Vintage Racing Club of BC

The Spirit of Westwood Lives On!

August 21, 2019

Probably some of the least exciting moments at Westwood ‘back in the day’ were watching the new Chevrolet station wagons go in the main gate! This image is taken from the opening scenes of David Kincaid’s excellent new video commemorating the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Westwood track.

Posted: August 21, 2019

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Westwood track in 1959. The BC Historic Motor Races were ‘subtitled’ Westwood60 in recognition of this historic moment in Canadian motorsport.

David Kincaid, one of our excellent BCHMR commentators was heavily involved at Westwood. As a special personal project for the Westwood60, David produced a video compilation of early ‘home movies’, later on-track action videos, plus recent interviews with some of our own ‘local legends’ as well as famous drivers who raced at Westwood.(You’ll have to watch it to find out who they all are!)

David’s excellent Westwood60 video is available on three different platforms:

David is very appreciative of everybody who helped him with this project. In turn, the VRCBC and all local motorsport enthusiasts very much appreciate David taking the initiative to produce this for the BCHMR, and for now making it widely available.

August 21, 2019

And they’re off! Karlo Flores (1967 Austin Healey Sprite), Gayle Baird (1990 Honda Civic), Steve Gunner (1983 Porsche 944), Mike Granat (1967 Morgan +4), Steve Clark (1968 Ford Cortina), Paul Haym (1969 BMW 2002), and Jeff Quick (1967 Triumph TR4A) lead the pack into Mission Raceway’s Turn One at the start of one of the closely fought races at the 2019 BCHMR. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: August 21, 2019

Where does the time go? The 2019 British Columbia Historic Motor Races has already been over for almost two weeks! The weather was a little soggy at times but it was still a lot of fun for everyone. Check out the BCHMR web site (here) for the photos and results.

July 10, 2019

Two of the VRCBC’s finest battle it out at SOVREN’s Pacific Northwest Historics. Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) leads (just) Shelby Clark in her 1959 Elva Courier. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: July 10, 2019

The Pacific Northwest Historics put on by SOVREN, our good friends from south of the border, is one of Vintage racing’s most anticipated annual events. Several VRCBC racers and friends went to Pacific Raceway over the July 5th to 7th weekend:

  • #11 – Karlo Flores, 1993 Mazda Spec Miata
  • #38 – Gunter Pichler, 1964 Jaguar E-Type
  • #46 – Phil Pidcock, 1965 Triumph Spitfire
  • #50 – Mike Zbarsky, 1967 MGB GT, Works Sebring
  • #73 – Ken Butler, 1967 Morris Mini
  • #84 – Steve Clark, 1960 Lola Mk1
  • #112 – Tom Sproule, 1976 Caldwell D13
  • #130 – Ralph Zbarsky, 1967 MGB GT Works
  • #260 – Shelby Clark, 1959 Elva Courier
  • #441 – Geoff Tupholme, 1973 Austin Mini

As usual, our heroic photo-journalist, Brent Martin was there to capture all of the action. (Thanks Brent.) Here are just a few of his photos; click on a photo for a bigger, clearer image. Check Brent’s web site (here) for many more photos over the next while.

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June 19, 2019

A Vintage ‘Teutonic Titanic Tussle’! Paul Haym in his 1969 BMW 2002 leads Peter Valkenburg in his 1969 Porsche 911 into Turn 5 at the Mission Road Course. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: June 19, 2019

The second VRCBC REVS races of the 2019 season took place at Mission Raceway Park on the Sunday, June 16th of the SCCBC’s ‘Dash for Dad’s‘ weekend. The full results for the weekend are posted on the SCCBC web site Results page (here).

Brent Martin has again provided us with some great photos (see below) of our Vintage drivers and their cars in action. Thanks Brent! You can find all of Brent’s photos on his web site (here).

The next Vintage on-track action at Mission will be our very own British Columbia Historic Motor Races over the August 10th-11th weekend. Before that however, make sure to come out for the SCCBC’s big Mission 25th Anniversary Grand Prix over the July 27th-28th weekend. Check the SCCBC web site (here) for more information.

See you at the track!

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June 3, 2019

VRCBC stalwart Bruce Jamieson obeys the No Parking sign and heads up Knox Mountain in his Datsun 240Z. – Jim Moody photo

Posted: June 3, 2019

The May 18-19 long weekend saw the 62nd (!) annual Knox Mountain Hill Climb in Kelowna, in BC’s beautiful Okanagan Valley. Our long time ‘travelling motorsport correspondent’, Jim Moody was there and sent us this report, complete with photos. Thanks Jim!

 

“Several members of the VRCBC participated in the running of this year’s Knox Mt. Hillclimb, Kelowna BC. In all 62 drivers faced the challenge of the 2.2 mile road course. Larry Sandham was making his 40th (!!) appearance at Knox achieved a best time with his Mini Vauxhall of 2:01.730. Mike Ball and Bruce Jamieson shared driving duties with a Datsun 240Z  Mike’s fasted run up the hill was 2:11.861 while Bruce clocked a best time of 2:26.211.

 

Steve and Nick Gunner competed with their Porsche 944. At the end of the event, only 0.824 seconds separated the two, with Steve winning the bragging rights with a time of 2:14.299 just beating Nick’s time of 2:15.123.

 

Other non-VRCBC drivers included a newcomer to Knox Mountain, Alberta’s Robert Caven, with a beautifully prepared Morris Mini. Robert’s best time was a 2:42.319. Cam Thorkelson posted a 2:01.489 with his Caterham Super 7.Chuck Roberts drew attention at Turn 1 with the late braking of his Mazda RX-8. A 2:15.171 was Chuck’s best time for the weekend.

 

King of the Hill honors went to Aran Cook driving his FL Arco X10 with recording a fast 1:46.738 for FTD. Queen of the Hill this year went to Jennifer Ocker. She achieved a time of 2:04.715 with her Subaru WRX.