The VRCBC's own Tony Carruthers in his Swift DB2 leads a Lola 497/C - Jim Moody photo[/caption]
Posted: July 15, 2015
Several VRCBC members took part in the Portland Vintage Racing Festival organized by the SVRA at Portland International Raceway over the July 9-12 weekend. Our friend Jim Moody was there and sent us some of his photos; thanks Jim.
The VRCBC's own Steve Clark in his 1963 Lotus 23B sports racer. - Brent Martin photo[/caption]
Posted: July 8, 2015
Our friends across the border, the Society Of Vintage Racing ENthusiasts - better known to all as SOVREN (here) - held their premier annual event, the Pacific Northwest Historics at Pacific Raceways over their July 4th holiday weekend. Many VRCBC members and friends of the Club, who often race with us at the Mission Raceway Road Course, took part.
Brent Martin was there too and has provided us with some great action photos (see below). You can see more of Brent's photos of this and many other motorsports events on his web site (here).
Can-Am Mini Challenge: The M3 Class Podium with the third place man, our boy Geoff on the right, runner-up Richard Paterson on the left and the winner, UK Mini-legend Nick Swift (of Swiftune fame) in the centre. - photo courtesy Can-Am Mini Challenge[/caption]
Posted: July 9, 2014
Classic Mini enthusiasts gathered at the famous Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Can-Am Mini Challenge, celebrating the 55th anniversary of the 'real' Mini. The Mini Challenge was one of the feature races in the Sports Car Vintage Racing Association's (SVRA) big '2014 The Mechanics Bank Vintage Grand Prix of Mid Ohio' over the June 26th-29th weekend.
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Class M4 Winner Bob Beauchemin - photo courtesy Can-Am Mini Challenge[/caption]
The VRCBC was very well represented. Two of the biggest Mini enthusiasts anywhere, VRCBC members Geoff Tupholme and Bob Beauchemin made the long trek from the BC interior to Ohio, and they did us proud.
In a field of 48 racing Minis of every description ('standard' Vintage eligibility rules didn't really apply!), Geoff finished 8th overall and third in class and Bob (after a slight off-course excursion on the last lap) came 10th overall and won his class. (See the results pages here and here courtesy of the SVRA.)
But the VRCBC connection didn't stop with our two local heroes. Club 'alumni' (and 'monster' Mini enthusiasts) Rachel and Andy Nelson (who now live in Ontario) were also heavily involved in the event. Andy took 14th overall in their beautifully restored 1965 Cooper S. He also loaned their very fast 1963 Cooper S to well-known British Mini tuner Nick Swift, who proceeded to take second overall and win his class. (Check out his story of the event on the Swiftune web site here.)
And last but certainly not least, Rachel was the lead organizer of the Mini-Challenge. It will not surprise VRCBC members who remember her great contribution as a member of our Executive, that this event was a huge success.
Click here to see a short video of the start of the race; Geoff goes by in 10th place and Bob in 12th. (Mission Raceway Road Course racers will be interested to know that there are no sound level restrictions at Mid-Ohio!)
The Can-Am Mini Challenge Facebook page (here) has many more photos and videos. And an online album with over 300 photos of the full SVRA event (not just the Minis) can be viewed here. That great 'Montage of Minis' below was created by Richard Coburn. You can visit his Facebook page here.
Long time VRCBC member Tim Pickstone in his beautiful 1963 Porsche 356C leads the pack in one of the Historic Small Bore races at the Pacific Northwest Historics. - Brent Martin photo[/caption]
Posted: July 8, 2014
SOVREN, our Vintage racing friends from just across the border held the 26th edition of their annual Pacific Northwest Historics event at Pacific Raceways over the July 4th-6th weekend. Our good friend Brent Martin was there and brought back some great photos of VRCBC members and friends in action (see gallery below). You can see lots more of Brent's excellent photos on his web site (here).
[caption id="attachment_9741" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The VRCBC - META booth before the doors open. - VRCBC photo[/caption] Updated: April 21, 2014 The VRCBC and our good friends from META (Motorsport & Emergency Turnworkers Association) shared a booth at the 18th Annual BC Classic & Custom Car Show at the...