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Two of the VRCBC’s finest competed in the 2022 Leavitt Machinery Knox Mountain Hill Climb. President Mike Zbarsky was a first timer with his rare 1967 Triumph 2000. In contrast, Larry Sandham’s Mini Vauxhall has lost count of how many times they have gone up that hill together! – Jim Moody photos[/caption]
Posted: May 26, 2022
After missing two years (for well known reasons), the Leavitt Machinery Knox Mountain Hill Climb was back over the May long weekend. Our intrepid roving reporter (and long time supporter) Jim Moody braved 'the wilds' of the Okanagon in order to send us this report and photos of some of the highlights. Thanks very much Jim!
The recent Victoria Day weekend saw the return of the Knox Mountain Hill Climb after the event, for the two previous years, had been cancelled. This year's event, the 63rd Okanagan Hill Climb, was held under pleasant sunny skies. The two day event saw 54 drivers challenge the road course and a large turnout of spectators enjoyed the racing action both days. VRCBC was well represented along with other vintage entries. Club president Michael Zbarsky made his first appearance at Knox. Michael's best time with his 1967 Triumph 2000 was on his final run turning a 2:30. 325.
Larry Sandham with his Mini Vauxhall turned a 2:10.729 this year for his fast time on the hill. Gayle Baird achieved a time of 2:28.382 with her Honda Civic and Erle Archer driving a Lotus S3 recorded a time of 2:14. 148 as his best. Robin Liu with the 1970 Datsun 240Z posted a best time of 2:26.098 on his final run of the weekend. Kees Nierop entered a Datsun 280Z and achieved a quick time of 2:06. 260.
Jasper Thomas, making his first appearance, arrived at Knox Mt. with his 1970 Dodge Challenger. His time of 2:14.528 on his 7th run would be his best. A long time competitor at Knox, Fred Del Pero with his 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV got his time down to 2:02.921 this year. Doug Yip with his son Trevor returned to Knox Mt. with the Tesla Cobra EV. Trevor's best time this year was 1:54.435.
The Gunner brothers, Nick and Steve made an appearance at Knox again. Nick's time of 2:13.372 beat Steve's best of 2:13.762. Richard Matte driving Steve's Porsche 944 post a best time of 2:18.080.
The FTD winner of this year's event was Mark Uhlmann racing his Stohr WF1 up the Knox course with a very quick time of 1:39.989. Mark's time was just 2.924 seconds off the record time set in 2007 by John Haftner with his Tui Super Vee.
In all, 12 drivers posted times under 2 minutes and a few more entries very close to that mark. It was a successful weekend of Hillclimb racing I think all would agree. - Jim Moody
The full results are available on the event web site (
here) and the event Facebook page
(here) has more photos and an onboard video of the fastest time of the day by Mark Uhlmann.
Check out more of Jim Moody's photos below!
A 'Big Datsun Train"! 1983 Sebring winner Kees Nierop ('72 Datsun 280Z) leads Pat Hall ('72 Datsun 240Z) and Robin Liu ('70 Datsun 240Z) into Turn 1 during their battle at the August 27th Vintage races.[/caption]
Posted: September 1, 2022
The fifth races of the 2022 VRCBC’s Vintage racing season took place on Sunday, August 27th at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsport Circuit at Mission Raceway Park. This was also the sixth event of the VRCBC’s IWE-REVS points series for 2022.
Our Vintage races were just one part of a full weekend of road racing organized by the Sports Car Club of BC (SCCBC) and sanctioned by the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs (CACC).
Thanks (as always) to Brent Martin for his photos (see below) of the action. They are available on Brent’s website (here), along with the many others he has taken over the years. Make sure to check them out and order at least one of yourself (or your favourite ‘hero’ driver if that’s not you) in action!
The complete results for the weekend, including those for Vintage, are available on the SCCBC web site (here). The next Vintage races at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsport Circuit are on the Sunday of the final SCCBC / CACC race weekend of the season - October 8th-9th. Registration is already open (here). We look forward to seeing you there!
There is another big race event at the track before that however; the ICSCC ('Conference') weekend on September 17th-18th. There won't be any (our favourite - but we're biased!) Vintage races but there will be lots of exciting action. There will be many entrants from south of the border in addition to our local stars, with everybody after Conference championship points as the season draws to a close. You can find the latest entry list here. It promises to be great fun! See you at the track!
'Vintage means Variety!' Peter Strachan (1972 Datsun 510), Ivan Lessner (1958 Austin Healey 100-6), Robin Liu (1970 Datsun 240Z) and Gunther Ruppel ( (1960 Austin Healey ‘Bugeye’ Sprite)[/caption]
Posted: July 25, 2022
The fourth races of the 2022 VRCBC’s Vintage racing season took place on Sunday, July 17th at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsport Circuit at Mission Raceway Park. This was also the fourth event of the VRCBC’s IWE-REVS points series for 2022.
Our Vintage races were just one part of a full weekend of road racing organized by the Sports Car Club of BC (
Just another of the titanic struggles so typical of Vintage racing as Ryan O'Connor (1985 Camaro) tries to hold off John Elliott (1969 MGB) between Turns 3 and 4 ....... or maybe not. - Brent Martin photo[/caption]
Posted: June 14, 2022
The third races of the 2022 VRCBC’s Vintage racing season took place on Sunday, June 12th at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsport Circuit at Mission Raceway Park. This was the third event of the VRCBC’s very own IWE-REVS points series for 2022.
The Vintage races were just part of a full weekend of road racing organized by the Sports Car Club of BC (
It was definitely 'Volvo-friendly' weather on Sunday. Ian Wood (1969 Volvo 124S) and Robin Strachan (1968 Volvo 122S) shown negotiating a soggy Turn 5 in their Swedish Steel Specials. - Brent Martin photos[/caption]
Posted: May 17, 2022
The second races of the 2022 VRCBC’s Vintage racing season took place on Sunday, May 15th at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsport Circuit. (If you haven’t already heard, that is the brand new name for our long time home, the Road Course at Mission Raceway Park.) This was the second event of the VRCBC’s very own IWE-REVS points series for 2022.
The Vintage races were just part of a full weekend of road racing organized by the Sports Car Club of BC (