Race Cars and Motorsports

What races will you get to this year?

Here's a preliminary & very incomplete list of possibilities. Please suggest additions!

Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG)
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA
April 9-11, 2010

SOVREN Defrost Kickoff
Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA
April 10-11, 2010

MGCC BCV8 Championship, Rounds 1&2
Brands Hatch, England
April 11, 2010

Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge, Round 1
(FIA F2 MSVR)
Silverstone, England
April 17-18, 2010

SCCA Oregon Regional
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
April 17-18, 2010

SCCA Continental Divide Region
Pikes Peak International Raceway, Colorado Springs CO
April 17-18, 2010

Historic Motor Sports Association
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas, CA
April 24-25, 2010

Vintage Racer Group's "Jefferson 500"
Summit Point, West Virginia
April 30-May 2, 2010

Walter Mitty Challenge
Road Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
April 30-May 2, 2010

SCCA Oregon Regional
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
May 6-7, 2010

MGCC BCV8 Championship, Round 3
Oulton Park International, England
May 8, 2010

Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge, Round 2
(MSVR)
Thruxton, England
May 8, 2010

SCCA Colorado Region
High Plains Raceway, CO
May 8-9, 2010

SOVREN Spring Sprints
Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA
May 15-16, 2010

Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN
May 25-30, 2010

SCCA Double Regional/National
Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA
May 28-29, 2010

SCCA Continental Divide Region - National
Pikes Peak International Raceway, Colorado Springs CO
May 29-30, 2010

The Heacock Classic Gold Cup
Virginia International Raceway, Danville VA
June 4-6, 2010

MGCC BCV8 Championship, Rounds 4&5
Silverstone, England
June 4-6, 2010

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA
Jun 5-6, 2010

SCCA Rose Cup
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
June 9-11, 2010

MG Vintage Racers' East-Coast Focus Event
Mosport (near Toronto), Canada
June 18-20, 2010

SCCA Continental Divide Region
Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo CO
June 19-20, 2010

Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge, Round 3
(MSVR Lotus Festival)
Snetterton, England
June 19-20, 2010

Goodwood Festival of Speed
(Near Portsmouth, England)
July 2-4, 2010

SOVREN Pacific Northwest Historics
Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA
July 2-4, 2010

SCCA Colorado Region - National
High Plains Raceway
July 3-4, 2010

HMSA Portland Historic Races
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
July 9-11, 2010

Kohler Vintage Grand Prix
Road America, Elkhart Lake WI
July 15-18, 2010

Pittsburg Vintage Grand Prix
Pittsburg PA
July 15-18, 2010

SCCA Continental Divide Region
Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo CO
July 24-25, 2010

Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge, Round 4
(British Touring Cars)
Snetterton, England
August 7-8, 2010

HMSA Monterey Pre-Reunion
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas, CA
August 7-8, 2010

HMSA Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas, CA
August 12-15, 2010

Bonneville Speed Week
Bonneville Salt Flats, UT
August 14-20, 2010

IRL Grand Prix of Sonoma
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA
August 20-22, 2010

SCCA Colorado Region
High Plains Raceway, CO
August 21-22, 2010

Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge, Round 5
(AMOC)
Oulton Park, England
August 21, 2010

SCCA Colorado Region – National
High Plains Raceway, CO
September 4-5, 2010

MGCC BCV8 Championship, Rounds 6&7
Cadwell Park, England
September 4-5, 2010

SOVREN Columbia River Classic Road Race
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
September 4-6, 2010

Lime Rock Historic Festival
Lakeville CT
September 3-6, 2010

U.S. Vintage Grand Prix
Watkins Glen NY
September 10-11, 2010

SCCA Oregon Regional
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
September 11-12, 2010

Goodwood Revival
(Near Portsmouth, England)
September 17-19, 2010

SOVREN Fall Finale with Enduro
Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA
September 18-19, 2010

SCCA Runoffs (at Road America)
Elkhart Lake WI
September 20-26, 2010

HMSA Coronado Speed Festival
Coronado NAS, San Diego, CA
September 24-26, 2010

CSRG Charity Challenge
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA
October 1-3, 2010

