Not something you see on the track very often, this 1955 Mercedes Benz 190SL is being raced by Doug Radix. – Gunter Pichler photo

Posted: March 10, 2017

Another of the VRCBC’s many intrepid, jet-setting reporters has just submitted his latest race report. Gunter Pichler attended the SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association) Sebring Vintage Classic at historic Sebring International Raceway over the March 2-5 weekend, and sent us some of his photographs of the great cars that were in action.

Thanks Gunter!

(more…)

Karlo Flores' 1960 Porsche 356-B is proudly carrying our VRCBC decals in this year's La Carrera Panamericana. - K. Flores photo

Karlo Flores’ 1960 Porsche 356-B is proudly carrying our VRCBC decals in this year’s La Carrera Panamericana. – K. Flores photo

Updated (again): March 9, 2017

VRCBC member and Vintage racer, Karlo Flores blasted his 1960 Porsche 356-B (‘Nina’) through the winding roads of central Mexico in this year’s La Carrera Panamericana.

karlo-flores-porsche-356-la-carrera-2016-1

The event began on Friday, October 14th and finished on Thursday, the 20th.

Karlo and his co-driver Juan Carlos Salgado did a great job; finishing second in class (by only four minutes after seven days!) and 15th overall. Well done guys! The event web site has many photos (here) of the action.

And although a two ton, 180 mph 1950 Oldsmobile with a modern tube chassis isn’t exactly VRCBC Vintage eligible(!), this in-car video provides an excellent idea of what it’s like to drive a typical Carrera stage in a powerful car.

Update: Karlo and his team have created a short (seven minute) video (here) of the highlights of their event. It looks like it was a real blast!

Update some more: Valkyrie Racing has posted this short video on You Tube focusing on the Porsche 356’s in the event. Look for Karlo; the VRCBC’s own hero!

Update some more, some more: Nina was just featured in the first 2017 edition of the Porsche 356 Registry magazine. You can read the story here.

La Carrera Panamericana – one more thing to add to your Vintage racing bucket list!

Ivan Lessner first raced his 1958 Austin Healey 100-6 BNG at Westwood in 1987 and has raced it with the VRCBC every year since. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: November 28, 2016

We have just been reminded that the VRCBC was ‘born’ on November 28, 1976. In the words of David Birchall, one of the founders and now one of our BCHMR race commentators:

‘The call went out to all the one make car clubs and Colin Fitzgerald hosted the initial meeting at his house. Subsequent meetings were at Peter Price’s palatial premises, Sports and Vintage Cars at 393 Powell Street in the downtown east side.’

That means that the VRCBC is now 40 years old, which by some definitions is the beginning of middle age. That will be a comforting thought to many of our current members!

Happy Anniversary to us! Here’s to another 40 years!

Typical VRCBC Vintage racing action at Mission; Geoff Tupholme (1973 Austin Mini) leads Ian Thomas (1970 BMW 2002) and Dennis Repel (1974 Camaro) into Turn 2. Gayle Baird (1990 Honda Civic) and a barely visible Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) try to run them down. - Brent Martin photo

Typical VRCBC Vintage racing action at Mission; Geoff Tupholme (1973 Austin Mini) leads Ian Thomas (1970 BMW 2002) and Dennis Repel (1974 Camaro) into Turn 2. Gayle Baird (1990 Honda Civic) and a barely visible Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) try to run them down. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: October 14, 2016

The last CACC-sanctioned, SCCBC-organized race event of the 2016 season honoured Tony Morris, a local motorsport legend who passed away in July. The Tony Morris Memorial Weekend featured SCCBC points races on both Saturday and Sunday, plus a special ‘Time-Attack No Passing Introductory Event‘ on the Saturday as well as the VRCBC’s own REVS Vintage races on the Sunday.

The weekend also ‘featured’ heavy rains on the Saturday; check out Brent Martin’s photos of all the splashing around here.

Fortunately for all of the Vintage racers (particularly those still using Lucas electrics!), Sunday’s weather was perfect; there was some excellent action on track and everyone had a good time.

The complete results for all of the weekend’s racing are available on the SCCBC website (here). The Vintage Closed Wheel and the Open Wheel / Sports Racer results are available in PDF under the 2016 Season menu on this web site (here).

Check out some of Brent Martin’s photos of the Vintage action below. Brent has many more motorsport photos on his web site (here).

(more…)

Three of the VRCBC's carve through one of Pacific Raceway's corners during SOVREN's Fall Finale event. Karlo Flores (1959 Austin Healey 'Bugeye' Sprite), Steve Clark (1959 Elva Courier) and Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) pushing hard. Brent Martin photo

Three of the VRCBC’s finest carve through one of Pacific Raceway’s corners during SOVREN’s Fall Finale. Karlo Flores (1959 Austin Healey ‘Bugeye’ Sprite), Steve Clark (1959 Elva Courier) and Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire), all pushing hard. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: September 27, 2016

The VRCBC was well represented at SOVREN’s Fall Finale at Pacific Raceways in Kent over the September 24th – 25th weekend. SOVREN (Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts) is the VRCBC’s ‘cousin’ south of the border. The close relationship between the two clubs goes back many years and members often race in each other’s events.

The Fall Finale at Pacific Raceways was SOVREN’s last road race event of the 2016 season. This year, several VRCBC racers attended.

  • #37 – Shelby Clark, yellow 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
  • #40 – Roger van der Marel, green 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV
  • #46 – Phil Pidcock, blue 1965 Triumph Spitfire
  • #59 – Karlo Flores, white 1959 Austin Healey ‘Bugeye’ Sprite
  • #62 – Bob Beauchemin, 1962 ‘psychedelic’ Mini
  • #63 – Tim Pickstone, green 1963 Porsche 356C
  • #71 – Ken Butler, red 1964 Lotus Elan
  • #85 – Larry Sandham, green 1985 Mini Vauxhall
  • #260 – Steve Clark, yellow 1959 Elva Courier

Our tireless travelling correspondent, Brent Martin captured them in all their ‘glory’! Check out his photos below.

(more…)