Non-VRCBC News & Events

Updated: April 1, 2013 Brent Martin has posted some of his photos of the 'Brit Car Drive Up'on the VRCBC Facebook page here. They are great examples of the wide cross-section of cars that will be on display at the All British Field Meet at the Van Dusen Gardens on Saturday, May 18th. Posted: March 14, 2013 A press release from our friends at the All British Field Meet and Wilkinson's Automobilia.

Announcing The 'BRIT CAR' DRIVE UP

Brit Car Drive Up posterThe Olympic Torch Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre will come to life in a display of glorious British-built classic saloons and sports cars from the 1950's and 1960's as the Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS) celebrates Brit Car Drive Up on Saturday March 30th, from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm.There will be two free Auto Show Passes for all registered Drive Up entrants courtesy of the Automotive Dealers of B.C., and  you could also win A $100 Gift Certificate from Wilkinson's Automobilia. (web site)

The Brit Car Drive Up is presented by the All British Field Meet - The Greatest Show on British Wheels and will feature and promote classics from the ABFM. This year's ABFM will again be held at the VanDusen Gardens on Saturday May 18, 2013. (ABFM web site)

Please join us for a brisk Saturday morning drive to the Convention Centre followed by a visit to the big Auto Show. Cars will assemble between 9:30am and 10:00 am at the Vancouver Planetarium parking lot, Vanier Park, Kits Point, Vancouver. (location) From there we will convoy down Burrard Street to the Convention Centre.

We anticipate a good showing with at least one Aston Martin DB5 leading the parade to celebrate Aston's 100th anniversary. Also, we would like Austin Healey's 60th anniversary to be well represented as well. But all 'Brit' cars are welcome to join in the fun as we take over the streets of downtown Vancouver. Clubs are welcome to bring membership promotion material and banners, as the VIAS will be promoting this event and a large crowd of spectators and media coverage is anticipated.

[caption id="attachment_7291" align="aligncenter" width="480"] 'The π Man' (aka Pierce Isaacs) leads Tim Pickstone. - Jim Moody photo[/caption]

Several of the VRCBC's racers attended SOVREN's Pacific Northwest Historics event at Pacific Raceways over the July long weekend. Thanks to Jim Moody, we have some photos of 'our heroes' taking maximum advantage of some additional on-track warm up time before the BC Historic Motor Races that will be held over the August 4th-5th weekend at Mission Raceway Park Road Course. You can find more info on the BCHMR here and you can check out Jim's photos below. (Thanks Jim.)

[caption id="attachment_7106" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Bruce Jamieson takes Turn 7 in Bernie Hamm's Fiat X1/9 - Jim Moody photo"][/caption] By Jim Moody with files from Geoff Tupholme The Victoria Day long weekend was a busy one for VRCBC members. While some were 'working' at the All British Field Meet in Vancouver, others were having a great time climbing Knox Mountain in Kelowna. The Knox Mountain Hillclimb is the longest annually running (This year was the 55th!) paved hillclimb in North America, and VRCBC members have been participating for many years. This year, it was Frank Winterlik, Geoff Tupholme, Keith Robinson, Evan Williams, Bernie Hamm and Bruce Jamieson carrying the Club's banner up the challenging 2.2 mile course. Frank had his 1973 Porsche 911 RSR both looking and running great during the two day event, posting a best time of 2:08.349. Right behind Frank was Geoff and his quick little 1973 Austin Mini (fighting a plug-fouling mystery) turning a best time of 2:08.416. Bernie Hamm with his 1974 Fiat X-1/9 enjoyed his weekend of competition and came through with a best time of 2:27.906. Evan Williams, no stranger to Knox Mountain, brought his 1963 Jaguar XKE to the hill this year. Evan’s best time of the weekend was 2:30.268. Bruce Jamieson was just getting familiar with Bernie's Fiat and turned a 2:35.034.  Keith Robinson was our only single seater representative this year, driving his 1980 Van Diemen RF 80 Formula Ford to a best time was 2:10.073. The final results are available here. Check below for more photos.

[caption id="attachment_7034" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Getting ready: the VRCBC Booth before the gates open - VRCBC photo"][/caption]

Updated: May 23, 2012

The 27th edition of the All British Field Meet (ABFM) - 'The Greatest Show on British Wheels' - was held on Saturday, May 19th at Vancouver's Van Dusen Gardens. The weather was perfect and all of the cars looked great. The VRCBC display was in its traditional location, right inside the main entrance, greeting the very large crowd of visitors as they entered Memory Lane.

The VRCBC was very well represented by Mark Brown's two time REVS Champion Lotus Seven, Al Harvey's MGB, Al Reid's MGB, Ralph Zbarsky's MGB GT, Nick Woodhouse's Austin Healey, Ivan Lessner's multiple REVS Champion Austin Healey, and John McCoy's Lotus Cortina. There was a great deal of interest in the cars and in Vintage racing at Mission Raceway Park Road Course.

Update: The winners of the many awards and prizes are now posted on the Western Driver / ABFM website (here) soon. Our congratulations to VRCBC racers, John McCoy and Nick Woodhouse who took first and third places respectively in the Race Cars category.

The following few photos give you some idea of what was a very enjoyable day.

[caption id="attachment_6524" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The traffic was heavy at the SCCBC - VRCBC stand. - VRCBC photo[/caption] This year's Vancouver International Auto Show has again proved to be very popular with car enthusiasts of all types. Many of them have visited the joint SCCBC - VRCBC stand to ask questions about our road racing at Mission Raceway. Most of the questions have been about spectating but there has also been a lot of interest in getting involved 'on-track'. Two good friends of the VRCBC, Intermeccanica Custom Coach Builders (here) and Classic and Collector Car Insurance specialists, Hagerty (here) also attracted big crowds. Check out some more photos below.