Maryhill Loops Hillclimb
Maryhill Loops Road, Goldendale, WA
October 2-3, 2010

MGCC BCV8 Championship, Rounds 8&9
Snettterton, England
October 2-3, 2010

Bonneville World Finals
Bonneville Salt Flats, UT
October 6-9, 2010

SCCA Oregon Regional
Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR
October 7-8, 2010

Jeff Saltman Memorial Race
(Vintage Auto Racing Association)
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV
October 15-17, 2010

Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge, Round 6
(MSVR)
Brands Hatch, England
October 23-24, 2010

CSRG Season Finale
Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA
October 30-31, 2010

HCICA Historic Champ/Indy Showcase
Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX
November 5-7, 2010

Vintage Racer Group's "Turkey Bowl"
Summit Point West Virginia
November 26-28, 2010



Please don't be shy about discussing these race weekends, venues, etc., below. For one thing, your tips will help me decide which races to prioritize, which affects what cars get featured in BritishRaceCar.com articles.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/2010 03:55PM by Moderator.

Curtis, you overlooked the Goodwood Revival on Sept 17-18-19 2010. For out and out vintage "racing" perhaps the best show on earth. I was lucky enough to be able to attend back in 2004 and it was a great three days of vintage racing with incredibly rare cars and wonderful scenery. We're planning on going again in 2011 and take in some 50th anniversary MG Midget activities as well.

Ooops! I had the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July), but not the Revival (September). I'm turned off by the Goodwood website's heavy emphasis on costume and spectacle. Looks like a big, crowded party. I just want paddock access! My concern is getting there and finding wonderful cars parked behind velvet ropes or in garages. Bonnets closed. No one handy to answer questions about the hardware.

My wife and I have been talking about returning to England this year - we have enough frequent flyer miles to cover the airfare - but I was thinking of trying to get in a quieter race weekend. The "BCV8" events (listed above) are basically MGB GT V8's racing head to head. The "Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge" events were suggested by someone who sent me photos of an awesome MGC-GT-V8 racecar that'll be competing in the Heritage series against Aston-Martins. The same shop will be campaigning a Mini and a Sebring Sprite too.

TX World Speedway is where my in-laws live... might have to suggest to my wife we go visit them that w/e ;).

I don't know much about that historic Indy Car event (in TX), but it looks VERY interesting. I strongly prefer to see racecars in a paddock or garage instead of in a museum. And to see and hear them start-up and run!!!


I've just bought plane tickets, and I'm now committed to attending either "The Walter Mitty" at Road Atlanta or "The Jefferson 500" at Summit Point WV.

Why on Earth are these two big events on the same weekend!?! If they were on consecutive weekends (like the Lime Rock fall festival and Watkins Glen, I'd attend both of them, and so would a lot of racers, vendors, etc. The Mitty is the first of five rounds of the historic Formula 5000 series, and will also feature Lotus racecars this year. I think the Jefferson might be less crowded with spectators, and perhaps a little better for seeing older and British racecars, plus it's MUCH closer to where my parents live. I'll fly into Virginia and celebrate my dad's birthday, then borrow his car and go see some racing.

Well... I'm in Virginia this week.

Are any of you guys planning on being at The Jefferson 500 this weekend?

I'll be in the paddock (daytime only) from Friday through closing time on Sunday. Here are some event particulars: [www.jefferson500.org]

The "Gold Cup" is THIS weekend at Virginia International Raceway. I wish I was there. If you're thinking about it, GO!!!

But looking ahead a couple weekends, there are some other great events coming up. Tonight I bought a cheap plane ticket and I'm heading north to Canada. My first international race!

Here's where I'm headed.

ref: MGVR press release

Quote:

Since 1995 the MG Vintage Racers have annually teamed up with one vintage racing organization for their designated “Focus Event”. For it they encourage all their MG racing members (250+) to attend, and they arrange for special MG races at it with the organizers, plus holding some of their own MGVR social functions and awards during the weekend, including awarding of the “MGVR Spirit Award”, also known as “The Big Copper Bucket”. For 2010, they have accepted the northern hospitality of the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) at their “Vintage Racing Festival” at Mosport International Raceway, in Ontario, just west of Toronto, being held the weekend of June 18-20. A large turnout of 60+ MGs of all types and years is expected and there will be at least one “All MG” race, possibly more! All of these racing MGs will compliment the rest of the many vintage racing cars competing at the event.

