through the SF1000 of 2020. Dramatic photos, informative text and brief specs on every Formula 1 car over 70 years plus a 19 page Appendix of each years racing results in a 226 gloss page, 12 inch wide, 10 inch high book priced at $60. Purchase at www.quartoknows.com or phone 1-800-328-0590, email [email protected]
This Alabama road racing circuit is a favorite for all vintage racers. Its 2.4 miles winds through a scenic layout of 17 turns of every variety. The special formula features highlight a full schedule of the traditional HSR special themed races, enduros, and sprint class races over four days.
Info: www.hsrrace.com
There are very special class features for the Sunday concours on the Golf Club of Amelia Island Course: they include the Ferrari 275 GTB, Porsche 935, Supercars, Chevy Thunder, Hispano-Suiza plus Shadow F1 and Can-Am cars. Also featured are Muscle Cars of 1970. Over 250 great classics, sports cars, motorcycles and race cars will cover the field on Sunday.
The festivities center is the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island and includes the surrounding areas. Honoree for 2021 is Lyn St. James whose story will be saluted at the Saturday evening gala banquet. The many activities include Cars and Coffee, rally-tour, new car shows, auction, wine dinner, plus a Chevy Thunder seminar and a Porsche 925 seminar.
Info: www.ameliaconcours.org
“Tow once race twice! Race at PIRC on the first weekend and we will store your rig there for free so you can come back the following weekend and race through Schenley Park” said an event spokesperson.
The Historics at Pitt Race is a three day event on the 2.8 mile, 19 turn circuit. This is a cooperative event with VRG.
Schenley Park Races are held on park roads for a true back-in-the-day racing experience. Entry is limited by car and driver acceptance criteria. There is a special vintage Indy Car exhibit and laps.
The week between races is full of auto themed events celebrating Corvette as the marque.
Entry Info: www.pvgp.org/drivers
Formula Vees burst on the road racing scene in 1963 as the new low cost and fun way to go SCCA racing. It soon became very popular worldwide. The VSCDA F Vee Reunion invites vintage, classic, modern F Vees built to the original F Vee suspension rules. In addition, the event invites Super Vees and Formula 1st Vees. The Road America four mile circuit allows large fields and record entries are expected.
The May 13-16 weekend has VRG/VDCA Jefferson 500 and Drivers School at Summit Point WV, CSRG Spring Races at ThunderHill Raceway Park CA, RMVR Walt Schuster Shootout at High Plains Raceway CO, VARA British Extravaganza at Buttonwillow Raceway CA, Masters Formula Festival at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca CA, SVRA Vintage with Speed Tour Road America WI.
Period authentic, period correct cars, effective staff, a historic and challenging circuit, located in one of the top resort areas of North America, surrounding vintage events have kept the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion as one of the top vintage racing events in the world.
Cris Vandagriff has long been one of the staunchest supporters, defenders and implementers of the only period authentic, period correct cars policy as laid down by the founder Steve Earle.
John Narigi, President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca explained “Cris’ deep knowledge base strengthens the selection process to ensure the cars people will enjoy are the real deal. It is critical that we are executing on all levels to ensure the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion remains at the forefront of car authenticity”.
The event is organized by the management of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The club sanction organization is Historic Sportscar Racing, HSR.
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