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Sitting here on good old Jet Blue somewhere wandering way atop Wyoming, it’s hard to believe we are well past the half way point of our race season. Time flies when you’re having fun…and we are. The last 7 months seem to have simply evaporated. There are stories to tell; much has transpired in this rewarding, fast, fabulous and fun season and there is sure to be more to follow.
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Targa Moroso 2007
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Early AM, VRS pits, Moroso |
2007 started with Brian Redman’s terrific Targa 66 event at Moroso Motorsports Park in late February. VRS had 3 trailers and our collective hands full. Huge amounts of track time, and Brian’s gentle guidance make this a great way to start your season.
Under the tent we had:
- Porsche 914/6 and Chevron B-21: Tom Cirillo rented the pair to get his feet wet in a vintage mode after years of Ferrari challenge and other more intense racing.
- Royale/Lotus RP4 and Beach/Abarth: Richard Kresch in his pair of fine and fast sports racing cars.
- Porsche 911 2 liter: Roger Werner had some fun tearing up the tarmac and loosening up his race senses from the malaise of a work induced quasi-hiatus in 2006
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Mr. Kresch having some fun |
John Deford tweaking it just a bit more . . . again |
Richard’s RK Racing Racers |
- Triumph Spitfire 1300: Our old pal Ken Walker, back on track after a long absence renting our Spitfire and showing us that he is as quick and consistent as ever.
- Porsche 914/6: The very quick John Deford out session after session testing, tweaking, tuning and getting faster all the while.
- Ford GT-40: None other than Archie Urciuoli and his beautiful GT-40 tearing up the track with his usual aplomb.
- Titan MK 5 Formula Ford: Both driver Jean Goutal and the car out of mothballs after a long layoff…the driver was up to it and quick as ever, but the engine could only manage a few sessions.
- McLaren M8, Radical C sports racer and Ferrari Stradale: Our good friends from Texas, John and Susan Mundy up to their usual tricks on the track and having a great time as always.
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Archie and GT40 at speed |
Jean Goutal back on track at last |
Deford stages for some fast laps |
Ken Walker takes to the track |
Mundy’s marvelous McLaren at speed |
The Blur, Roger at speed and close to the edge |
Tom Cirillo and rental Porsche power on |
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Great weekend was had by all; thank you Brian, Marion, James and Dawn for all your usual style, competence and marvelous experience.
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HSR March Sebring
A scant 4 days later and things are much more serious.
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| Some of the crew flies home, while others head for Sebring, Florida, for the HSR season opener.
This is a well attended event and the racing is fast and furious.
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Neville and his 911 turn in |
Paul Powers through the last corner |
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It’s an all-Porsche event for VRS with Drew Brown and his Rapid 1973 911, Paul Gaston with both his 2 and 2.7 liter 911s, Peter Brittingham’s gorgeous green screamer 911, and John Deford with the now-tweaked and sorted . . . yeah, we know, nothing’s ever perfect…. 914/6. Lots of hard racing, hours of enduros, gallons of fuel up in smoke… OK, not the best choice of words, smoke is never a good thing…let’s say exhausted in pursuit of lap time perfection. It all comes to a close on Sunday evening with Drew fast, consistent and on the podium along with John who finds himself rewarded with more than our appreciation for a job well done. Paul and Pete have had some great racing and lowered lap times while coming home unscathed.
Good, clean, and quick racing, guys…well done.
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HSR Mitty 07
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VRS paddock, Atlanta . . . dry |
March passes peacefully at the shop as we prepare for the next big event of our season, HSR’s Walter Mitty Challenge at Road Atlanta.
Under the tent:
- Lola T590 S2000: Josh Lewis out for the first time in 07 and anxious to learn this new track.
- Datsun 510, Tom Brown: Tom took much of last year off to focus on his SCCA pursuits, but he is back in style with his venerable 2 liter 510 Datsun and finds himself with a class podium when the checker falls. Well done Tom.
- Acura NSX: Race veteran Jerome Jacalone is out with us for his 1st 2007 event. He clearly knows the track and the car and we are very pleased to have him aboard.
- Lola T312 F-5000: Our pal Larry Neviaser’s 1st race of the season. Quick and smooth as ever.
- Porsche 911 2 liter and 2.7 liter RS clone: Paul Gaston back at one of his favorite tracks to hone his skills and have some fun.
