I race a vintage TR3. Like Uncle Jack and my friend Bill D. mentioned, vintage
races are a wonderfull lot of fun among a diverse group of quick and not so
quick cars. Everybody has a good time driving and hanging around enjoying each
other. Engine swaps and massive mechanical flails are pretty rare. There is
no protest mechanism in most organizations. SCCA used to be fun for folks that
have cars like ours.
I have many, many production friends since I am a member of a large SCCA
community in central and southern Florida. They run HP, GP, FP. They
constantly piss and moan about SCCA not assuring them a place to race their
cars forever under a fixed set of rules. And are really hacked off now that
reasonably modern Datsuns, Mazdas, etc are being introduced to their beloved
production classes. I chuckle, get a beer, and tell them that they are all
"future vintage" racers, they just havent come to that conclusion yet.
In our SCCA regions we have a separate vintage race group at each regional.
Slowly a few local production car racers are joining us. Maybe other regions
should consider it as a good place to keep the loyal racers that they are
losing to other outlets.
I'm still a loyal SCCA member. I treasure every SCCA race I run in our vintage
group. There is no doubt that I'm a better driver for all the seat time those
races provide, and compared to SVRA and HSR entry fees, they are very
affordable. I keep thinking how much more fun they will be when more of the
"future vintage" production guys finally decide to make a switch and either
join us or buy a car that is in the mainstream of the modern SCCA.
Beaulieu Advertising & Design wrote:
> Hi Fot'ers
>
> On the weekend of the 3rd, I was running the Nationals at Lime Rock
> Park, and a little problem was brought to my attention.
>
> The GP ranks (I'm sure FP too) are not meeting the average quota
> (3.5 cars per race) of starts.... within a year or two, if these numbers
> are not met, the classes will be dropped.
>
> After 6 months of reviewing these lists from FOT, I realize most of
> you are Vintage drivers, but if not, I'm asking, why not give a National a
> try...Yes, there are some very fast cars, yet at the same time there are
> some really well prepped, but not earth shattering speed cars that run mid
> pack that have a lot of fun.
>
> Compared to a Regional; you get twice the driving for approx. $10
> more entry.... that equates to two practice/qualify @20 minutes each, and
> at LRP a 30 lap race (10 minute racing here)...
>
> And some, believe the National calibar driver has his/her head in the
> air... not so, I find the hospitality as equal to any other racing
> series...
>
> Formula Vee and GT 5 almost went into oblivion, but with a well campaigned
> e-mail and website criteria, both classes are very comfortable today....
> I'd like to see the same with the Production cars, before we loose them
> (by the way in the May Nationals, there were five Lotus 7's running, with
> 12 e cars in the field... when was the last time you saw that!!)
>
> So if you have the oppportunity, don't be turned away from the National
> (Hey the reporting is better in SportsCar) and come on out and join us...
> who know, maybe the Mid-Ohio runoffs isn't as far-fetched as you believe!!!
>
> As a reminder, we loose these classes, I believe, it will definitely
> reflect on the vintage ranks a few years later.
>
> Thanks for the time
>
> R #32 GP Spitfire
> (and street cruiser '62 MGA)
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