Tag Archive for: Vintage Racing

CANCELLED! VARAC Test & Tune, April 20, 2013 CTMP

It is with great disappointment that we must announce the following:

ATTENTION VARAC MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN THE
TEST AND TUNE DAY on SATURDAY APRIL 20 .
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

We have just received notice from Myles Brandt at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park that due to snow on the track edges and the weather forecast calling for -2 C on Friday night and wet snow mix on Saturday with a high of 6 degrees the Test and Tune Day has been CANCELLED.

Information regarding refunds for registered entrants will be made available shortly. We will process refunds as quickly as possible. Your patience is appreciated.

NOTE: CASC-OR Technical Inspection will be available at the CASC-OR Spring Fling event at Shannonville on Friday April 26 and Saturday April 27.

VARAC Board of Directors

VARAC Names Dave Deacon Grand Marshal for 2013 CHGP June 14-16

April 6, 2013 – Toronto – This week the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) named Canadian veteran racer and creator of the “Rothman’s Porsche Challenge and Turbo Cup Series”, David Deacon as Grand Marshal for its 2013 Canadian Historic Grand Prix.

Dave Deacon

The VARAC 2013 CHGP is Canada’s premier Vintage & Historic racing event. It will be held Father’s Day Weekend in mid June at the world famous Mosport Grand Prix Circuit, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park near Bowmanville, Ontario. The “Featured Marque” for the 2013 event is Porsche 944 and the weekend will be a tribute to the iconic Rothmans Series that saw so many great Canadian drivers as challengers including both Deacon and co-Grand Marshall, Ludwig Heimrath.

Del Bruce, President of VARAC said: “On behalf of all VARAC members, it gives me great pleasure to announce that David Deacon has accepted our invitation to act as Grand Marshal. As you know, the VARAC 2013 CHGP will feature a tribute to the extremely competitive and groundbreaking Rothman’s Porsche Challenge and Turbo Cup Racing Series of the mid to late 1980’s that David Deacon created. That series showcased many, many of Canada’s greatest drivers, including David and his co-Grand Marshal, Ludwig Heimrath, battling it out at Mosport and racing circuits across Canada in Porsche 944s. Just let me say that it is an honour for myself and all members of VARAC that David has accepted our invitation.”

We at VARAC look forward to welcoming racers from across the continent and fans alike to another fabulous weekend of vintage and historic racing this coming Father’s Day weekend at Canada’s Home of Motorsport.”

David Deacon said: “I am really looking forward to seeing this re-enactment race. What fabulous memories it will bring back. It was a great era, with so many about to be famous drivers like Scott and Paul and guys who I always thought could have been up there with a little bit of a break, like Kees and Billy and Richard. And then there were also guys like Ludwig and myself who had a lot of experience and some reasonable success at that point to keep them all honest. You could say, with me at 6′ 6″ and Ludwig at whatever he is on his tip toes, as co grand marshals, you have the long and the short of it for a lot of Canadian Porsche racing in the 70’s and 80’s. I used to joke that in my height category I was the fastest in the world for about a decade. Unfortunately they didn’t have height categories and I had to race against little guys like Ludwig. Can’t wait for him to read this..The guy rises to all bait! That’s what made him such a competitive driver. Hope someone out there does us all proud.”

Advance tickets available here.

About David Deacon: David is a Canadian Racing Driver. In 1980 he was Class Winner in the Molyslip Endurance Series in his Porsche RSR. He was co-driver with Marc Surer and Dieter Quester in the 1981 24 Hours of LeMans for the BMW Factory Team. He was co-driver with Jacques Villeneuve and Ludwig Heimrath Jr. in the 1983 24 Hours of LeMans. David was both creator and competitor in the Rothmans Porsche Challenge Cup Series. He is a successful businessman and artist.

About VARAC: Founded in 1976, the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada has over 220 members with approximately 100 members who are active racing drivers. VARAC is sanctioned by Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs – Ontario Region under ASN Canada and the FIA. VARAC is a founding member of the Vintage Motorsport Council, an umbrella organization representing all Vintage Motorsport Clubs in North America.