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Then wet, but not for long |
Neville, relaxed and ready |
Brian and Bruce |
Josh in his Lola S2000 |
Mr. Deford, still tinkering |
Porsche 911, Neville Burt: Never bothered by the eggplant color of his rapid 911, we note that the northern winter has not affected Neville and he is his usual logical, rapid, while easy going self.
Porsche 911, Drew Brown: Fast as he was at Sebring despite a bad start due to some unfortunate, unwelcome VRS inflicted trailer rash…all better now, sorry Drew. Got over the obstacles and finished 1st in class…again,,, Well done!!
Liverman Racing’s Porsche 911 with Pete Brittingham – Despite the fact that the car that is the color of bile…Peter remains cool, calm, collected and quick.
Porsche 914/6, John Deford – What can we say… on the money and in the money once again.
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Brittingham’s beauty at speed |
Brown and Datsun at speed |
Gaston going strong |
Jacalone NSX in a class by itself |
Larry and Lola get ready |
Paul’s pretty 2 liter Porsche |
Drew Brown, simply doin’ it right |
Neville Burt and purple power Porsche |
| No DNS, No DNFs, lots of great racing, fun and frolic amid the welcoming communities surrounding Road Atlanta.Great event, great driving by all under the VRS umbrella and our thanks to the HSR and all our drivers. |
| Jefferson 500 |
| We had over 15 cars going to Brian Redman’s Jefferson 500 in mid-May. All were understandably disappointed when the event had to be cancelled due to a combination of unfortunate and unavoidable factors. Most had already set plans for the next weekend, but those who could flex did, and we loaded a semi and headed for SVRA’s Road America event May 18-20. |
| SVRA Road America |
Simpson Porsche 914-6 gets a pre-track tweak |
Simpson and Brabham BT8 charge on |
Jim Lenehan and Mark Simpson were the lucky ones and were rewarded with some good racing. Harvey hooked up the Kenworth and headed west Monday afternoon while Brian and Tim found flights to have all ready and set to go for Thursday morning at Road America. Lots of practice time with some interesting downtime to roam around the pits. That’s where it always happens, “that car”, that jewel like piece of machinery, that perfect race tool, that bit of unfulfilled need. Jim with Brian found it in the form of a very pretty little Swift DB2L Sports 2000. The rest is history as the Mid-Ohio event account will surely attest. The gearhead in all of us just cannot be kept down.
Road America racing went well. Mark Simpson was second overall in group 8 come Sunday in his Porsche 914/6, well done Mark!! His Brabham worked just as it should, finishing well while Jim ran a good enduro in his 240Z to finish 5th in class despite some differential problems that kept him out of Sunday’s field. As fate would have it, next time he just might have a backup S-2000 to fall back on.
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VIR Gold Cup 07
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VRS VIR left paddock |
VRS VIR right paddock |
VIR Gold Cup June 8-10 finds VRS at VIR with Jim Lenehan, Datsun 240Z and rented Lola T590 S2000, Andrew Petch in a Lotus 7, your author in Triumph Spitfire and Larry Neviaser with his Ginetta/BMW G16 and Lola F5000. Harvey Siegel, Connie Nyholm, and all those responsible for this superb circuit do a really good job of producing this terrific event for their balmy mid-Atlantic June weekend; 2007 was true to form. Good fields with some really good racing, great weather and an event ambience that simply cannot be beat. We all had a blast and our appreciation for The Gold Cup grows and grows.
SVRA’s always exciting and very well attended.
Thanks to all at VIR.
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Andrew and Kent get ready for a Gold Cup |
Andrew Petch at speed, testing the Lotus 7 |
Bain burning up the tarmac in hoping to Triumph |
Jim Lenehan Datsun down the hill |
Lenehan and Lola run The Gold Cup |
Larry Neviaser Ginetta hard down and right |
| SVRA Mid-Ohio |
Mid Ohio weekend was next. John Deford had to cancel due to the realities of life intervening to preclude “motorific indulgences” leaving Jim Lenehan and Larry Neviaser on track. Jim’s Road
America acquisition was slated to be delivered from California to Mid Ohio just as the event began and his Datsun was on board the VRS rig with Tim and Andy on the crew. Good event; Larry ran well in both his Lola 312 F-5000 and Ginetta/BMW G-16 finishing first overall in the group 5 race. Jim got some very enjoyable and educational laps in with his new S-2000, but the Datsun again had a DNF weekend in the Enduro due this time to a transmission.Not the way racing should go two weekends in a row, but it happens, and we are all determined to put it behind us.
