VRS 2012 Race Party

Following a time honored tradition, Vintage Racing Services crew, racers and guests gathered together to reminisce about the previous year’s race exploits and celebrate the imminent arrival of the 2012 race season. Thanks to our gracious hosts, Richard and Jane Kresch, everyone enjoyed night on the town (NYC) at the Kresch’s lovely Park Avenue residence. We look forward to parties that Jane organizes as the food, presentation and service are always superb, but this year, our hostess cooked herself and the results were delicious.

As can be seen from the accompanying photos, we all had a very good time. The highlight of the evening, of course, is the presentation of trophies to our intrepid group of vintage racers. It’s important to bring along a good sense of humor and leave behind any visions you may have of yourself as Jim Clark, Sterling Moss or, for the younger guys, Sebastian Vettel. All is fair game as we memorialize the interesting and sometimes frustrating moments of last season. It was all taken graciously and there are now several more trophies to place in the living room (or more likely the garage). A huge thanks to Brian Rechtiene and Tim Ritchie for their imaginative and skillful trophy fabrications.

Thank you all for coming and now it’s time to GO RACING!

Vintage racing has undergone some interesting changes this past year as some of the race organizing bodies struggle with the economy and with finding the right formula for full fields and profitability. Bobby Rahal’s Legends of Motorsports appears to be finished in all but name. HMSA on the west coast has purchased the name and it looks like they will be the sanctioning body for Mont Tremblant in July. SVRA remains in a somewhat unsettled state with only five races at three tracks and HSR continues on with an abbreviated schedule. VRG seems to be healthy and offers several low key events with lots of track time. Filling the void, the tracks themselves are stepping up to organize several big events and employing experienced event managers like Carl Jensen to run the show. The good news is that the sum of these various parts adds up to an interesting and solid race schedule with no overlapping events from February through December.

Throughout the year, we’ve been listening to your comments and suggestions on ways to make your racing experience even better. We think you will appreciate the changes we’ve made to this year’s VRS race program. A thorough review of our costs has identified areas that can translate into significant savings on your track support expenses. We are implementing three different levels of track support to suit racers with differing objectives. For the all out-racer who wants to do it all: test day, enduros, and every lap of every session, we offer Full Track Support. If you’re out for more of a relaxed and social weekend and don’t want or need heroic measures to keep your car on track, you can choose Partial Track Support. And if you’re the kind of guy (or gal) who wants to take care of your own race car but likes the camaraderie of being under the VRS tent, then Tent & Trailer might be for you.

Continuing the trend of pricing our services as a complete package rather than a la carte, Full Track Support now includes event test day and enduro support at no extra charge. And there is still a ten percent discount for doing six of our VRS preferred races during the season as well as a discount for a second or third race car. We will continue to bring one or two rental race cars to the track whenever space allows and, as an added benefit, our Full Track Support racers can rent these at half the regular rental rate.

Another aspect of our business that is receiving increased attention is the support of vintage international rallies like Targa Newfoundland and La Carrera Panamericana. Over the years we have taken a variety of interesting cars to these events with excellent results. Competitors consistently give these events rave reviews, thoroughly enjoying the competition, the scenery and the adventure. We are currently building a Volvo 122 sedan (should be a safe and bulletproof race car) that will be available to rent for these and other events. If you haven’t done one of these events, here’s a way to go and have fun without investing in a car and costly development program.

We hope that you will find these new programs to your liking and that they will encourage you to add one or two more events to your 2012 racing schedule. One thing we hear consistently from race to race and from season to season is that VRS has a friendly and compatible group of racers, who enjoy being with each other as well as racing. Everyone always wants to know “Who is going?” as it’s always more fun at the track with more folks. We heartily agree. We wish you great racing.

Legends of Motorsports
Sebring International Raceway
Dec 2 – Dec 5, 2010

Most normal folks go to Florida in the winter to escape the cold and bask in the famous Florida sunshine. Normal folks don’t go to Florida when it’s in the grip of a freezing cold snap. Whoever said racers were normal? We are, by definition, addicted to wonderful, old, historic race cars and going as fast as possible in them. And we’ll go anywhere that affords us that opportunity. Normal, we are definitely not. In fairness, the weather for Bobby Rahal’s final event of 2010, while downright chilly in the mornings, warmed up to a comfortable, sunny 70 degrees every afternoon. Perfect racing weather.

Harvey had a full truckload of cars for his long trip to Sebring. Along for this season-ender were Jim Lenehan’s Swift DB2 and his newly lightened and painted Datsun 240Z (more on this later), new customer Mike Dube’s Ford Taurus Busch North stock car, Kent’s Porsche 914/6 and Larry’s Ginetta G16. As insurance, we have been taking our VRS Swift whenever we can…just in case.

