Vintage Racing Services

Moroso Motorsports

It’s late February; the trucks roll out for the HMSA/ Brian Redman Targa weekend at Moroso Motorsports Park in West Palm Beach, Florida. At last… a chance to be sure Jim Freeman’s AMR1 Aston Martin #04 is repaired and sorted. “Pro shoe” Walt Boren is in the car and spent all day Friday helping Nigel get it tweaked. Friday night the big Aston is running and handling better than ever and ready for Jim to twist it up on Saturday. Jim climbs in and blisters the track for a couple of sessions before a drive axle dilemma arrives along with the rain. He is fast, we are all happy, and this car is well and truly fixed with all traces of its Atlanta’s misfortunes erased. After a year’s layoff, Ken Walker is out at Moroso in Jean Goutal’s Ginetta G-4. Ken comes to grips quickly and his rust melts away, but the Ginetta (also inactive for some time) needs a little sorting and some new valve springs. Ken goes about as fast as one can with a car that won’t pull to its 7500 RPM redline then succumbs to the rain. No racing, but a good weekend for getting race machinery sorted in great company.

Barber Motorsports

One week later a VRS crew consisting of Harvey, Brian, and Andrew Kopperl are a few miles from Moroso at the HSR Sebring event with Bob Newman’s Mustang GT-350 and Phil Daigrepont’s Lola 292. Phil had a very disappointing season with the Lola in 05, he brought us the car to sort, fit a new engine, and run for the season, along with his Porsche 908/3. We hope it is the car and not Phil, so does he! It turns out to be exactly as hoped. Phil is quick from the start and ends up on the podium with a 2nd place in the 2 liter challenge race. His sprint race is not so rewarding as he shreds a timing belt and has to cut the power before serious damage is done. Phil is philosophical, he loves the car, he’s quick in it, and he has had 3 great days of trouble free racing. Bob Newman has been circulating quickly and consistently in the Mustang, but an early flight precludes his sprint race. Harvey, Brian, and Andrew catch planes home while the rig remains in Sebring with Mark Simpson’s Porsche 914/6 inside ready for the SVRA 12 hour curtain raiser two weeks hence.

Andrew, you say, a new name in the V.R.S camp? Andrew Kopperl is a new and very welcome, experienced addition to the team. Andrew has joined our firm in a management capacity to help refine operations and manage the substantial growth that we have experienced in the recent past. Andrew has a number of years under his belt in Grand Am racing and ample management experience. We are delighted to have him and we are confident he will make a very significant contribution to our firm.

He’s not back for long when Andrew hooks his big Ford Expedition to a trailer and heads south with the VRS Mazda RX-7 aboard. Time to get the flavor of what we do from the driver’s seat and help Harvey run Mark Simpson’s Porsche. Just the week before our other Andrew, (Zimmermann)…OK, that’s enough… Andrew Kopperl will henceforth be known herein by his nickname “Ando”; so Andrew.….. (Zimmerman that is) hauled Archie Urciuoli’s GT-40 to the Amelia Island Concours. This is a truly great event and very well run by fellow racer Bill Warner. Andy (Z) drops the GT-40 with Archie then heads south to Pick up a 935 at Kevin Jeanettes, Gunnar Motorsports in West Palm Beach. He returns to the Concours in time to see the show. Sunday finds Andrew, Ando & Archie on the show field before Andrew heads north with the 935 and GT-40 aboard. Ando goes south to Sebring with the RX-7in tow. The 12 hour is always a treat….big event ambience with a fair measure of vintage racing thrown in. Ando and Harvey, (who has ceased his torment of Florida’s costal fish population) both arrive in Sebring on Tuesday. Tech and practice all go like clock work. Ando and Mark soak up the ambience of the 12 hours, tear up the tarmac and head home with their racer’s itch scratched for the moment. Harvey and his Kenworth hit the highway churning gear upon gear homeward to Stratford, Connecticut to unload and make ready for the next expedition.Only a few in our group have had the pleasure of visiting Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama since it’s relatively recent opening. It is my first trip, and all of us are very impressed. This is an incredible facility; it is little wonder that The Porsche Driving experience has chosen it for their program. Mr. Barber has done an exquisite job and we all savor his gracious hospitality as executed by Lee Clark. The entire Barber Facility is sure to delight any motorsports aficionado; beautifully designed and landscaped from every vista, it sets a new standard for road racing facilities.

