March 2004
Well, this past weekend’s sunshine and temporary thaw
has everyone “smelling” the spring racing season.
(My own personal rendition of “Spring Fever”!) I’ve
received lots of calls from fellow racers all eager to put
on their helmets and little elf-like racing boots. Some serious
bench racing, go-karting or sneaking a game in on the kids’
Play Station has been somewhat fulfilling for people over
the winter, but now a lot of race shops are feeling the bustle
of activity as car preparation goes into full force. Only
6 weeks until CASC’s Spring Fling at Shannonville!
G70+ Racing Schedule
As you’re probably aware from the last newsletter –
the schedule has been finalized. Everything is posted on VARAC
(www.varac.ca)
– including detailed information on the 25th Anniversary
Vintage Festival June 24th to 27th. Other recent great news
is that VARAC has added the regular Vintage/Historic grid
to the BARC May 1st, 2nd weekend (in addition to the Group
70+ grid) so VARAC will be out in full force!
CASC-OR Spring Fling!
Spring Fling, April 16th and 17th at the Shannonville Pro
Track, is a popular tradition that traverses decades, its
origins clouded in the mists of time with triumphant legends
of everything from the perfectly-prepped car to the has-been
race cars that never even made it to the grid. Myths of ‘torrential
down pours’ and spring ‘ice-storms’ have tarnished
its reputation and jeopardised participants’ happiness
– BUT… Spring Fling is the day that all race cars
come out of their garage after a long winter sleep and look
for their shadow. And irregardless if the car doesn’t
work quite right and has to go back to the shop for more work
(hopefully not for six weeks J) – it is always the sign
of the BEGINNING OF RACE SEASON!
Spring Fling is the most amazing opportunity for testing
time (and socializing!). An entire two days straight of complimenting
open-wheel, closed-wheel sessions. Work the cobwebs out of
your engine and make sure you and your car are ready for the
first race of the year (only 2 weeks later). Another important
event is that you can have your VARAC annual technical check
completed. This will save you countless time and energy at
race weekends. Entry Forms for Spring Fling are available
at www.casc.on.ca/forms.php
Who is Group 70+ in 2004?
Here are the stats on your fellow racers this year. At this
point, 45 cars have expressed interested for the season. There
is a core group of about 12 racers who plan on attending all
5 events. Another 20 that want to attend at least 3 of the
5 events. And the others are unsure at this point. (For growing-pains
that’s pretty good! Promotion continues in full force
and interest is still building.) The lap-time and speed differential
is large so there is room for everyone (high 1.50’s to
sub-1.30’s). Most importantly the grid will look like
a true page in history of the 1973 to 1987 racing period –
many of these cars have some serious historic significance!
- Porsches (911S, 914/6, 944)
- 15 Datsuns (240z, 280z, 510, B210 and 1200 Coupe)
- 5 Corvettes
- 3 BMWs (CSL, M1, 2002)
- Jag, Triumph, Cortina, Alfa Romeo and Lotus Europa
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)
CASC Rules - Important!
Last month we mentioned the updated regulations regarding
Roll Cages. In addition please take note of the new regulations
of restraint harnesses (they must be FIA standard and be replaced
every five years from date of manufacture or on the expiry
indicated by the manufacturer’s label).
http://www.casc.on.ca/documents/CASC-OR%20Race%20Regulations%202004.pdf
Driving Schools and Lapping Days
Every spring I get a lot of questions from people pursuing
more track time. I’ve compiled a list of a few of the
events I know about – everything from street-legal-let-your-family-try-the-track
days to serious improve-your-racing-lapping days. (Yes, there
are far more schools and events available, I tried to list
ones in the Ontario region that might be of most interest
to G70+ participants. Let me know if you have any you’d
like to post.)
- Motorsport Club of Ottawa (www.mco.org).
Performance Control Schools, Lapping Schools and most notably
a Racing School (approved by CASC-OR for license application)
on April 24/25 at Shannonville; roadworthy, certified car
with passenger seat required
- HRC Horizon Racing Club Inc (www.tractechracing.com/hrc/index.html)
Racing School (approved by CASC-OR for license application)
on April 8/9/10 at Shannonville; roadworthy, certified car
with passenger seat required
- Saab Owners’ Club of Canada Enhanced Driving Schools
(www.computer-ease.com/socci).
April 2 (Shannonville Full Track), July 31 (Women’s
Day – Mosport DDT), August 20 (Shannonville Full Track),
October 8 (Shannonville Full Track). Excellent instruction,
driver exercises including skid pad and car control, novice
to advanced lapping sessions; street legal and race cars
permitted (passenger seat required for instruction)
- Porsche Club of America, Upper Canada Region (www.pcaucr.org).
April 3, April 17 Skid School, May 8/9 (Mosport), June 12/13
(Mosport), July 23/24/25 (Mosport), August 21/22 (Shannonville),
September 25/26 (Mosport). Excellent instruction, novice
to advanced lapping sessions; Porsche required
- BMW Club Driver Training (www.trillium-bmwclub.ca).
April 24/25, June 4/5/6 and Sept 10/11/12 at Mosport. Excellent
instruction, driver exercises including skid pad and car
control, novice to advanced lapping sessions; street legal
car with passenger seat required
- Thousand Islands Zed Car Club (www.tizcc.ca).
May 10 Lapping Day (Shannonville Full Track). Friendly and
fun lapping day hosted by TIZCC; street legal and race cars
permitted
- Ontario Z Car (www.ontariozcar.com).
August 7 Driver Development Day (Cayuga). Friendly and fun
instruction or lapping, novice to advanced; street legal
and race cars permitted (passenger seat required for instruction)
- Toronto Motorsports Park Advanced Driver Training/Lapping
Program (www.torontomotorsportspark.com
or contact Gerry Low by email, gerry@parallel-mkt.com)
Instruction or Lapping practice, new this year! April 16,
May 7, June 11, August 20, October 22 at Cayuga; street
legal and race cars permitted (passenger seat required for
instruction)
- TrackMasters (www.trackmasters.com).
July 2/3/4 at Mosport, other dates at Watkins Glen and Summit
Point. Instruction or Open Lapping with an abundance of
track time, intermediate to advanced; street legal and race
cars permitted (passenger seat required for instruction)
- Bridgestone Racing Academy (www.goodman-motorsports.com).
Various open-wheel instruction days at Mosport’s DDT.
A little on the pricey side, but cars are supplied and select
courses are approved by CASC-OR for license application),
novice to advanced
And just for fun…
- Bob Harrington has posted some of his fantastic photographs
from the 2003 Vintage Racing Season www.harringtonphoto.ca
- And for the race car driver that has everything…
check out the section on ‘Driving Experiences’
on the UK based site www.thanksdarling.com
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)
www.varac.ca
