March 2005

How’s the car? Is the engine freshening complete? Did it get a new paint job? Did you fix the door latch so it closes properly? Did you re-build the brake kit like you said you were going to? Okay… let’s be a little more realistic – have you even take it out of the trailer from last year yet???

I can bet there are several states of repair/disrepair and restoration/demolition of all the various historic cars out there right now. The good news? You haven’t reached panic stage yet. If you get to it NOW, you should be ready for spring! Alas, the snow and cold weather certainly isn’t stimulating for those of us with un-heated workspaces – but don those thick woollies and get out there now! You won’t regret it in the spring!

2005 VARAC Group 70+ Racing Schedule

The dates are set. Mark your calendars for the following six confirmed G70+ races!

• May 14, 15 – BEMC Spring Trophy at Mosport
• June 24 to 26 (optional test day June 23) – VARAC Vintage Festival at Mosport
• August 13, 14 – BARC Canadian Touring Trophy at Mosport
• August 27, 28 – CRDA/VARAC Regional at Mosport
• September 23 to 25 – Fall Classic at Mt. Tremblant
• October 1,2 – Panoz/CASC Celebration at Mosport

Additional testing and racing opportunities for the 2005 season…

• Panoz Test Days at Mosport. All CASC-OR Regional Race weekends typically have a Friday Test Day. This day is open for testing to any licensed CASC-OR drivers/cars and is an excellent opportunity to test and tune (yourself or your car!) Annual technical inspections can be arranged on these weekends – including April 29th if you want to get your car tech’d BEFORE the first race weekend! (www.casc.on.ca/documents/mosporttestdays05.pdf for registration)
• VARAC Fun Day at Dunnville. VARAC will be holding an inexpensive and excellent opportunity to test out and lap your car on Saturday, May 7th – especially great for those of you west of Toronto. Tech inspections can also be arranged for this day. (www.varac.ca/events.html for more information)
• The VARAC Historic/Vintage grid will be running at all the same events as G70+. In addition they will run at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex in Pittsburgh on July 9th, 10th and June 4th, 5th at Shannonville for the CRDA Shootout. If your car is also Historic Production eligible – you could be there!
• VARAC is keeping its eye on opportunities to race at the soon-to-be-opened Calabogie Motorsports Park. If the right event presents itself you could find yourself towing to the nation’s capital for some unexplored track adventures. (www.calabogiemotorsports.com for the inside scoop on the new track layout)
• There is a confirmed rumour of a brand new CASC-OR “13/13”, non-contact grid that will be participating at all of the regional racing events this year. This will provide opportunities for all VARAC drivers who are interested in additional track time in a “less competitive than GT” environment. (Watch for upcoming details on www.casc.on.ca)
• New this year for CASC-OR is two 3-hour enduro races at Mosport (if you think your car AND you can last that long). The first will be held on the May 21/22 weekend and September 17/18 weekend.
• And if that STILL isn’t enough, there are many other races hosted in the U.S. by SVRA (www.svra.com) and HSR (www.hsrrace.com) where Group 70+ cars are typically eligible. Most notably of course is the annual Zippo Grand Prix, September 8 – 11, 2005.

2005 VARAC Driver’s Challenge

And the winner is ??? Yes folks, this year VARAC is indulging in some playful competition, some jovial comradery and some down right fun to get that blood boiling and the juices flowing… The introduction of the 2005 VARAC Driver’s Challenge will award drivers for the ability to prep their cars, show up, complete sessions, drive well (fast and safe!) and a few other fun filled criteria. Details are still being finalized by our new Race Director, Stefan Wiesen, but will be distributed as soon as possible… stay tuned!

2005 VARAC/VRG AM-CAN Challenge

And even more fun for the Vintage/Historic grid is the upcoming AM-CAN Challenge. This unique and fun series will declare team competition between VARAC and the Vintage Racers Group (the north-eastern Vintage club that we’re hosting many events with this year). While it’s unfortunate that Group 70+ won’t be able to compete (there are no equivalent G70+ cars in VRG!), we’ll certainly be able to cheer on our fellow VARAC participants – go team go!

PAPERWORK – UGG!

Here’s your pre-season checklist of items you can do while there’s still snow on the ground…

• Renew your VARAC Membership – contact Nick Pratt at npratt@ca.ibm.com to renew
• Renew your CASC-OR Racing License – www.casc.on.ca/forms.php for the forms
• Fill out the G70+ Car Registration Form – form can be downloaded from www.varac.ca/technical.html and faxed to Jonathon Brett (fax number on the form)
• Request your G70+ Race Number – contact Diane Dale at LDDALE@hotmail.com
• Brush up on your rule sets – VARAC Rules and Regulations (www.varac.ca/technical.html), CASC General Competition Rules (www.casc.on.ca/bulletins.php), CASC Ontario Region Race Regulations (www.casc.on.ca/bulletins.php)

And last but not least…

• Interested in purchasing a HANS device in Canada? VARAC club member David Clubine and Britain West Motorsport is pleased to announce they’ve been awarded a HANS dealership. David can be contacted at 519-756-1610.
• Looking for fasteners, pieces, bolts, screws, yada, yada, yada? Referred to from the chat room is www.mcmaster.com – check it out!

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)