Three of the VRCBC's carve through one of Pacific Raceway's corners during SOVREN's Fall Finale event. Karlo Flores (1959 Austin Healey 'Bugeye' Sprite), Steve Clark (1959 Elva Courier) and Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) pushing hard. Brent Martin photo

Three of the VRCBC’s finest carve through one of Pacific Raceway’s corners during SOVREN’s Fall Finale. Karlo Flores (1959 Austin Healey ‘Bugeye’ Sprite), Steve Clark (1959 Elva Courier) and Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire), all pushing hard. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: September 27, 2016

The VRCBC was well represented at SOVREN’s Fall Finale at Pacific Raceways in Kent over the September 24th – 25th weekend. SOVREN (Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts) is the VRCBC’s ‘cousin’ south of the border. The close relationship between the two clubs goes back many years and members often race in each other’s events.

The Fall Finale at Pacific Raceways was SOVREN’s last road race event of the 2016 season. This year, several VRCBC racers attended.

  • #37 – Shelby Clark, yellow 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
  • #40 – Roger van der Marel, green 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV
  • #46 – Phil Pidcock, blue 1965 Triumph Spitfire
  • #59 – Karlo Flores, white 1959 Austin Healey ‘Bugeye’ Sprite
  • #62 – Bob Beauchemin, 1962 ‘psychedelic’ Mini
  • #63 – Tim Pickstone, green 1963 Porsche 356C
  • #71 – Ken Butler, red 1964 Lotus Elan
  • #85 – Larry Sandham, green 1985 Mini Vauxhall
  • #260 – Steve Clark, yellow 1959 Elva Courier

Our tireless travelling correspondent, Brent Martin captured them in all their ‘glory’! Check out his photos below.

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A typical Vintage racing battle: twelve (3 X 4) British cylinders chase six (younger) Japanese ones. Phil Linzey (1971 Datsun 240Z) leads Stanton Guy (1966 MGB), Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) and John Elliott (1969 MGB). - Brent Martin photo

A typical Vintage racing battle: twelve (3 x 4) British cylinders chase six (younger) Japanese ones. Phil Linzey (1971 Datsun 240Z) leads Stanton Guy (1966 MGB), Phil Pidcock (1965 Triumph Spitfire) and John Elliott (1969 MGB). – Brent Martin photo

Updated: September 15, 2016

The fifth CACC-sanctioned, SCCBC race event of the season – ‘September Sizzle Weekend’ – was held at Mission Raceway Park Road Course on September 10th and 11th. The VRCBC REVS races took place on the Sunday as usual. When our own CACC-sanctioned BCHMR is included, this was the sixth Vintage event of the year

The complete results for all of the weekend’s racing are available on the SCCBC website (here). The Vintage and the Open Wheel / Sports Racer results are available in PDF under the 2016 Season menu on this web site (here).

Check out Brent Martin’s photos of the Vintage action below.

The final Vintage races of the season at Mission Raceway Road Course will be on the Sunday of the SCCBC’s October 8th – 9th weekend. See you at the track!

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Dennis Repel and his 'Heavy Chevy' Camaro lead the snarling pack into Mission Raceway's Turn 2 at the start of one of the Vintage Closed Wheel races during the 2016 BCHMR. - Justin Law photo

Dennis Repel and his ‘Heavy Chevy’ Camaro lead the snarling pack into Mission Raceway’s Turn 2 at the start of one of the Vintage Closed Wheel races during the 2016 BCHMR. – Justin Law photo

Updated: September 14, 2016

It was a very hot weekend! The sun shone and the race action was great. And the VRCBC and its friends raised significant funds for the BCHMR ‘Charity of Choice’, The Mission Hospice Society. A big ‘Thank You’ to all of the racers and their crews, the officials and other volunteers, our sponsors, and of course the many spectators who made it all possible and so much fun.

Check out the full race report, including results, photos and videos on the BCHMR web site (here).

 

There's many years of Vintage racing experience in this photo! Ivan Lessner, 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 BNG tries to hold off Leigh Anderson in his 1967 BMW 1600. - Brent Martin photo

There’s many years of Vintage racing experience in this photo! Ivan Lessner, 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 BNG tries to hold off Leigh Anderson in his 1967 BMW 1600. – Brent Martin photo

Posted: August 8, 2016

The fourth CACC-sanctioned, SCCBC race event of the season – ‘A Lap Ahead Weekend’ – was held at Mission Raceway Park Road Course on August 6th and 7th. The VRCBC REVS races took place on the Sunday as usual. For some of the drivers, this was the perfect warm up for the BC Historic Motor Races during the August 20-21 weekend.

The complete results for all of the weekend’s racing are available on the SCCBC website (here). The Vintage and the Open Wheel / Sports Racer results are also available in PDF under the 2016 Season menu on this web site (here).

Check out Brent Martin’s photos of the Vintage action below. (Thanks Brent!) His complete gallery of photos from the weekend will be available on his web site (here) soon.

See you at the BCHMR!

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Tony Morris Heavy Chevy_1

Tony Morris rounds the Westwood Hairpin in his ‘Heavy Chevy’ Camaro. – photo courtesy Ted Wilkinson Collection

Posted: July 17, 2016

The BC motorsports community lost one of its most familiar figures this past week when Tony Morris passed away. Originally from Scotland, Tony started work with the Dunlop Rubber Company, becoming manager of the Dunlop Racing Tyre Group and was heavily involved in all forms of motorsport, including Formula One. In the 1960’s, he emigrated to Vancouver, at first again working for Dunlop and then opening his legendary race tire supplier, Circuit Tire in Port Moody.

Tony Morris

Tony Morris in 1967

Tony had brought his Janspeed-prepared Mini Cooper S with him from the U.K. and was soon successfully racing it at Westwood. He then moved to bigger machinery, the best known of which was his Trans Am ‘Heavy Chevy’ Camaro. He was still winning races in the Player’s / GM Motorsport Series in the late 1980’s.

Tony was always well known for his on-track skill but it was all of his other contributions through the years that made him so popular and well-respected. In the Westwood days, he took on various roles with the Sports Car Club of BC, including driver training and track management. Also, in later years, he served as the FIA track safety inspector for Western Canada.

Through his own automotive businesses, Tony introduced and trained many people in high performance driving. He was known for his very helpful instructional style and was always ready to help anyone who asked.

Tony was inducted into the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society in 2006. He will be greatly missed by everyone in BC motorsports.

A celebration of Tony’s life is planned for the fall. The VRCBC offers it condolences to his family and many friends.