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With another year now behind us we are already looking forward
to seeing our vintage racing friends at the VARAC 2007 Festival
at Mosport, June 22-24, 2007. As someone said, "T his is our
28th annual Festival, so by now we know how to do it!" I always
use a capital "F" on Festival by the way, because that's how
important I think it is. The big apple. Our chance to entertain
vintage racers from Canada and the U.S at one of THE great race
tracks in the world.
The Festival is about a lot of things. Beautiful cars racing
on a superb track, camaraderie with fellow vintage racers from
all over and volunteerism of the best kind. We are a non profit
organization, so it's all done by hard working members and spouses.
It's a chance to meet with racing friends from north and south
of the border and we always do our best put on a "reelly big
shew" while maintaining our unique grassroots, driver-friendly
approach to vintage racing. VARAC organizers do not take themselves
un-necessarily seriously; while safety is important to all of
us the fun aspect is kept in mind at all times. VARAC is a founding
member of VMC and VARAC rules were instrumental in formation
of VMC rules, so we can assure racers that our safety rules
are "sensible and normal" not draconian. We are proud that the
event is organized "by racers for racers" and has been named
"the best club event in North America" by various U.S. magazines."
Check our website for more comments at www.varac.ca.
This year we will be celebrating the 40 th anniversary of an
important date in Mosport's racing history, the first F1 grand
prix in Canada, in 1967. We intend to field a good grid of vintage
F1 cars, to be flagged off by honorary starter Wallie Branston.
Wallie waved the chequered flag 40 years ago as the winner,
Jack Brabham, crossed the line in his Repco-Brabham V8, followed
home by team mate Denny Hulme with Dan Gurney third in his Eagle-Weslake
V-12. The two Canadian drivers in the '67 race, Eppie Wietzes
and Al Pease, will also attend the Festival. The vintage F1
guys we have contacted tell us they are looking forward to running
their beautiful cars on a challenging circuit that has seen
all the top F1 drivers of the day, including winners Brabham,
Jacky Ickx, Jackie Stewart, Peter Revson, Emerson Fitipaldi,
James Hunt and, in the last GP at Mosport in 1977, Jody Scheckter
in the "Canadian" Wolf-Ford.
We also intend to develop the Simms Cup into an ALL MG FEATURE
race. MGVR will assist VARAC in inviting all eligible MG cars
and we hope to attract 40-50 MG's as well as the groups that
we regularly invite every year, Vintage/ Historic, Production
Sports, Sports Racers, Classic Sedans, Wings and Slicks, Monoposto,
and Group 70+. The F1 cars are important, but no more so than
the Sprites, Triumphs, Elvas, etc. We look forward to an event
where everyone gets plenty of track time, has lots of fun, and
goes home happy!
Our friends south of the border are of course a major part
of the Festival. VARAC recognizes and encourages the support
of our America "cousins", who we hope will be sure to put this
premier event on their calendars once again. If you haven't
been here before, talk to those who have! They will tell you
how much they enjoyed this wonderful race track, awards presentation
for all classes, the free "Pot Luck Dinner", (put on by VARAC
members and spouses) to which all are invited, the Saturday
evening gala dinner with spare ribs & chicken (at no added
cost!) the fun Relay Race, the Lawn Chair Race, well, we think
there's really something for everyone at the 2007 VARAC Festival!
Make sure you are there!
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