VARAC To Preview the 2014 Canadian Historic Grand Prix at the CME

CanadianMotorsportsExpo

 

The Canadian Racing Season Begins February 7, 8, & 9, 2014

at Toronto’s International Centre

(TORONTO, ON // JANUARY 10, 2014) Vintage car racing is widely recognized as the fastest growing motorsports discipline in the world, with a multitude of events attracting entrants and loyal fans in ever increasing numbers. Accordingly, one of the most popular dates on the annual southern Ontario racing calendar is the Canadian Historic Grand Prix, held annually at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

Produced and presented by the Vintage Auto Racing Association of Canada (VARAC), and sanctioned by CASC-OR, this three-day celebration of classic automobile competition brings to life the concept of ‘Racing Into The Past,’ with on-track activities, car cruises and shows, and celebrity forums.

Offering a preview of the 2014 Canadian Historic Grand Prix, VARAC organizers – along with several of their classic cars – will be in attendance at this year’s Canadian Motorsports Expo.

The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News runs from February 7-9, 2014 at Toronto’s International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport.

“We run Vintage, Historic and G70+ class races at most Ontario regional events, but the Canadian Historic Grand Prix is the ‘big’ show of the year; it’s our true vintage celebration,” explained Bob DeShane, Director of the CHGP. “The Canadian Motorsports Expo is the best place for us to tell our story, and to promote our unique brand of racing to the motorsport community.”

The Canadian Historic Grand Prix takes place June 13-15, 2014 at CTMP. The featured event this year will be the ‘Triumph versus MG Canadian-American Showdown,’ with entries already confirmed from across Canada and the United States. For the fans of German marques, the CHGP will also present the ‘Legends of the Autobahn’ featuring Mercedes, BMW and Porsche cars.

Meanwhile, the off-track action will be just as entertaining.

“Bob Tullius will be our Grand Marshall this year,” continued DeShane. “Most people will remember him for his Group 44 Jaguar Racing team. People will have a chance to exchange memories with him and maybe get a photo or autograph. And on Sunday morning, we will take a couple of hours to host the ‘Legends of Mosport, a ‘meet and greet’ for fans at the banquet tent.”

Bringing the local community on board for the Canadian Historic Grand Prix weekend, DeShane and the VARAC team – in conjunction with the Bowmanville (ON) Business Improvement Association – have organized a Friday night, ‘Checkered Flag Cruise’ which will take over the downtown core of the host town for a automotive street party.

“The CHGP weekend gets bigger every year, we expect to have well over 200 competitors in six different divisions showing up in 2014,” states DeShane.

He adds, “There are lots of classic race cars still sitting in barns and garages. If people think they’d like to get them ready and bring them out to the track, we’d be more than happy to have them. They can come out to the Canadian Motorsports Expo and we can give them all the information that they need. And if they just want to do some ‘bench racing,’ we can do that, too!”

ABOUT THE VINTAGE RACING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (VARAC): Formed in 1976, the Vintage Auto Racing Association of Canada was created provide a central organizing body through which the vintage racing enthusiast could communicate and organize race meetings for eligible Vintage and Historic racing and sports cars. A regular attendee on Ontario regional racing weekends, the Canadian Historic Grand Prix is VARAC’s feature annual event. It’s a standalone, three day festival of vintage motorsport held at the 2.459-mile Canadian Tire Motorsport Park facility. For further information on the Vintage Auto Racing Association of Canada, see their website, www.varac.ca. 

ABOUT THE CME: The 8th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 7, 8 & 9, 2014 at Toronto’s International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport. The show features motorsport content geared to racers, fans and automotive enthusiasts. NASCAR Sprint Cup racer Ryan Newman will be at the CME on Saturday, February 8. For information about the show, including news, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, call (416) 962-7223, or email [email protected]. The CME’s website is located at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com.