The track itself is tight and challenging, the museum superb and the Birmingham area has a great deal to offer. We have Roger Werner in his Porsche 911, 2 Liter, Bob Machinist with Chevron B-21 & Datsun 240 Z, Richard Kresch in his Elva Mark 8, with John Ralsten and myself in a pair of Spitfires. Sunday see’s only Bob & Chevron from our group on the podium, but win or just finish shiny side up, all had great time at Barber. The SVRA staff have created yet another high quality event. Thanks to all in the SVRA, in addition to our host Lee Clark and the creator of all this superb sport, George Barber.

Walter Mitty @ Road Atlanta

Late April and it is still nippy in the Northeast as we pack up a semi for the HSR Walter Mitty Event @ Road Atlanta. On board are Tom Brown’s 2 Liter Trans Am Datsun 510, Nello Tizzano’s blistering McLaren M8E, Paul Gaston’s Porsche 911 2 Liter, and Jim Freeman’s Aston Martin AMR-1. New VRS crew member Andrew Kopperl (a.k.a Ando) is also there driving the 1970 RR Racing Trans AM Camaro. It’s Andrew’s 1st weekend in a Vintage car somewhat akin to the Trans Am cars he’s spent years racing, and we are all anxious to see how he performs. Thursday proves the most challenging for the VRS crew…I am up to my ears in tuning and sorting issues with Gaston 911, (New race cars often harbor this sort of surprise). After 4 perfect sessions, Tom’s trusty 510 pops something big inside its engine… he’s done. Jim Freeman’s Aston finishes the second test session with a misfire. Diagnosis finds a weak cylinder and Jim decides not to tempt fate, packing it in for the weekend. Come Friday A.M., the Porsche is as close to sorted as it will be for this weekend with the Camaro and Mc Laren running strong.

Bruce Macinnes is with us for the weekend coaching Paul in his 911 and it is a delight to watch them refine car and driver, lowering lap times with each new session. Saturday both Porsche and Camaro put in good enduro performances, while Nello bides his time with transmission woes to make his splash in Sunday’s Sprint Race. Come Sunday we load the 3 runners after a good weekend but wish all 5 were still under there own power. That’s racing, things happen, but we hate to see drivers go home early.

Jefferson 500

Mid-May finds the VRS entourage neatly encamped at Summit Point, West Virginia for Brian & James Redman’s terrific Jefferson 500 Event. Brian has thankfully sorted through an unsuccessful joint venture with HMSA and is back in the driver’s seat for this and his Targa weekends. We are glad to see a record entry and the groundswell of support afforded Brian & James Redman when they announce that they are once again the masters. It is always a great event and 06’ proves the best ever. Both Larry Kessler and Bob Machinist have good races in their Chevrons with Larry ending 3rd overall after 65 fast laps.Richard Kresch finishes “in the money” with his Elva MK8 though some minor maladies keep he and his Beach Abarth from the front of the pack. John Deford and his beautifully built new Porsche 914-6 debut to a 4th O.A in the Marlboro Cup Enduro and a 7th O.A. in the Eiffel Trophy Sprint.

Choices Made

Early June; two “double headers”; back to back dual event weekends that confront or is it confound, the VRS logistics “think tank”? Harvey Siegel’s V.I.R hosts an event that is a corner stone of the Vintage Racing Season but this year conflicts with a re-dated Murray Smith event, Le Summit des Legendes at Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. Then, one week hence, HSR’s Watkins Glen weekend abuts an N.H.I.S Event.

Josh Lewis is out in his Lola T590 S-2000 and has a great time going fast and perfecting the art of the “on track 360”. Machinist & Kessler Chevrons melt their share of rubber while Larry Nevaiser finds just the right line in his G-16 Ginetta. Richard Kresch tolerated an awfully damp Elva cockpit in the wet to find his reward in the dry. Jim Freeman pilot’s his DB4 to perfection, then jumps into his AMR-1 for the enduro to come home 1st overall. Thanks Murray & all at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant for a great weekend despite the weather.

Virginia International Raceway

While we circulate on Le Circuit, back @ sunny Virginia International Raceway, Brad & John Koch have their hands full with the Phil Daigrepont & John Romano’s Porsche 908/3s. The Gold Cup is a great event; superb fields, lots of track time & some very good racing. Good racing is the problem as both Phil & John are hard at it & the cars need constant attention. The cars perform, the driver’s perform, and so does the crew. Phil ends up on the podium… with John Romano only a few ticks behind. It’s a tired Brad & John packing it all up & towing home Sunday night, but all had a wonderful weekend. Marvelous event, rewarding weekend for all & many thanks to Harvey Siegel, Connie Nyholm and all who work so hard and well to make these good things possible.HSR Watkins Glen