VARAC members compete in Vintage and Historic Racing events across North America and abroad. VARAC is made up racing enthusiasts from all walks of life. Several Canadian Champions are included amongst the membership.

VARAC Names Ludwig Heimrath Grand Marshal for 2013 CHGP June 14-16

March 23, 2013 – Toronto – This week the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) named famed Canadian veteran racer, Ludwig Heimrath as Grand Marshal for its 2013 Canadian Historic Grand Prix.

The VARAC 2013 CHGP is Canada’s premier Vintage & Historic racing event. It will be held Father’s Day Weekend in mid June at the world famous Mosport Grand Prix Circuit, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park near Bowmanville, Ontario.

Del Bruce, President of VARAC said: “I am pleased to confirm that the VARAC 2013 CHGP will feature a tribute to the extremely competitive and ground-breaking Rothman’s Porsche 944 Challenge and Turbo Cup Racing Series of the mid to late 1980’s. That series showcased many, many of Canada’s greatest drivers battling it out at Mosport and racing circuits across Canada in Porsche 944s. We at VARAC look forward to welcoming racers from across the continent and fans alike to another fabulous weekend of vintage and historic racing this coming Father’s Day weekend at Canada’s Home of Motorsport.”

“I am also pleased and very proud to announce our Grand Marshal for the upcoming CHGP. Ludwig Heimrath has agreed to act as Grand Marshal. It is truly an honour for us that he has accepted because not only did Ludwig race in the original 944 series that we pay tribute to this June, but he is also an Inductee into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and one of the most
famous and enduring names in Canadian auto racing. Just let me say that it  is an honour for myself and all members of VARAC that he has accepted our invitation.”

Ludwig Heimrath, known throughout his career as an intense man and one of  few words said: “It is an honour to be invited to be Grand Marshal for such  an exiting racing series. I am really looking forward to being part of this Vintage Racing Festival.”

Advance tickets are available here

About Ludwig Heimrath: Ludwig Heimrath won the Canadian Sports Car Racing Championship in 1961 and in 1964. He was first runner-up in ’62, ’63 and ’65. He was only the second Canadian to race in Formula 1 when he entered the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1963. Later, he won the SCCA Trans-Am championship in 1977. He was an expert long-distance racer, entering the Sebring 12 hours and the 24 Hours of Daytona. He also raced Indy cars and Formula A and his record goes on. In November 2012 he was named an “Honorary Member” of VARAC.

About VARAC: Founded in 1976, the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada has over 220 members with approximately 100 members who are active racing drivers. VARAC is sanctioned by Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs –
Ontario Region under ASN Canada and the FIA. VARAC is a founding member of the Vintage Motorsport Council, an umbrella organization representing all Vintage Motorsport Clubs in North America.

VARAC members compete in Vintage and Historic Racing events across North America and abroad. VARAC is made up racing enthusiasts from all walks of life. Several Canadian Champions are included amongst the membership.

VARAC To Honor 2012 Race Champions at AGM on November 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE RACING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
TO HONOR THE 2012 RACE CHAMPIONS

TORONTO, ON (October 23, 2012) – The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) will honor all of their 2012 “Champions” immediately after the VARAC Annual General Meeting in a presentation scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel, 600 Hwy 7 East, Richmond Hill, Ontario on Saturday November 10th, 2012 from 4 to 6pm.

Based in Ontario, VARAC is the premier Vintage Automobile Road Racing Club in Canada with members from the Prairie Provinces, the US, Europe and of course, Ontario and Quebec.

VARAC races cars made in 1989 or earlier, and splits the cars into 4 age groups:

* Pre-war – including post war MG T series cars (as they were built to pre-war designs)
* Vintage – for cars up to 31 December 1961
* Historic – for cars from 1 January 1962 to 31 December 1972
* Group 70+ – for cars from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1989.