Load in on Wednesday had to wait until late in the day but there was plenty of space in Sebring’s enormous paddock area even though over 120 cars turned out… Rahal’s best attendance this year. By Thursday morning, all was ready for some serious testing and learning the track for those of us who had not raced at Sebring before. Brian did the honors with Jim’s cars, taking out the usually perfect Swift for a few laps and then shaking down the Datsun which had undergone some major surgery since Watkins Glen in September. In the race shop, the Datsun had lost 160 pounds and gained some track width as well as an entirely new chassis setup. Brian pronounced the 240Z terrific and ready to race and we all anticipated Jim’s reaction when he drove the car the next day.

Unfortunately, Thursday was not without drama as Mike’s Taurus ate a ring and pinion. Mike and his helpers were able to get the car running by noon on Friday only to find that the gearbox was pouring out fluid at a prodigious rate. A valiant effort got the car on track again only to lose fourth gear! Larry and Brian shared the VRS Swift in Saturday’s all-comers Enduro finishing 13^th. Brian says he’s a bit faster in the Swift but he has 65 fewer pounds to haul around too!

Sunday’s feature races saw Jim Lenehan with a great drive in the Datsun, starting last since he missed the qualifier, and passing eight or ten cars to finish 15^th. Jim was delighted with the Datsun’s new-found performance, shaving a full six seconds off his best previous time with the car. Since he had to leave the track early to catch his flight home, Jim ran the Swift in the IMSA GT/USRRC/FIA Makes/CanAm group, finishing an excellent 8^th overall.

Thanks to all of our VRS racers and race crew for an excellent 2010 season. There were lots of good times to remember and, of course, the raw materials for some special trophies were produced as well.

VINTAGE RACING SERVICES NEWS FLASH! Ben Sinnott named 2010 SVRA Rookie of the Year at Road Atlanta Season Finale.

New VRS driver Ben Sinnott’s first season of vintage racing has turned out to be nearly perfect.  A couple of podium finishes and a win at the VIR Gold Cup caused everyone to take notice of the bright orange Beach sports racer.  More importantly, Ben has approached the sport with a willingness to learn and a great attitude noticed by all.  Congratulations to Ben on a terrific first season and truly earning Rookie of the Year.

September 2010

For the second year in a row, the Lime Rock Vintage Festival was a smashing success due to the fine management of our friend Murray Smith.  With 320 vintage racers on hand, every race group was full exhibiting a terrific variety of historic racecars.  From Indy Roadsters to Porsches to pre-war machines that relied on bravery as much as skill to go fast, there was a magnificent collection on view for the fans.  The comment was heard in the paddock over and over that the festival was back to the way it used to be in the Charlie Gibson days…universally recognized as a very good thing.

Vintage Racing Services was out in force with a paddock full to the brim with twelve race cars:

Roger Werner, Porsche 911 2 litre                              Mayo Smith, Porsche 911 2.7 litre

Dave Gussack, Porsche 914/6                                     Kent Bain, Porsche 914/6

Josh Lewis, Lola S2000                                                Larry Neviaser, Ginetta G16

Robert Willis, Swift DB2 S2000                                    Ben Sinnott, Beach Sportsracer

Richard Kresch, Royale RP4 and Lola S2000         Brian Rechtiene, GRD Formula 3

Ed Mettleman, Porsche 914/4

The long weekend actually started on Tuesday with testing in the afternoon, a good opportunity to get each car sorted and ready for the weekend’s races.  All went well with the exception of Ben’s Beach which suffered a suspension failure causing him to have a very close examination of the wall on No Name Straight.  The Beach’s nose was somewhat rearranged and missing a few pieces and there was minor suspension damage, but thanks to quick work back at the job by Brian and John, Ben was back on track Friday morning looking like nothing ever happened.

The beautiful Connecticut autumn  weather  was enjoyed by everyone as racing proceeded on Friday, Saturday and Monday punctuated by Sunday’s terrific (and huge) Sunday in the Park car show and Concours (chaired by our own Kent Bain).  Some fine racing was on display all weekend and special recognition goes to Ben Sinnott who brought the Beach home in 3^rd on Monday’s final Group 2 race.  Many thanks to the VRS crew who did an outstanding job keeping everyone running and servicing such a large group of race cars.

