April 2004

Well, last Friday was many people’s first track day at Shannonville this season (out with the Saab Owner’s Club of Canada Enhanced Driving School) – it’s great to get the cobwebs off the racing feet. And the track improvements are great – my personal favourite is the wider, flatter, smoother turn on the Nelson straight… nice! For those of you racing at Shannonville this year – you’ll love the changes. (See the latest Bike Racing newsletter on www.shannonville.com for descriptions of the changes if you’re interested).

G70+ Racing Schedule

Spring Fling is first up this month – April 16th and 17th at Shannonville (www.casc.on.ca/forms.php for more information). Looks like there will be a few VARAC participants out – mostly to take advantage of the annual technical inspection on Saturday. (By the way - make sure you request a VARAC representative to perform your technical inspection.) I’ll be out on both Friday and Saturday – the blue Datsun 240z – be sure to stop by and say hi!

BARC Grand Prix of Ontario (May 1, 2)

The British Automobile Racing Club (Ontario Centre) proudly announces the opening race in the Race Ontario Championship at Mosport on May 1, 2 (with an optional test day on April 30). VARAC will be participating with two grids – the Group 70+ grid, and the Vintage/Historic grid. I encourage you all to brush the dust off of your winter storage and come racing! The “Mosport Test Day Entry Form” and “Race Ontario Championship Entry Form” are now available at www.casc.on.ca/forms.php

Who is BARC?

The British Automobile Racing Club (Ontario Centre) was founded in 1959 by a group of motorsports enthusiasts in the Toronto area. They organize two Race Ontario Regional Races at Mosport every year, an ice race in Minden during the winter and supply approximately 650 volunteers for the Toronto Molson Indy! BARC-OC is a sister-club of the original BARC formed in 1912 in England. BARC’s rich history can be explored at www.barc-oc.com, along with club and event information. Check out the latest BARC-OC newsletter which mentions VARAC’s participation in the upcoming Grand Prix of Ontario.

VARAC Memberships, Group 70+ Car Registration and Racing Numbers

Group 70+ Car Registration Forms are available on the web (www.varac.ca/technical.html) and need to be faxed to Jonathon Brett (519-434-2777) before running in your first Group 70+ event. Race Numbers need to be registered through Diane Dale for Group 70+ (lddale@hotmail.com) or Nick Pratt if you’ll be running in other VARAC grids as well as Group 70+ (varacmembership@rogers.com). Remember that Race Numbers are not ‘officially registered’ unless you’re an active VARAC member. Renew your membership through Nick Pratt (varacmembership@rogers.com)

CASC Rules vs VARAC Rules

There have been some questions regarding known discrepancies in the CASC rules vs the VARAC Group 70+ rules. We will be issuing a new set of rules with the revised changes once they’re approved by the Board – but here’s the official follow up on these questions:

• Roll Cages: Group 70+ cars must meet the 2004 CASC regulations regarding Roll Cages (the ‘weight Breaks’ of Sprint regulations are used)
• Driver Suits: Driver Suits must meet the 2004 CASC regulations regarding Driver Suits
• Driver Restraint Systems: Driver Restraint Systems must meet the 2004 CASC regulations regarding Driver Restraint Systems
• Fuel Cells: If necessary, the 2004 CASC regulations can be considered as supplemental regulations to the VARAC Group 70+ regulations regarding Fuel Cells/Tanks. (This means that a car of model year 1982 or later may use “the stock tank if a minimum of 30cm of the original structure surrounding the stock fuel tank is retained and the structure is welded to the adjacent tubular steel replacement frame members”) A car of model year 1981 or earlier cannot consider the 2004 CASC regulations as supplemental. If a fuel cell is used, it must comply with FIA FT-3 specs)
• Fire Suppression: On-board fire suppression systems are mandatory for all Group 70+ class vehicles. (Supplemental rules do not apply)

VARAC Group 70+ regulations are at www.varac.ca/technical.html

CASC regulations are at www.casc.on.ca/documents/CASC-OR%20Race%20Regulations%202004.pdf

SCCA Rule Sets

For those of you inquiring about the SCCA Rule Sets – we now have copies of the SCCA Rules and Regulations from 1973 to 1987. Let us know if there is a specific year you’d like a copy of (lddale@hotmail.com) for your eligibility classification research.

VARAC Formula Fords

VARAC’s Formula Fords will be participating in a new Group C (FF’s prior to 1973) of Ontario Formula Ford Championship this year! This exciting step for the Vintage open wheel cars begins mid May at the BEMC regional race. (http://ontariof1600challenge.freeservers.com/index.html for more information). The VARAC Formula Fords will also be part of the Vintage/Historic grid at the BARC-OC Grand Prix of Ontario on May 1, 2

VARAC and the Children’s Wish Foundation – Passenger seats wanted!

As a kid, did you ever dream of taking a ride in a race car on a real race track? Well, VARAC is going to help make those dream’s come true at the 25th annual VARAC Vintage Festival (June 25th to June 27th). On the Saturday at noon, VARAC is going to give kids from the Children’s Wish Foundation rides around Mosport! We’re looking for drivers with passenger seats in their race cars to volunteer their lunch hour to this great activity! Please contact ronwanless@sympatico.ca for more information.

And just for fun…

• Legendary Motor Car is organizing a Puresport GT V8 Sprints Challenge series for 2004. If you have a V8 and are interested in participating, contact Paul Massingberd (puresportgt@hotmail.com). Their preliminary schedule shows three races at participating regional race weekends.
• Legacy Motors Art Gallery has just opened in Chicago, Illinois (www.AutomotiveArt.com to see their gallery of pictures)

Group 70+ is a VARAC promoted racing class that currently celebrates the history of racing from 1973 to 1987. VARAC is the association of vintage racecars in Canada that celebrates the passion of preserving, restoring and racing vintage racecars.

You're on this email list because somewhere along the line you expressed an interest in VARAC's Group 70+, perhaps in the capacity of driver, organizer, spectator or just plain keener trying to keep on top of things in the racing world. Let me know if you don't want to be on the list anymore, or feel free to pass it on to others who might be interested.

Diane Dale - lddale@hotmail.com (administration and promotion)

Jonathon Brett - kim.zachjess@sympatico.ca (technical eligibility)