 

2012 VARAC Championship Awards

VARAC Group 70+

G70+ Overall Champion – Mike Steplock

G70+, H Class, 1st – Steve Clark

G70+, E Class, 1st – Dave Margolese
G70+, E Class, 2nd – Tim Sanderson
G70+, E Class, 3rd – Jamie Sutherland

G70+, F Class, 1st – Dan Rosewell
G70+, F Class, 2nd – Peter Schlag
G70+, F Class, 3rd – Kevin Young

G70+, G Class, 1st – Mike Steplock
G70+, G Class, 2nd – Doug Kurtin
G70+, G Class, 3rd – Andrew Atkins

VARAC Vintage/Historic

V/H Overall Champion – Howard Freeman

V/H, K Class, 1st – Ed Luce
V/H, K Class, 2nd – Howard Freeman
V/H, K Class, 3rd – Andre Gagne

V/H1, 1st – Ted Michalos
V/H1, 2nd – Jeremy Sale
V/H1, 3rd – Brian Thomas

V/H2, 1st – Joe Lightfoot
V/H2, 2nd – Richard Navin
V/H2, 3rd – Dave Morgan

V/H3, 1st – Bob Eagleson
V/H3, 2nd – Yvon Lepinay
V/H3, 3rd – Peter Lambrinos

V/H4, 1st – Chris Rupnik
V/H4, 2nd – Ken Lee
V/H4, 3rd – Robert Searle

V/H5, 1st – Alain Raymond

 

VARAC Lifetime Membership Awards

In addition to the awards for the Racing Championship, VARAC will acknowledge the contribution and loyalty of several members by presenting them with the coveted “Lifetime Membership Award”.  This award recognizes individuals who have exhibited “The Spirit of Vintage Racing” through their involvement with and contribution to VARAC and Vintage Racing over an extended period of time and may include Drivers with a long term history in vintage racing and especially VARAC, also Workers who have significantly contributed to VARAC and Crew members who always seem ready to help others.

Recipients of the Lifetime Member Award in 2012 are:

  •  Walt MacKay, Racing Driver, Canadian Racing Champion and VARAC member
  • Michael Rosen, Racing Driver, Former VARAC President and VARAC member
  • David and Nancy Turnbull, Racing Drivers and VARAC members
  • Scooter Elcomb, Racing Driver and VARAC member
  • Jeremy Hinchcliffe, Racing Driver, Former Director and VARAC member
  • John DeMaria, Racing Driver and VARAC member
  • Oliver Clubine, Racing Driver, Canadian Racing Pioneer, Former President and VARAC member
  • Peter Christensen, Team Owner and VARAC member

 

VARAC Honorary Member Awards

Vintage Racing is a celebration of “Racing into the Past”. VARAC is fortunate to be supported by a number of Canada’s greatest racing drivers, National and International Champions who contribute their time and reputations to furthering the “Spirit of Vintage Racing”.  In recognition of their efforts, VARAC has created a new “Honorary Member Award” for 2012 and beyond.

The “Honorary Member Award” is presented to those who are not current members of VARAC and who have made a significant contribution or continue to make significant contributions to VARAC and vintage racing through their support and affiliation.  Recipients may include “name drivers”, sponsors or others.

Recipients of the Honorary Member Award in 2012 are:

  • Bill Brack, Triple Canadian Racing Champion, Two-time Formula Atlantic Champion, Formula 1 Driver, Motorsport Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Craig Fisher, Canadian Racing Legend, Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Ludwig Heimrath, Twice Canadian Racing Champion, Twice SCCA Trans-Am Champion, Formula 1 Driver, Motorsport Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Gary Magwood, Canadian Formula Ford Champion, Motorsport Hall of Fame Founder
  • Eppie Wietzes, Twice Canadian Racing Champion, Trans-Am Champion, Formula 1 Driver, Motorsport Hall of Fame Inductee

Members of the Press are invited to attend the 2012 VARAC Social and Awards Presentations beginning at 4pm on November 10th, 2012 at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel, 600 Hwy 7 East, Richmond Hill, Ontario.  R.S.V.P. Bob DeShane at [email protected] or 705-878-5422

VARAC is the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada whose members share a desire to preserve, restore and race historically significant cars in a form as close to the original specification as possible.  We race cars made in 1989 or earlier in Ontario and Quebec.  The highlight of our season is the Canadian Historic Grand Prix held annually in June at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.  The 2013 CHGP will feature Porsche.

