Vintage Racing Services

VRS at the Jefferson 500 2009

 

The weather can be a bit dicey in this region.  April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but on occasion the showers err and hang around into May.  Such was the case for the tail end of this event, though we did get lucky for most of the other 3 days.  Lots of great racing with quite a few tire changes…rains-to-dry-to-rains and back again to keep the VRS crew hopping.  With endurance races for just about everybody and the unique two day enduro format, the Jefferson offers massive amounts of track time.  It also has that casual, “we’re all here to have a good go and some serious fun” ambience that so characterized vintage racing when VRS started nearly 3 decades ago.  Safe, common sense focused,  well mannered on track and off with a group of skilled drivers who understand sportsmanship nicely augmented by an administration that is refreshingly free of bureaucratic entanglement.   Good, fast, safe racing simply presented equals great fun!  What more can we ask? 

 

Under the VRS tent for the 2009 running of the Jefferson 500 we find:

 

Bob Newman and the mighty ex Jennings Porsche 911.  Bob had a great weekend with a 3^rd place podium finish in the all Porsche Eiffel Trophy Race.

 

Tom Brown and “The Toaster”, his always quick 2 liter Datsun 510 Trans Am car.

 

Jim Lenehan tearing up the tarmac in both his Swift DB2 S2000 and Datsun 240Z Rain tires on Sunday for the 240 with a 2^nd place podium finish for Jim…well

done again.

 

Richard Kresch bringing both the RK Racing Royale/Lotus and Beach/Abarth sports racers to the Jefferson. 

 

Dave Gussack taking is first full race weekend sortie in his new VRS restored Porsche 914-6 2 liter.  Not a missed beat from driver

or ride!!  Then came Sundays’s rain where Dave proved to be the “rainmeister” finishing first overall.  Good weekend indeed and well done Dave.

 

Mark Simpson in his 2.4 liter 914-6 and his Lola S2000.  Mark had a great run in the Eiffel moving into 2^nd and looking at first overall…when that tire blew!!

 

Brian Rechitene, the one and only, our Racing operations manager driving the trusty VRS rental 944 with better than respectable results.

 

VRS director Larry Neviaser and his always quick Ginetta G-16/BMW.  Larry ended the 1^st round of the euduro in the lead, but opted out of the rain drenched

Sunday proceedings.

 

VRS founding member, none other than I. author of this commentary, in his trusty Triumph Spitfire 1300.

 

Also along, “just in case” was the VRS rental Mazda RX-7, ready and waiting for duty.  Tom Brown was all ready to take to the Mazda on Sunday after the “Toaster”, true to its name, had a small “thermal event” that melted the air cleaner elements into the carbs, but Tom opted out as the weather just got worse as the day progressed.

It’s easy to see that the vintage racing services crew enjoy their trade and get on track whenever possible.  Our work involves a commitment that goes far beyond simply servicing the cars.  We have a passion for vintage racing and a passion for making sure that our drivers experience the maximum enjoyment from their racing.  From the careful and meticulous pre-race preparation to Chef Jim Stacey’s outstanding paddock fare, we have only one objective…go fast, share a great time with friends, and leave with that deep satisfaction that a successful race weekend gives us all.

Thank you to Brian Redman and VRG for bringing back this well loved event and doing it so well.  We all look forward to next year’s race and many more to come.  Let’s put our order in for good weather right now, just in case.  Long live the Jefferson 500.

Rest up, catch your breath and get ready for the SVRA Gold Cup at the beautiful, challenging and fast Virginia International Raceway on June 4 – 7.  See you there.

 

Photos from the Jefferson coming soon.