Racing Related

[caption id="attachment_10176" align="aligncenter" width="450"]David Hogg (Porsche 911) holds off Ian Thomas (BMW 2002) and an almost hidden Mike Hawthorne (Porsche 944) through Mission's Turn 5 with Leigh Anderson (BMW 1600), Ian Wood (Volvo 142S) and Paul Haym (Datsun 510) in hot pursuit. - Brent Martin photo David Hogg (Porsche 911) holds off Ian Thomas (BMW 2002) and an almost hidden Mike Hawthorne (Porsche 944) through Mission's Turn 5 with Leigh Anderson (BMW 1600), Ian Wood (Volvo 142S) and Paul Haym (Datsun 510) in hot pursuit. - Brent Martin photo[/caption] Updated: September 17, 2014 The latest racing in the VRCBC's REVS series took place this past Sunday, September 14th during the SCCBC's 'September Sizzle Weekend'. The results are posted under the 'Race Results - 2014 Season' menu tab or just click here to go directly to the page. As always, thanks to the SCCBC Timing & Scoring team. Update: Jim Bradley has posted some photos of the weekend's racing in the 'Cars' section of his website (here). Look for the 'SCCBC - Sept 14 - 2014' album or just click here to go directly to the six pages of photos. The fourth, fifth and sixth pages have some great shots of our VRCBC 'hero racers'. Thanks to Brent Martin for the action photos below.

[caption id="attachment_10062" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Leigh Anderson (1967  BMW 1600) and Paul Haym ( 1969 Datsun 510) lead Bernie Hamm (1966 MGB) and the rest of the pack into Turn 2. - Brent Martin photo Leigh Anderson (1967 BMW 1600) and Paul Haym ( 1969 Datsun 510) lead Bernie Hamm (1966 MGB) and the rest of the pack into Turn 2. - Brent Martin photo[/caption] Updated: July 15, 2013

The weather conditions for this season's second race weekend couldn't have been more different from those at the first. While it was soaking wet in May; it was baking hot for the SCCBC's 'Race for the House' event during the July 12th-13th weekend. The heat took its toll on both racing cars and drivers. (Of course, crew members, turn workers, safety crews and the other race officials and volunteers who are well-known to be much tougher, hardly noticed that the sky was cloudless!)

The results are posted under the 2014 Race Results menu (here). As always, thanks to the SCCBC for making them available.

New: Check out some of Brent Martin's photos below. More to follow soon. (Thanks Brent.)

[caption id="attachment_9977" align="aligncenter" width="450"]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 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. [caption id="attachment_9967" align="alignleft" width="300"]Class M4 Winner Bob Beauchemin - photo courtesy Can-Am Mini Challenge 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.

[caption id="attachment_9910" align="aligncenter" width="450"]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 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_9851" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Whoops! Even 'Detroit Iron' is spooked by a 'Big Healey'! Dennis Repel (1974 Chevrolet Camaro) does a graceful pirouette in front of Ivan Lessner (1958 Austin Healey 100-6) leaving Turn 1. Dennis eventually recovered to win the race. - Glen Gibbons photo Whoops! Even 'Detroit Iron' is spooked by a 'Big Healey'! Dennis Repel (1974 Chevrolet Camaro) does a graceful pirouette in front of Ivan Lessner (1958 Austin Healey 100-6) leaving Turn 1. Dennis eventually recovered to win the race. - Glen Gibbons photo[/caption] Posted: May 30, 2014 VRCBC stalwart, Glen Gibbons had transmission troubles with his familiar yellow Alfa Romeo GTV early on during the first race day of the season. So, he 'shifted gears' (ahem) and became a photo-journalist. He sent us these photos of the soggy goings-on. Thanks Glen; you're hired.