 

October 2012 Pit Signals

VARAC Pit Signals

The October 2012 edition of VARAC Pit Signals by Jeremy Sale has been released! Click here to download your personal copy.

Features this month include:

  • Indian Summer Trophy Races – reports from Peter Viccary, John Kinnear
  • Tremblant Fall Classic – reports Chris Rupnik, Ted Michalos, Nick Pratt, Joe Cannella
  • Scrutineer’s Rant – “Are Tow Hooks Weapons of Mass Destruction?” by John Greenwood
  • Celebration of Motorsports – reports from Colin Gibson, Doug Kurtin, Stefan Wiesen, Richard Navin
  • Three MGA’s Run and Race Simultaneously! by Dave Good
  • Collier Cup at the Glen – reports from Dave Good, Richard Navin
  • Celebration of Motorsports – Wine & Cheese Pictures

Pre-Race CASC-OR/CTMP Celebration of Motorsports, Sept 29/30 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE RACING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA TO CLOSE OUT
THE SEASON AT THE CASC-OR/CTMP CELEBRATION OF MOTORSPORTS

TORONTO, ON (September 25, 2012) – VARAC Vintage/Historic and Group 70+ race cars will compete in their final race for the 2012 season as part of the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs (CASC-OR)/Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) Celebration of Motorsports this coming weekend. It has been a long standing tradition that CASC-OR runs this season wrap-up event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly Mosport) and VARAC continues to be a strong participant. This event is the eighth and final points race counting towards the VARAC Drivers Championship.

For each VARAC race group of Vintage/Historic and Group 70+, Saturday will consist of one 15-minute practice, one 15-minute qualifying and one 20-minute race. Sunday there are two 25-minute races. On-track actions starts at 8:30am both days.

Other race groups that will participate at the CASC-OR/CTMP Celebration of Motorsports event are as follows:
• CASC-OR GT Challenge
• CASC-OR GT Sprints
• Toyo Tires F1600 Championship
• Formula 1200
• Formula Libre

The full weekend schedule is available here

Complementary tickets are available here

VARAC is the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada whose members share a desire to preserve, restore and race historically significant cars in a form as close to the original specification as possible. We race cars made in 1989 or earlier in Ontario and Quebec. The highlight of our season is the Canadian Historic Grand Prix held annually in June at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The 2013 CHGP will feature Porsche.

For more information on VARAC: www.varac.ca
For more information on CASC-OR: www.casc.on.ca
For more information on Canadian Tire Motorsport Park: www.canadiantiremotorsportpark.com

Follow us on Twitter at @VARACBoD

Pre-Race Mont Tremblant Fall Classic, Sept 21-23 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE RACING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA RACES AT FULL FORCE
THIS WEEKEND AT MONT TREMBLANT FALL CLASSIC

TORONTO, ON (September 20, 2012) – VARAC returns to Mont Tremblant in full force this weekend to celebrate the much anticipated Fall Classic races. A large contingent of over 65 VARAC racecars representing both the Vintage/Historic and Group 70+ classes from Ontario and Quebec make their way to the track nestled in the beautiful Laurentian mountains of Quebec. This event is the seventh points race counting towards the VARAC Drivers Championship.

For each VARAC race group of Vintage/Historic and Group 70+, Friday will consist of two 25-minute practices. Saturday will consist of one 20-minute qualifying and one 12-lap race. Sunday there is one, 12-lap race and a final 15-lap race.

Other race groups that will participate in the Mont Tremblant Fall Classic event are as follows:
• Quebec GT Challenge
• Quebec Formula Libre

The full weekend schedule is available here

Ticket and track information is available at here

VARAC is the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada whose members share a desire to preserve, restore and race historically significant cars in a form as close to the original specification as possible. We race cars made in 1989 or earlier in Ontario and Quebec. The highlight of our season is the Canadian Historic Grand Prix held annually in June at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The 2013 CHGP will feature Porsche.

For more information on VARAC: www.varac.ca
For more information on Circuit Mont Tremblant: www.lecircuit.com

Follow us on Twitter at @VARACBoD