Two and a half weeks until the 26th International Vintage Racing Festival and the entries are piling in. Last look there were over 120 entries online and many more to come – this is going to be BIG! Monday June 6th is the deadline for the early-bird entrance fee discount, so act now! This issue of the newsletter is dedicated entirely to the festival – Group 70+ plans to have its biggest grid ever – the excitement is only beginning!

VARAC Vintage Festival Information

Everything you need is on the VARAC website. www.varac.ca/Festival/fest_welcome.html . The basic competitor schedule is available online at www.varac.ca/Festival/fest_schedule.html . (A more detailed one will be available closer to the festival.)

First off – if you have any questions please let us know ASAP and we’ll head you in the right direction. Don’t be shy – especially if it’s your first time out – just let us know and we’ll introduce you around and show you the ropes.

Wednesday, June 22

Registration opens on Wednesday Night, June 22nd from 5 to 8pm for those who are eager to get in and set up.

Thursday, June 23

Thursday is the optional Test Day. If you’re lucky enough to get an extra day off work it’s a perfect opportunity to get the car sorted out, tech’d and ready to race for the weekend. Part of the glory of vintage racing is making sure our beloved cars are running smoothly – getting it checked out on the track on Thursday gives you a last minute chance to fix anything and not miss too much of the weekend! Technical inspections will be available from 1pm to 5pm and can help you beat the weekend rush. A Driver’s Orientation for participants new to Mosport will be held from 8:30am to 9:00am.

Friday, June 24

Racing
Begins! Technical inspections and practice session run throughout the day. Friday night is the much anticipated “Pot Luck” Reception in the main tent. A great chance to meet your fellow competitors and socialize with the best of them. This event is graciously organized by Carol Burge and June Worsdale but needs contributions to be successful. Please contact Carol and let her know what you can bring (racoco@sympatico.ca)

Saturday, June 25

Morning qualifying sessions and afternoon races fill up most of the day Saturday (with technical inspections only from 8am to 1pm). It is definitely Saturday evening that is the most entertaining and fun!

Starting at 4:15pm there is the 1 hour Enduro/Relay Race where 2 car, 2 person or 1 person teams battle it out in a fun race of vintage endurance. (Unfortunately Group 70+ cars are not eligible for the Enduro – but plans are in the works to make one available hopefully for next year!)

Next up is the infamous and hilariously eventful 5th Annual Lawn Chair Race held in pit row. THIS is an event not to be missed. Anyone can participate in this sprint race (start preparing your “vehicle” now!) – and certainly everyone has to come out and cheer on these spectacular inventions of speed. Themed costumes as in the past are optional but much desired!

Following the day’s activities is the elegant (but casual) banquet and awards dinner. The dining tent is a must; bench race away the evening and visit with your new friends and acquaintances.

Sunday, June 26

Morning races and afternoon feature races wrap up the weekend festival. Lots of time to casually pack up and catch some fantastic racing. This year’s festival features Formula Junior and Formula Vee and the Monoposto Championship for Formula Cars. Some very exciting open wheel racing!

Volunteers & Spectators

Volunteers are always needed to help run the festival. Invite your family and friends who want to get involved! Contact Ron Wanless (613.359.1013) or fill out the online registration form available at www.britishcarenthusiast.com/VARAC/volunteer.html

Additionally we’ll need photographs and stories from the weekend for post race reports. (Have you been noticing the coverage we’ve been getting lately in magazines like Victory Lane, Inside Track, Club Newsletters etc? Let’s keep the excitement up – content is ALWAYS welcome!) If anyone you know is handy with a camera, or paper and pencil we’d love to send them as a “roving reporter” around the paddock getting the inside scoop. I’ll be willing to pay anyone’s entrance who wants to help out. Contact me at LDDALE@hotmail.com for more details.

Spectator Tickets are available at the gate or online at www.mosport.com/tickets.htm . Weekend super tickets in advance are $30, $35 at the gate.

VRG AM-Can Challenge

The VARAC Vintage Racing Festival is round one of the new Am-Can Challenge with Vintage Racers Group (VRG). VARAC is the host to VRG this time round – stop by and introduce yourself to the ‘out-of-towners’. It won’t be long until we’re back in their court at the Mt. Tremblant Fall Classic!

VARAC Dates to Remember

• June 24 to 26 (optional test day June 23) – VARAC Vintage Festival at Mosport
• July 9, 10 (Historic/Vintage cars ONLY – not G70+) at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex
• August 13, 14 – BARC Canadian Touring Trophy at Mosport (optional test day August 12)
• August 27, 28 – CRDA/VARAC Regional at Mosport (optional test day August 26)
• September 23 to 25 – Fall Classic at Mt. Tremblant
• October 1,2 – Panoz/CASC Celebration at Mosport (optional test day September 30)
• November 26 – VARAC Annual General Meeting and Banquet

And last but not least…

• Check out the June Issue of Inside Track and this season’s “On The Grid” insert. Some promotion on the historical significance of G70+!
• Info passed on from Ron Wanless - Fuel available at Mosport this year will be TurboBlue 110 Leaded - $3.29/litre, TurboBlue 104 Unleaded - $3.14/litre, Sunoco 94 Unleaded - $1.39/litre (price may be reduced)
• VARAC Promotions Director Walter Davies is organizing a fantastic promotion for VARAC at the Molson Indy Celebrations! The Yorkville BIA in Toronto is holding an Indy Party on Wednesday, July 6th from noon to 11pm on Yorkville and Cumberland Streets in central Toronto. They will have 3 of the Indy cars on display and have asked if VARAC would like display cars as well. Please email Walter at wdavies@davies-smith.com if you’re interested in participating.
• For those of you interested in getting some track time at Mt. Tremblant before the Fall Classic, I just found out that the BMW Club (Trillium Chapter) is waiving their ‘membership only’ regulations for their July 4, 5, 6 BMW Advanced Driver Training school at Mt. Tremblant. Street cars only, instruction school format – www.trillium-bmwclub.ca for more information.

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)

Nick Pratt – varacmembership@rogers.com (VARAC memberships)