Vintage Racing
We (RR) would like to consider hosting vintage racing at some of our future events. We are conducting research to determine what types and how many vintage cars are available in various regions around the country. We would like to review any rules and information that any vintage group would like to share. We would also like to know what types of problems/challenges local groups and tracks are experiencing with their vintage programs.Our vision would be to hold a "Vintage Racing Festival" at a local track and attract fans, vendors, etc. from the vintage racing community. The idea is to create more opportunities to get the old cars out in front of the fans...young and old....just another effort to preserve our racing heritage and support the folks who own vintage cars.We are not here to debate or critque other vintage programs...just to learn what types of cars to expect...how many possible classes to include....how the public would perceive this type of event....and if vintage car owners are interested....etc. Our goal would be to provide fun, exciting, and "AFFORDABLE" entertainment for car owners and fans while supporting local race tracks as our venues.Your comments are welcome.
Well, belonging to the New England Antique Racers (board of director & recording secretary), N.E.A.R. participates in many "vintage racing" (albeit exhibition-style "race") events throughout the northeast. Tracks like New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH; Thompson International Speedway, Thompson, CT; and Waterford Speedbowl, New London, CT all host a "vintage" weekend for the antique race cars. We also showcase our cars, along with the S.T.A.R. & A.C.O.T. at other tracks such as Monadnock, Twin State, & Star Speedway (all in New Hampshire), Thunder Road, in Barre, VT; Seekonk, MA, Stafford Speedway, CT.In addition, there are places we go to that we are just part of the "static display" & it's like an antique car show for race cars. Ronnie Bouchard hosts N.E.A.R. to put on a display in early september (the public is welcome) to his car dealership in Fitchburg, MA. by the way: Ronnie Bouchard is also a N.E.A.R. Hall-of-Fame member. There are a dozen or so race tracks that have gone by the wayside, but that doesn't stop them from holding 'reunion shows' in their area.You can go on to the N.E.A.R. website www.near1.com for our complete schedule, and contact information for the club. Basically, N.E.A.R.'s rules state any car that is from 1979 & older, no off-set chassis & must be a car that was actually raced (coupes, flat-heads, pinto, vega, etc.) during the time it represents or a replica of a car that raced. And.... no, you could not take a brand-new (modified or sk chassis) & put a coupe/pinto/vega body on it because it would not fit the rules classification.If you need any information, drop me a line @ mare1010@cox.net or go to the NEAR website.thanks.mare
I have gotten responses fom members wanting to know when and where events are being held. Please use our events calendar....and a new category titled "Vintage Racing News and Events" to keep everyone informed of events and results.
I'll tell ya where the the vintage show was held last night....Hammerdown Speedway and if you thought about coming but didn't you missed one heck of show. I know folks get all excited about "Car Shows" and they are great and there's a place for them to meet and socialize but nothing compares to being there at the track watching these old dirt cars running wide open, N-O-T-H-I-N-G.I'm a little disappointed that I've posted the event for 3 months now and only a handfull of people showed up and they were from personal invites. There's one thing I've learned about my passion of owning and racing an old stock car, nobody cares as much as I do, not even my own family comes out to watch, nor any of my close friends. My advice to you Jeff is if you want to hold vintage stock car events you'd better advertise far and wide and make it sound like a carnival because I think folks would rather sit at home and watch the dog chase it's tail then to get off their butts and go watch a bunch of old cars race. And I don't blame it on "hard times" local short track racing, especially vintage racing is about the cheapest form of entertainment you can find, anywhere.
Good point there Jim,you kinda left the door open there because a lot of folks,young and old,do not understand what vintage racing is,or maybe they have the wrong concept of it. Most at first think of it as a model T or Stanley Steamer rolling around on a controlled surface---i know you have never been to a car show where there are signs saying "DO NOT TOUCH"!!! That is what the public in general think when the word vintage to it. Now i can only speak on one group of old kids and its "NVRA"..You can come down and touch,look under the hood ,set down and drink a cool ice tea with the folks take picture with "you"beside the car,ask and you can set in it, thats interacting !!!. Come watch a show when these cars ease up on the track just to even pratice, if you didnt know better you would think its heck i dont know maybe the prelude to the world famous watermelon 500 (i/285 around atlanta used to hold that title) but its no show --AL SMITH is the ring leader of the older than dirt possee of 70+ drivers not to take anything away from a guy from Anderson SC that has had his same car for ever,a 57 chevey he pulled around in california and brought home to sc or any others---what im saying is these boys go for the gold,no follow the leader, go watch them --better yet if you have time come to valdosta and watch the last show of the year,its paved,dont like that go dirt in talladega short track ---yup they get aroundDont paint a picture of a classic vintage car show---tell them its the 60's all over again and you can transport them back to how was done for a few hours of fun---- i think if its done right old school can stand on its own by drawing its own crowd ---close your eyes and remember how the stands were louder than your car back then thats my vision of vintage racing, its a bunch of veteran and amateurs out having a blast and sharing it with others
You make a very good point J. Mallonee, people don't want to watch a bunch of "OLD" cars run around a track, they wan't to see fast cars "racing". I'll keep that in mind when I promote our next show.
Since losing a couple of members recently I am not sure what the Historic Grand National West club is doing, but they were at California Speedway last year doing parade laps with the cars. I would be willing to take my Marty Robbins Magnum to any local tracks like Irwindale or California Speedway if you guys get something together let me know. My Petty Charger is not completed yet so I will let you know when it is running. Thanks for offering. The Historic Stock Cars are running in San Diego at a Navy Base in a couple of months I may run my car there.
I have posted on my car when displayed, PLEASE TOUCH and ask about it. I ran Hammerdown last night, first time in the seat since 1972 and It was great. Yes I had some issue with the car but that is racing. Jim W. Idea of how the Old timers need to play (need to DROP VINTAGE I feel old enough now) We TRY and stay off each other but not drive a 20 mph either. The fans only care if the cars are there and they see a good SHOW and if a race breaks out great. I said I was going to just RIDE around, I pushed it and if I had the correct gears would have run a lot harder.If you want to see how it is done the way it should be look at DAARA and Garden State Vintage. They PROMOTE people coming on the track BEFORE the race for a drivers meet and greet and let the people TOUCH and sit in the cars.
This is a very simple question and I think will be of interest to Jeff.Would you be willing to take part in the rental of a track for a weekend of racing and social activities. Do not worry about fans. Would YOU be willing to pay an entry fee so YOU can enjoy laps and social festivities.The rule book would be plain and simple so YOU can enjoy.
Check with Jean Felton at H S C R A in Rorswell G A he could tell you what it would cost them guys in that club do it but thay allso have the money to fix them when they get banged up
TRacks can be rented for prices all over the place the BIGGEST thing is Insurance for the event. Not for the driver but everyone else. A stray part or tire goes flying and someone gets hit is always the nightmare of a promoter and track owner.Would I pay to play, we do now anyway last time I checked 1st place was a hot dog and fries, 2nd was just the hot dog and third you got just the bun.The little place we ran in NC would be a prime location to go play. In the sticks, good shape, not to big or to small, good clay.Classic race cars on dirt are cheaper by far to run than on pavement due to tires and lower speeds.
I race with Felton in the HSR vintage stock car group. Gene could help you with advise and contacts for getting a large group, including myself, of vintage stock cars together. We would rather race, but display is OK also.Call me for any more info you may need.David Lewis904-631-9470