Sometimes it’s just the engine we need to get our hands on.  Classic and Motorsports Magazine publisher Tim Suddard needed some help with a very historic Triumph GT6.  Great guy, great car and what an opportunity!  We have had our hands in a good number of Triumphs, including the original GT6.   AUDB 4, pictured below was the original works modified Spitfire Le Mans entry and the basic prototype for the GT6.   We restored this historically significant, Lemans class winning Triumph number of years ago for Bill Shanahan.  The works competition department produced a very small number of these alloy bodied Spitfires based competition coupes to campaign at Le Mans.  The link to the magazine article on our web site tells all but suffice it to say it was indeed a Triumph of Triumphs at Le Mans then again to be a part of its revival.  Great car, great run at Monterey, but that’s another story.

On to Tim’s terrific TR; Enter Harvey: Harvey Thompson has been a key part of our organization for years.  Prior to coming aboard, Harvey spent every extra dollar he had…and more from some of his superb stories, campaigning a series of TRs in SCCA thorough the sixties and early seventies.  He built and campaigned a TR4 then a GT6 spending weekends chasing and sometimes besting Group 44 & other TR guys around various circuits.  In truth, we are all TR guys here as many readers will likely know.  I’ve been racing Spitfires in vintage racing for many enjoyable years (note the photo below).  Taking Triumphs one step further; in 2006 Bill Shanahan and Murray Smith campaigned a VRS restored and supported Triumph Spitfire 1300 to win the HSR Rolex Endurance Championship against a field of Porsches proving that Triumphs can both speed on and endure!  Triumph indeed!

Again, and at last!!! back to Tim’s Terrific TR;   yes, we think he made the right engine builder choice; we were the right guys for the job.  We are impressed with what has come out of his efforts; Tim may be a publisher….but he’s also a good hands on car guy and has done a terrific job on his ex Group 44 national championship winning Triumph GT6.  We are both proud and pleased to have been a part of the project that attached article tells the story and we look forward to seeing Tim on track in his TR for years to come.

September 2010

Mid September weather in the Finger Lakes region of New York can be tricky and this year was no exception.  Watkins Glen provided a mix of damp, rain, cold and just a little sun to make the race weekend interesting.

Not to be deterred, Vintage Racing Services was ready with a hardy group of racers ready to race, rain or shine.  Jim Lenehan and his Swift DB2 Sports 2000 and Datsun 240Z was there with his lovely wife, Chris.  Watkins Glen regular, Bill Branson, was on hand with a Formula Ford for himself and one for friend, Bob Bruce as well as his beautifully turned out Porsche 911 and an Alfa Romeo Guilia shared by none other than world class mooch and vintage racing fixture, Bert Levy.  Also racing were VRS partners Brian Rechtiene with a GRD Formula B and Larry Neviaser with the Ginetta G16.

Rain was the order of the weekend and rain it did, on and off, most of the time making the choice of going on track at all much less the choice of tires tricky, indeed.  In spite of this, everyone logged lots of track time and enjoyed the camaraderie under the VRS tent.  Highlight of the event was Jim’s excellent 2nd place in the Swift in Group 7 despite a heavy downpour throughout the race.  Larry managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory during the Vintage Enduro by speeding in the pit lane.  The subsequent drive though penalty dropping him from 2nd to 4th at the finish.  Oh well.

Crew duties this weekend were handled perfectly by Brian, Harvey and John who once again handled their jobs with expertise and a smile.

This heading is efficient as was the organization at this two-day Vintage Racers Group event on the Thunderbolt track at the New Jersey Motor Sports Park in Millville, N.J., September 24th and 25th. VRG managed to pack as much track time into two very enjoyable days as we find at most three-day vintage events. Great weather, no less than three races per entry and welcoming paddock ambience were all contributors to the favorable impression we each fostered come the end of Saturday.

Under the VRS tent for this round of racing:

1. Roger Werner & his trusty 1965 Porsche 911 2 liter; Qualified 2nd finished 3rd and had a great event despite having to get back to Connecticut after his 2nd practice on Friday. He was back Saturday AM, courtesy of his piloting skills and as quick non track as ever. Dedication about covers it…Roger can drive (or fly) anything!
2. Jim Lenehan, Swift DB2L S2000; On the pace every session, always in the first few with 5th and 6th places finishes in races and lap times dropping throughout the weekend
3. Yours truly, Kent Bain and that buzzy Triumph Spitfire 1300; 2 races, two 1st place finishes all the while finding it a treat to race among a field of aware and courteous vintage racers. I hope I returned the favor

Also aboard was our rental…my car is down so here’s our Swift DB2L S2 race car…thankfully not needed as all were running well all weekend. This was not our 1st time at NJMS but it was our 1st trip to Thunderbolt. Hats off to founders Harvey and Lee: great track with a fine rhythm and huge interest in a relatively short under 2 mile circuit. The pictures tell the story, we all enjoyed it immensely. Many thanks to all who made it possible.