Mark’s nephew Sam Kriske is unaffected by the conditions turning one fast lap after another in the Simpson Porsche 914/6 2 Liter. Mike Haydel & Phil Daigrepont can take it; they are from New Orleans… but even they are a bit sticky. Mike and his 911 RS run well all weekend, but Phil, fast as ever, has to pack the Lola up Friday night due to a failed oil pump drive.Come Sunday it is still hot, but John Deford’s been working all the angles all weekend. It shows, neither Porsche nor John miss a beat & he finishes Sunday’s race 4th O.A & 2nd in class. Nevaiser toughs it out ending 2nd O.A. in the Lola while Mike & the Ginetta finish 6th O.A. Mr. Simpson wins his class in the Brabham BT-8 but, nephew Sam is plagued by transmission failure come race day, ending what might have been a great race early.

Heading West

Shortly after Harvey’s return…a scant 4 days to be exact, he’s back on the road headed west…way west!! Archie has had Brian and the guys at the shop get his GT-40 ready to take to America’s . . . more specifically, Utah’s . . . highways for the Fast Pass rally. This event sets out from the New Miller Motorsports Park and runs several days through some of the most beautiful country this continent has to offer….FAST!! Despite the incredible Ferrari wreck that adorned the internet and may have portrayed this event as madness; it is anything but. The Utah Fast Pass is civilized, superbly run, huge fun, breathtaking and a true delight according to all who participated. Mistakes happen, and thankfully nothing tragic despite the fantastic wreckage. Archie drove deliciously, Magee was a “saint-ess” and Harvey grumbled for days, but all involved had a great time and Archie’s big GT-40 did not miss a beat.Miller 06

Racing ended Saturday evening with the Chevrons coming home 1st in class for Larry & B-19, with Bob 4th in class. Sadly Mark’s Brabham broke a caliper mount on Friday so he could not go for the gold. Mark, philosophical about it all, a veteran of many races, he simply headed home. Phil and Lola ventured off track on the last lap with a fuel pick up problem . . . Fuel could not be picked up as a mis-threaded fuel cap tossed the drops needed into the air on prior laps. Mike and Porsche 911 garnered a class medal in the enduro and I managed a 3rd place finish in my 914/6.The last decade has seen an encouraging growth in new road racing circuit construction. Seeing this Miller Motor sports venue and Barber for the first time this year is enough to make one’s heart glad.Thank you Larry Miller and Kudos to the HSR for getting us all there. Special thanks to Jim Stacie for some mighty fine lunches for all of us and the crew from GMT Racing.

Monterey

It’s a scant week later that we have an appointment at Vintage Racing’s mecca; The Monterey Pre-historic weekend followed by the Historics, Pebble Beach and all those associated events and auctions. The V.R.S. Brain, or is it the Brian trust??? was not caught napping on the logistics front: Two semis went to the Utah… but only one returned. The other, piloted by the amazing Harvey Thompson, headed west from Miller for the Monterey weekends. Meanwhile Brian & crew flew home with the remains of the failed (cast) Brabham right front caliper bracket & the mirror image left. 1st thing Monday, Brian & Jim Bailey have a big chunk of metal on the milling machine and by Tuesday evening an exact but much stronger part are at FedEx and in route to Harvey for Wednesday fitment.Harvey has somehow convinced his wife to fly out to meet him for a few days of California vacation. He drives, vacations, mends the Brabham and meets up with Mark Simpson Friday night. Also under the tent for the Pre-Historics is Richard Clark’s exceptionally reliable Porsche 356 just shipped directly from Europe. Jack Cowell’s 1970 Camaro Historic Trans Am car & Cobra are on board and headed for the RM Auction. Harvey handles it all to perfection. Richard & Mark have a great weekend then Harvey & Flourine actually get a bit of down time before her flight home on Wednesday.

The Monterey Historics are more about the show than the go, and what a show it is. A brilliant field of Coopers and just about everything else under the Vintage Racing sun.Phil’s run of bad luck continues. His Lola never runs as it should and hardly makes a lap. We look, we tune, we try, but the engine has an internal problem telling us that the spin 2 weeks ago in Utah may not have been driver error. Despite some initial multi-year layoff sorting, Bobby Akin and Cooper Monaco put in a good performance as do Clark & Simpson.

Lime Rock

Harvey’s Kenworth does its duty and one week hence he is back in Connecticut. Unload, clean, inspect, report, repair, reload, and so it goes in preparation for HMSA’s Lime Rock Vintage Festival. 2006’s event embraces a scary weather prognostication— hurricane remains are due to track through the area with all the usual drama, doom & gloom from the attention seeking, ratings rewarded, forecast media… And so it did not go, thankfully….. some strong winds on Saturday, but narry a drop did fall. We had Bob Sharp’s 1984 SCCA National champion 300 ZX Turbo under the tent for the weekend not to mention the pleasure of Bob’s company.