VARAC MEMBERS RECEIVE A $6 DISCOUNT TO ADMISSION
(Show your membership card at the ticket purchase booth)

Friends and Family can use the CME Coupons found here

Canadian Historic Grand Prix Returns to CTMP in 2014

2014 Canadian Historic Grand Prix
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
June 13 – 15, 2014

The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) is gearing up for what promises to be the biggest, most exciting and best-attended event in its history. The Canadian Historic Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious events on the Vintage and Historic Racing Calendar in North America and it is the largest and most popular event of its kind in Canada and counted as a “Major Spectator Event” at Mosport since 1999.

Racers from across Canada and the United States will descend on Canadian Tire Motorsport Park just north of Bowmanville, Ontario with their MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, Alfa Romeos, Lotus, Minis and more to challenge the world famous Mosport Grand Prix Circuit. Mosport is one of only three true historic Grand Prix tracks in North America along with Le
Circuit Mont Tremblant in Quebec and Watkins Glen in upstate New York. Mosport is an awesome, technically demanding, fast 2.459 mile track with challenging corners and impressive elevation changes. It is the current and former host to world-class racing such as ALMS, the NASCAR Truck Series and the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada, Can-Am, Trans-Am and
Formula 5000. Moreover, it is a place for cars and drivers to come home to.

Triumph and MG Racers will be the “Featured Marques” for 2014 as VARAC steps back in time to in time to recreate the epic battle for sportscar supremacy between British manufacturers – Standard Triumph and MG Cars. Mosport’s tarmac has seen that battle play out decade after decade and now, VARAC is staging what promises to be the largest ever such contest in its 2014 Triumph vs MG Can-Am Challenge. This year, racing fans will once again be thrilled to witness a huge grid of swarming, fast Triumphs and MGs piloted by cunning and experienced drivers from across Canada and the US, returning back to claim victory as they challenge the Mosport tarmac and each other once again.

In addition to the featured Triumphs and MGs, there will be three full days of exciting racing involving full grids for all Vintage and Historic racing machines from Minis to Mustangs and Canada Class open wheelers to Can-Am cars. There will be racing for six groups of cars including Monoposto (single seat open-wheel vintage & historic race cars), Small Bore Vintage
& Historic Cars (under 2000cc), Big Bore Vintage & Historic Cars (over 2000cc), Wings & Slicks (very fast purpose-built racing cars running on slick tires), G70+ Cars (cars dating from 1973 to 1989 including all kinds of Alfas, Corvettes, Porsches, Mustangs and a host of others.

The Canadian Historic Grand Prix is about more than on-track racing! Spectators and car enthusiasts of all stripes will enjoy the scope and scale of experiences open to their participation on the weekend such as:

• The “Historic Grand Prix Tribute” hosting the “Checkered Flag Cruise” this year for the first time in Downtown Bowmanville from noon to nine on Friday, just like the world-famous street party at Watkins Glen. You don’t want to miss this!
• Track Touring Sessions – On-track sessions are offered twice daily.
• Road Rally/Tour – a 100 mile rally/tour throughout the hills and dales and quaint villages of the local area, including a lunch stop on Saturday.
• “Legends of Mosport Racer’s Reunion” – Canadian Champion, Gary Magwood hosts this “meet the fans & Press” session Sunday morning with other champions and greats like Bill Brack, Eppie Wietzes, Ludwig Heimrath, Craig Fisher, Walt Mackay and others. Open to all at no cost. Mix with old friends, racers and champions.
• “Stars of the Autobahn” Concours d’Elegance conducted by the Mercedes Benz Club of America open to all German cars.
• “Mini Meet North” all weekend – Canada’s largest Mini gathering
• “Field of Dreams Car Show” – welcoming hundreds of sports cars, classics and hot-rods, owners and car clubs from far and wide featuring Canada’s largest on-track parade open to car show participants and featuring discounted park admission for entrants.
• Free weekend camping courtesy Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
• Advance tickets available here

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.