Look for me in the paddock, wearing a BritishV8 t-shirt. I hope to meet you there!

Curtis, say hi to all my friends in the Vintage MG Racers. They gave me a warm welcome several years ago at Hallett when I went down to watch them race.
There is a bit of "spectacle" for the Goodwood Reunion, it's definitely part of the charm of the place. Access to the cars is limited to members of the Goodwood Motor Racing Club and the race entrants, but you have fairly good access from outside the fencing. The paddock is arranged in an interesting pattern in order to give the greatest access to the general public and yet allow the racers and mechanics a clear working area. You probably should inquire about press credentials which would allow you much more access.
It's about as close to a time machine as I can think of because of the costumes and the old cars. Add in the fact that these guys race, not just do parade laps and it really seems like you've gone back in time to 1966 or before. There are also plenty of static displays around the track of some very interesting cars driven in by the spectators.
Here's a photo I took of one of the race cars in the paddock and you can see how close I could get to it.

The other two are of cars in the display areas around the track. The Spitfire is a recreation of one of the LeMans Spitfires and is almost 100% period perfect. The Bently was just another car parked there for display.

Here's a couple of cars in the spectator parking area. They have a special lot set aside for pre 1966 cars outside as well which can save you a lot of walking to get to the gates.

The MGCC Silverstone meeting this weekend is more than just the BCV8 championship you have listed. It is a meeting covering all the MGCC's championships plus some others and other events such as autojumble and concours. More details at www.mglive.com.

I will be in the sprint running in car number 34. The sprint will be on the smaller Stowe circuit rather than the main one.

Quote:

Say hi to all my friends in the Vintage MG Racers. They gave me a warm welcome several years ago at Hallett when I went down to watch them race.

Will do. Yes, they are a great bunch. They don't call MG "the Marque of Friendship" for nuthin'!

Quote:

...more than just the BCV8 championship you have listed...

Cool! You're going to post a whole bunch of photos here for us next week, aren't you? Please?

Curtis,
I have the tent packed all ready to head to Mosport - no doubt we'll run into you there.

Curtis,

Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, Kansas will host their very FIRST Kaw Valley Race Group (KVRG/SCCA Vintage Race event on August 19-22, this summer 2010.

The organizers expect a record number of entries due to the date, the Heartland Park SCCA facilities and the central location of the SCCA (Topeka being the home office location of the SCCA) and Topeka being in the very center of the USA. (Always an easy tow to Topeka.)

Heartland Park Raceway recently hosted the SCCA National Championship Runoffs and is home to the National SCCA Champions Kent and Jesse Prather, well known for their National Champion MGs. I trust they will bring several of their MGs to this HPT vintage event.

I plan to enter my (now vintage) 1972 E/F Prod MGB GT and my new GT2 RV8. The organizers tell me they plan an "exhibition" class for race cars manufactured after l972, so both the E/F Prod B GT and the GT2 RV8 are suddenly made eligible for this special Vintage Heartland Park Raceway weekend - August 19-22, 2010.

Too, I hope to take the GT2 RV8 to the "British V8 2010 - Converting Indy" event - Indianapolis being another easy tow from Kansas City. I do hope to meet you there and hope to have a chance to get to know you.

keep them on the track,

Phillip G

Well you wanted some pictures from Silverstone. This is the first installment as I have to resize them all.
Recently WSM cars were mentioned on this site. Here we have a picture of a WSM coupe based on an early "pull handle" MGB roadster. The following picture is the WSM coupe based on an Austin Healey Sprite as a contrast.




When ever I see this beautifully presented MGA Coupe I alway think i want one. This one has a 1950cc B series engine. It was competing in the sprint. You can see the timing beam splitter on the front.


This is my own car. Now RHD it was originally a LHD US spec car that was brought back to the UK 18 years ago. I bought it from the importer. I was very pleased with my performance in the sprint. Out of 5 standard MGBs I cam second. In the picture i am braking.