Great car, great history and it can be yours for the right (and very reasonable if I do say) number. Racing were Archie Urciouli & GT-40, Bob Machinist & Chevron B-21, Larry Kessler & Chevron B-19, John Romano & Porsche 908-3, Prescott Kelly & Porsche 911 & me with my trusty Triumph Spitfire 1300. This event, as the Historics, is focused on the show not the go. We kept the shiny side up exercised the machinery, enjoyed each other’s company and had a great time. Many thanks to all.

Watkins Glen, September

Barely time to catch our breath; when one week later we are at Watkins Glen, New York with a bevy of Racing’s beauties. In our view this event has replaced the fall festival as the pre eminent eastern late summer meet and 06’ was larger than ever with over 500 cars. The SVRA did their usual outstanding job of administration to make all function flawlessly.

• Richard Kresch with 2 Beaches; Fiat/Abarth & Lotus powered
• James Machinist in the venerable VRS rental Datsun 510
• Bob Machinist; Chevron B-21
• Larry Kessler; Chevron B-19
• Archie Urciouli; Ford GT-40
• John DeFord; very quick Porsche 914/6
• Larry Nevaiser with Lola 312, F-5000 & Ginetta G-16
• Prescott Kelly; Porsche 911 2.7
• Eric Apothiker; Porsche 924

Not to mention myself & Porsche 914/6 on the self-care program. Great weather and a great weekend with Neviaser and DeFord on the podium, and everyone shiny side up. “The Glen” is always a great meeting, but they seem to get just a bit better every year.

We Happy Fewer

A bit of a break, though all those August & early September races mean there is plenty to be done on our flock of temperamental beasties. We set to it in preparation for the S.V.R.A Virginia International Raceway event only to find a raft of business-related customer cancellations. In the end it is only Larry Neviaser and John DeFord with John Koch from V.R.S down with our shop Spitfire to try his luck on track. John blows a head gasket; Larry runs well until a minor race day off track excursion while John and trusty 914/6 tears ‘em up to end up on podium in both the sprint and endurance races. Well done John!

Road Atlanta, Fall

Scarcely 3 days later we reassemble and set up camp for the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association Season Finale at the always hospitable Road Atlanta Circuit. It’s bound to be a busy weekend with two new cars to Shepard through their 1st event under VRS care. Richard Kresch has purchased Asa Candler’s beautiful little Royale RP4/Lotus Sports Racer while Mike Haydell brings Randy Gref’s much updated ex IMSA Porsche 911 3.7 out of moth balls. The Royale proves perfect; just as Asa had promised it would be. The Porsche, on the other hand, kept us jumping with some minor scrapes typical of a driver finding out just how his new ride behaves at the limit. Andrew assisted Mike with sorting, and by the end of the weekend both, car and driver seemed comfortable with each other and were performing well. Atlanta was a typically well run SVRA event and all our lot had a great time. The SVRA do a wonderful job of packing lots of racing into a weekend with a unique, warm sense of “community” which they have successfully managed to intertwine with the competitive nature of racing. The V.R.S drivers faired very well indeed.

5 starters and 4 finishers in Friday’s enduro with a second overall for the Bain Porsche 914/6. Richard Kresch in his Beach Abarth finished 1st in his class while Sam Kriske in the Simpson Porsche 914/6 finished 2nd in class & 7th O.A. Freeman pulled the big Aston DB4GT in early— “tired” he said, “and too likely to make a mistake.” . . . Discretion is surely the better part of valor.Jim Lenehan in his new (ex Machinist) 240Z Datsun flat spotted a couple of tires and ended his enduro a couple of laps early with tires down to the cord and an odd shake in the wheel. Sunday races saw John Romano in his superb Porsche 908/3 on the podium in third and none other than myself, 1st O.A in group 8 but only because Pete Kitchak went home early! Thanks Pete.Everyone that took the green took the checker and all enjoyed this really great southern fall medley.

La Carrera Pan Americana

Trucks are unloaded, spares restocked while all the cars get their post race evaluations amid a flurry of activity in preparation for the next event on the calendar, La Carrera Pan Americana.