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Tremblant 07
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The VRS Canadian paddock |
| What a track those Canadians keep tucked away, safely enclosed in the Laurentian Mountains north and west of Montreal. Le Legends De Summit Mont Tremblant is an incredible weekend at a top notch facility; even a few showers could not dampen our spirits. Twelve cars to see after for the VRS crew with loads of track time kept us hopping and our racers happy. |
On the Tarmac this weekend:
- Mark Simpson – Porsche 914/6 and Brabham BT8
- Josh Lewis – Lola S2000
- Archie Urciuoli – Ford BT-40
- Larry Kessler – Chevron B19
- Larry Neviaser – Lola F5000 and Ginetta G-16
- Bob Newman – Piloting the Legendary ex Jennings Porsche 911
- Roger Werner – Porsche 911 2 Liter
- Richard Kresch – Royale/Lotus and Beach/Abarth sports racing cars
- Kent Bain – yep, me again, and this time with 914/6
Good racing! Another superb event hosted by our friend Murray Smith and the fine folks at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant producing a very appreciative group of racers. This event is one of our season’s highlights and we look forward to being there in 2008 come the end of June. Thanks aplenty to Murray Smith for all he does to make this such good fun.
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Richard gets race ready, Andy helps |
Under the tent |
Archie off the gas post practice |
Josh Lewis with Lola |
Larry Kessler exits Le Circuit |
Murray Smith, master of ceremonies and Chevron racer Sunday |
Larry Neviaser & G-16 |
Roger relaxes |
Race talk, Jane Kresch, Karen Kessler, and Kathy Bain |
A younger Werner tries dad’s car on for size |
Come Sunday night and the rush is on; the entire VRS crew has 2 semis to load with cars, tools and all that other stuff. Jim Stacie will be on his way to Road America with one truck, while Harvey Thompson heads to the border then home to Connecticut with the other. Come Tuesday, Jim is at Road America while the crew shopside unloads.Brian and tech master Tim fly out to join Jim in Wisconsin, along with:
- Mark Simpson – Brabham BT-8
- Jim Lenehan – Datsun 240Z
- Mark’s nephew – Sam in the Porsche 914/6
- John Deford – and his rapid Porsche 914/6
All goes well; Jim gets used to his new Swift S2000 amid tearing up the tarmac in the 240 while noting that 2 cars always add more fun to one’s vintage weekends. Mark, Sam and John are fast with a podium come Sunday, as the boys pack it all in to end the 2007 Tremblant,/Road America , vintage racing back to back weekend double header.
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Monterey Historics 07
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Peter’s Ferrari California Spyder, Pebble Beach 2007 |
Larry on track @ the Historics |
VRS Pits, Monterey Historics |
The Monterey Pre-Historics and Historics are our next gathering, and what a gathering these events always are. All the great cars create a serious “auto-ambience” for this entire visit on the Monterey Peninsula. It is the best of the best, and very rewarding for those so inclined. We have vehicles both trackside and on the lawn at Pebble Beach. Mixed in, we also need to attend to pre-Pebble event tour with Peter Kalikow’s beautiful Ferrari California Spyder. Charlie Webb from our restoration arm, Automotive Restorations Inc., sees that the Ferrari is in fine form.
Trackside, Harvey, Brian and I look after some awfully nice race cars.
- Bob Newman – Driving Bruce Jennings omni present Porsche 911
- Jurgen Barth – Testing and Tweaking Bob’s 911
- Larry Kessler – Chevron B-19
- Archie Urciuoli– Ford GT-40
- Roger Werner – Porsche 911 2 liter
- Murray “the legend” Smith – Cooper/Climax, F-1
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Bob & Murray, what’s up? |
Larry Kessler, Historics 07 |
Jurgen Barth takes over from Bob for a stint |
Barth and Newman confer and concur, the Jennings 911 nears perfection! |
Dutton and Freeman suss it out |
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All run well, all enjoy the buzz this amazing group of events offers including a prize at Pebble for Mr. Kalikow’s Ferrari with not a DNF or incident among the race group. It really and truly does not get much better then this. Thanks to the Earls, Chris and the HMSA staff and all at both Pebble Beach and The Historics who make it possible.