Drivers Shanahan and Smith are ready and psyched. The Bacardi Corvette is snarling away, and preparations are nearing completion for the exodus south to Vera Cruz, Mexico. Last year’s exceptional performance, 1st in class and 4th overall, is going to be hard to beat, but all are game and excited as logistics get sorted and plans finalized. Tuesday, November 14th finds John Koch at the wheel of our Ford F550 pulling our new 32 foot fifth wheel trailer. Inside is the Bacardi Corvette with a massive spares kit plus water, granola bars and all the other ingredients experience teaches are needed to make this demanding 7 day road race turn out well. John crosses the border Saturday, finds our main man south of the border, Julio Tovar and is camped in Vera Cruz Monday. Brian & Murray fly down on Tuesday; Bill joins them, then testing, teching, tuning and cleaning follow until Thursday evening finds the team Bacardi/Martini Corvette ready for Friday A.M. start. Friday A.M.; it’s a calm, collected analytical Smith in the navigator’s seat, as Bill blasts down the highway. Turn after turn, stage after stage team Shanahan-Smith do their usual job of turning in class winning times while preserving the equipment.

A long ride to the checker. Photo Kenneth Olaffsson.

Finito, 3rd place overall…Whew! Photo Kenneth Olaffsson.

No “off’s”, hardly a stone chip, and not a single miscue tell the story. Over 85 starters & one full week of racing finds messrs Shanahan & Smith with the big bad Bacardi team Corvette 3rd overall only moments behind the 1st 2nd place cars. Ah 3rd loser you say! Remember that this is an F.I.A Historic class car weighing over 3000 pounds, not one of the all out Carrera cars that typically dominate the top ranks. Well done Bill, Murray, Brian, John, Julio, not to mention the V.R.S prepared stead… Bill’s 1965 Corvette Coupe.

Daytona

Just as we depart from Mexico, another crew wings southward for the annual Pilgrimage to the high banking of Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Aboard the semi are a foursome of Porches; Jim Hamblin’s exceptionally quick 2 Liter 911, Paul Gaston’s 2 Liter 911, Neville Burt’s 911 2.2, and the as yet untested Drew Brown 3.2 Liter Porsche RSR. Daytona’s high banking demands long full throttle runs; a recipe for engine mortality if ever there was. Thursday practice sorts it out quickly and by day’s end, a philosophical Jim Hamblin has succumbed to a burned valve while Drew Brown ponders a likely head gasket seal failure. With us this weekend is renown Porsche engine builder Kevin McCarthy, and even he cannot put these cars back on track. The remainder of the weekend goes well as Paul & Neville go round & round being sure not to “fall off” the banking and learning many of Daytona’s nuances. Previous commitments mean Paul & Neville have to fly home Saturday evening, but they have had lots of laps and a great Daytona weekend. Harvey grinds gears northward while Brad & Jim pack it all up and head home Saturday night to spend a surprise Sunday at home with family and friends.

Sebring

Miles and miles to do miles of laps upon laps, then miles and miles to get home. One might think we would be tired of tires, pavement, power, performance, petrol and all this activity. Yet the V.R.S season finale is a bitter sweet pill; it has been a rewarding season, but now it will be a couple of months before the excitement and adrenaline are flowing again. Ah well; finale it is, and ending the season at this historic circuit is a fitting finish. Though weather threatened all weekend, hardly a drop fell in Sebring and the sun was often seen. HSR events offer plenty track time and Thursday practice was a slug fest. Paul zinged a valve early on. We were lucky again to have Kevin McCarthy on board; he and Brian made short work of the motor change though we never did get the spare engine up to par. Neville Burt went round and round and round in practice, enduros, sprint and night races soaking up all HSR had to offer putting countless entertaining hours on his 911.

Jim Lenehan waited patiently most of Friday while we sorted a differential problem on his Datsun 240Z then had a great enduro until his rear fender somehow found a tire wall on the last lap. All fixed and ready by 2:30 P.M; he accounted well for himself in the afternoon sprint followed by after the sprint race, which preparation for Sunday’s 4 hour marathon was the “business” of the afternoon.Saturday also saw Ando (our own Andrew Kopperl) arrive trackside to assist in Saturday’s enduros and co-drive with Jim in Sunday’s 4 hour.Sunday dawned sunny and warm. Jim took the green running out the first tank of gas until turning the car over to Ando. Nearly another half tank was gone when Ando did not come round; a failed clutch pressure plate the cause and ah well that’s racing the refrain! My 914/6 and I had a good enduro and sprint race with just the right measure of on track fun to cap the season perfectly.

So here we are on the Eve of Christmas 06. Lots of fond memories from a great season track side; not one serious incident for our “guys,” lots of podiums, and, most importantly, a huge measure of the finest fun available. We look forward to seeing everyone back on track at the races in 2007.