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Newman and Porsche on track |
Archie and GT40 at Laguna Seca . . . Perfect |
Jim and his superb DB4 GT slide down the hill |
Mr. Smith and Cooper cruising comfortably |
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Lime Rock 07
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VRS paddock, Lime Rock Festival |
One of the oldest and largest scale vintage events we attend is the Lime Rock fall festival, coming over the Labor Day weekend as it has for many years. Many fond memories on our home track with many great races over the years. We note that the 2007 event seems lightly attended and we wish it were not so. Not spectators, they are there en masse, but there are fewer race cars than usual. It’s the pits that concern us as entries are clearly down. The VRS contingent at fall festival 2007 includes:
- Mark Simpson – Brabham BT-8
- Bob Newman – Porsche 911
- Archie Urciuoli – Ford GT-40
- Larry Kessler – Chevron BT-9
The racing all goes well, the weather is perfect and Sunday’s Concours comes off beautifully with a large group of restored beauties and winners well known to us at Automotive Restorations Inc., not to mention Vintage Racing Services.
Well done to all and thanks.
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Smiling Sharps |
Ms. Newman, Urciuoli and Kessler soak up the auto ambience |
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SVRA Watkins Glen
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VRS Paddock, left, lots of cars to care for |
VRS Paddock, right, lots of cars to care for |
The SVRA Zippo Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, follows the next weekend. There to ensure that the Zippo’s flame remains alight and bright we have:
- Mark Simpson – this time with both Brabham and Porsche
- Tom Brown – Datsun 510 Trans Am
- Mayo Smith – Porsche 911
- Robert Will – Merlyn Mk 11 Formula Ford
- Bill Branson – Triumph Spitfire
- Larry Kessler – Chevron B19
- Jim Lenehan – The new Swift S2000 and Datsun 240Z
- Larry Neviaser – Lola S5000 and Ginetta G-16
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Bill straps into the Spitfire for a go |
| The event goes well though we have some Datsun 510 woes not to mention yours truly getting black flagged (twice) for going too fast in the pits. Heavy rain moves in Saturday night dampening, no precluding much activity Sunday. No worries, the lead up to Sunday’s sprint races has been good fun. The Lime Rock Festival, SVRA Zippo double header is one not to be missed in our view.Following the Zippo, I crash my tiny tired, but high-speed road bicycle, break lots of bones, spend a couple of days in intensive care, then 8 more days in the hospital, which ends my 2007 racing season. VRS crews do a superb job while I mend, attending, the SVRA VIR event with Richard Kresch’s Beach and Royal Sports racers. This is followed by SVRA’s Road Atlanta Finale where Mr. Simpson gives a good account of himself in both Porsche 914/6 and Brabham finding a podium position come Sunday. I bide my time recovering and very much appreciating all the well wishes, and visits from so many good friends these years of racing have bestowed upon me. It is clear now, road biking is dangerous, not racing. I have done 50-100 miles a week on my bicycle for 15+ years with 5 accidents. Though only one other involved an ambulance ride, none have come close to this past September, 2007 experience. Buckle up and push the gas pedal… it’s safer!As September comes to a close, Brian, Andy, Harvey and Tim find themselves at SVRA’s Virginia International event. Brian is there only to test Bill Shanahan’s Carrera Corvette. All goes well in testing and Brian heads home Friday evening. Jim Lenehan’s Datsun runs well until head gasket issues develop, while his Swift makes every session with Jim getting ever faster. Richard Kresch has both his Royale/Lotus and Beach/Abarth sport racing cars on track until a minor indiscretion at speed results in an end to his weekend prematurely…not to mention the deterioration in his Royale’s fit and finish. Larry Neviaser has a great weekend, ending up 1st overall in his Ginetta G-16 and 2nd in class with his Lola F5000 car.Well done all and thanks to SVRA and VIR for a terrific weekend. |
Mayo Smith hydrates heartily |
Jim and Andrew, thinking Datsun |
Shanahan and Carrera Corvette into the pits |
Shanahan-Smith Pepsi Corvette takes to the track |
Jim and Swift . . . going Swiftly |
| Redman Targa Savannah |
VRS Paddock At Targa |
| Just to keep things interesting, and stave off any chance of boredom, Lou heads south for Brian Redman’s Targa event at Roebling Road in Savannah, Gerogia. There he finds John and Susan Mundy with some beautiful Ferraris along with John’s McLaren M8 and Radical sports racing cars. The Ferraris run like clockwork, Lou sees to the odd bit on the sports racers and all are raced out and in good spirits come Sunday afternoon.Another great Targa weekend with lots of track time. |
Mundy McLaren and Radical in repose |
La Carrera Pan Americana
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La Carrera Pan Americana Photos: Kenneth Olaffsun
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VRS rigs on high |
We have supported La Carrera Pan Americana since 1992 with several VRS prepared vehicle class wins to show for it. 2007 saw Bill Shanahan and Murray Smith up to their tried and true winning ways in their Pepsi & MSD sponsored, VRS prepared 1965 Corvette, along with David Gussack and Co-Piloto Don Rouse in a VRS prepared and built Volvo PV 444. Two trucks, two trailers loaded, spares stocked, cases of water
stowed and October 10th finds Tim Ritchie and Sven Eric on the road. Using large semi’s does not work for this rigorous 3000+ kilometer rally . . . The roads are simply too challenging for vehicles of semi size to follow a rally carrying techs and tools that may be needed in a hurry.
It is a truly remarkable event and 2007 lives up to year’s past. We have some good luck and some bad luck, but it is an invigorating experience every time. Bill and Murray do not miss a beat, finishing 1st in Historic and an amazing 5th overall. David loses an oil pump drive at an inopportune time and makes it quite a few miles on splash lube only. These Volvos are strong. The amazing thing is that though he loses several hours while Tim and Brian work, we get the oil pump corrected, get him back in the hunt and very close to finish line in Nuevo Laredo when a head gasket fails. Nothing to do with the oil problem! David is philosophical and has done well despite the gremlins knowing they ran fast and well when the car worked. The incredible thing is that after 20+ miles without oil pressure, the crank and bearings looked pretty good on disassembly shop side.
Outstanding job guys, well done on everyone’s part and we all look forward to La Carrera 2008.
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Welcomes to Mexico come in many forms |
Bill Shanahan and Murray Smith, ready to rock |
Well Done, Bill, Murray the Pepsi Corvette: medals again!! |
Mr. and Mrs. Eric with friend |
Mr. Smith, need we say more, this IS fun |
David and Volvo |
Gussack Volvo 444 at speed |
Rally repair underway |
Gussack Volvo at end of stage |
Pepsi Corvette, undeterred by dirt |
Shanahan-Smith Pepsi-MSD Corvette races on to its Podium |
Autographs always |
Some are not so lucky |
Pepsi-MSD Corvette rumbles into town |
| Rennsport 07 |
Smith and Porsche RS on the infield circuit |
Smith under braking. Rennsport |
| As we slide along the roads in Mexico, Harvey heads south with Mayo Smith’s Porsche 911 aboard for the Rennesport Reunion at Daytona International. This is akin to Mecca for Porsche racers and John Deford is there to meet Harvey and Mayo with his,pristine and quick 914/6. John runs well, Mayo drives the wheels of his 911, placing near the front of his class and come Sunday everyone is raced out.Thank you Brian Redman and all who made the Rennesport racing such good stuff. |
Mayo climbs our after a hard drive |
| HSR December Sebring |
Lenehan pulls Bob Newman’s Porsche down pit straight |
Jim Lenehan and Datsun chase Neville’s Porsche |
| HSR Sebring falls the first weekend of December and ends the VRS 2007 season. Harvey, Andy and Brian are along to help Drew Brown and Kevin McCarthy with Paul Gaston’s 2Liter 911 & RSR Clone, Neville Burt’s “eggplant” 911 Porsche, Drew’s very nearly “eggplant” 911, and Jim Lenehan’s Datsun 240Z. Great event. Drew as quick as ever, Paul getting faster, Neville near perfection with poise not to mention style, while Jim keeps his 240Z on track, quick and consistent. Nothing nasty occurs though the end of the season is not the worst time for such problems. Just to keep Drew and Kevin busy, Paul’s 2 liter 911 loses something important internally precluding just a small last bit of racing.The right way to end any season: well raced, shiny side up and with only constructive maintenance on tap before next season. |
Paul and his 911 at speed |
Jim Lenehan and 240 power onto the straight |
Sebring night race and Neville’s out there somewhere |
| We enjoyed it. The cars may feel the pressure, but the drivers had a blast with not a serious incident all season amid lots of speed and good times in both meanings of the term.Thanks and see ya trackside in “Oh-Eight.” |