VARAC Classic Cars to Race BARC This Weekend

TORONTO, ON (July 28, 2015.) – The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada will be competing this weekend, Aug 1 – 2, 2015 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario in the BARC Canadian Touring Trophy Races. This is the fifth event in the 2015 CASC-OR Race Ontario Championship and third event in the VARAC Classic Drivers Challenge.

The test day is Friday July 31, then the racing and fun begins Saturday and Sunday August 1 and 2. This event at CTMP is a points paying race for VARAC Classic cars (Group 70+ and Group 90).

“The new race class of Group 90+ was added in 2015.” says Del Bruce, VARAC’s President and Race Director. “We have expanded the eligible age of historic race cars to include the racing period of 1990 to 1994. We believe this is a very positive move in response to the interest in newer cars. We hope to see a good number of these cars joining us at BARC and in the future”.

The British Automobile Racing Club – Ontario Centre (BARC-OC) was founded in 1959 by a group of motorsports enthusiasts in the Toronto area. BARC-OC is the only chapter of BARC outside the UK. Mosport (CTMP) is an iconic, world famous race track, both technically demanding with challenging corners and impressive elevation changes.

In addition to the VARAC cars there will be lots of other classes and fantastic races, and the weather looks extremely promising. We look forward to a great weekend of racing!

Photo by Peter Viccary

July 2015 Pit Signals

The July 2015 edition of VARAC Pit Signals by Jeremy Sale has been released!

Click here to download your personal copy.

VARAC Pit Signals

Features this month include:

  • Extensive coverage of the 2015 CHGP
  • The 2015 Jefferson 500 Summit Point
  • VARAC at the MGVR Focus Event – VIR
  • Mt-Tremblant Spring Classic
  • MCO May Madness
  • Classifieds and More!

VARAC Vintage Historic Cars To Race Bay of Quinte Grand Prix

TORONTO, ON (July 16, 2015) – The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) is excited to be returning to Shannonville Motorsport Park after a one-year hiatus from this venue.

“It looks to be a solid entry of our Vintage Historic race cars this weekend”, said Diane Dale, VARAC’s Director of Communications.  “We expect to see a number of MGs, Historic Formula Cars, a couple of Mallocks and some Porsche and BMW to throw into the mix.  Last year there was no race on our schedule at Shannonville Motorsport Park so we’re looking forward to returning to this great track.  It really suits our Vintage/Historic cars and we always have a lot of fun.”

Much excitement has surrounded this year’s event, named as the “Bay of Quinte Grand Prix”.  The local establishments and community have really helped promote the event and a lot is planned for the fans as well as the competitors.

In addition to the VARAC Vintage Historic racecars, there are six additional race groups competing at the event this weekend.  Ground Pounding GT cars, Formula Libre, Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series, F2000 Canada Series, F1200 Series and Radical Canada will all be in attendance.  Food Trucks, Vendors and even a car show on the Sunday will provide additional entertainment.

During the week leading up to the race a number of promotions will take place in the surrounding areas including racecar appearances, radio ads, TV interviews and more.  Saturday night, the Lone Star Texas Grill in Belleville will host a Driver’s Party and will feature driver’s interviews, some ticket giveaways and the two event pace cars.  More information is available at http://bit.ly/1HPovm4 .  In addition the event can be followed twitter.com/BofQGP, facebook.com/BayofQuinteGP and Instagram.com/BayofQuinteGP.

CTMP covers the 2015 Canadian Historic Grand Prix

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park has released a video with fantastic coverage of the 2015 Canadian Historic Grand Prix including an interview with the 2015 Grand Marshal Gary Magwood.

Toronto Star’s Norris McDonald Hosts Lunch With The Legends at CHGP June 21

Toronto Star Wheels’s editor Norris McDonald will host “Lunch With The Legends” on Sunday June 21, 2015 at VARAC’s Canadian Historic Grand Prix.

Grab your lunch and join Norris at noon on Sunday in the centralized Marquee Tent as he interviews Canadian racing greats of times gone past.  Featured drivers are meant to include:

  • Bill Brack
  • Craig Fisher
  • Gary Magwood
  • Walt MacKay
  • David White
  • Clive Rayman
  • John Greenwood
  • John Sambrook
  • David Clubine

We look forward to seeing you there!

VARAC CHGP to Wear Plaid For Dad on June 19, 2015

Bowmanville, ON – The VARAC Canadian Historic Grand Prix which will be held June 19 -21 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is proud to be supporting Prostate Cancer Canada’s Wear Plaid For Dad initiative at the track on Friday, June 19.

“Many of our member’s have been directly or indirectly impacted by Prostate Cancer at some point in their lives”, says Diane Dale, communications director for VARAC, “It is with great pride that VARAC’s Board of Directors is pledging to Wear Plaid For Dad on our first day of our race weekend, and we hope that all the competitors will join in with us”.

Prostate Cancer Canada is expecting thousands of Canadians to put on something plaid to help raise awareness and funds to protect men from prostate cancer this Friday. Celebrity and high profile greats such as Don Cherry, vice Admiral Norman, Dave Thomas and John Catucci have backed this initiative and social media is alive with the support.

It’s a fun and easy way to help protect men from prostate cancer. And when you pledge to wear plaid, Bayer will generously donate $8 in honour of the 1 in 8 men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Join us and pledge to wear plaid  www.wearplaidfordad.ca

VARAC gears up for Canadian Historic Grand Prix Next Weekend

TORONTO, ON (June 17, 2015) – The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) is gearing up this weekend for the Canadian Historic Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious events on the Vintage and Historic Racing Calendar in North America. Racers from across Canada and the United States will descend on Canadian Tire Motorsport Park just north of Bowmanville, Ontario with their Formula Fords, MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, Alfa Romeos, Lotus, Minis, Corvettes 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.

Del Bruce, president of VARAC says “Open-Wheel Formula Ford Racers will be the “Featured Marque” for 2015 and will compete for the Oliver Clubine Memorial Trophy in honour of Ollie Clubine, a champion and pioneer of Canadian Road Racing.  We have invited one of Canada’s greatest Formula Ford Aces, Gary Magwood to be Grand Marshall for the weekend. IT promises to be a great weekend of racing!”

CHGP Director Bob DeShane adds “There will be three full days of exciting 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+ and G90 Cars (cars dating from 1973 to 1994 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:

  • Track Touring Sessions – On-track sessions are offered twice daily.
  • “Legends of Mosport Racer’s Reunion” – Toronto Star Wheels Editor, Norris McDonald will host 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 more. Open to all at no cost.  Mix with old friends, racers and champions.
  • A Concours d’Elegance conducted by the Mercedes Benz Club of America – Toronto Section on Sunday
  • “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

 

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 1994 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 2015 CHGP will feature Formula Ford.

Follow us on Twitter at @VARACBoD, Instagram and YouTube at “VARACVintageRacing”

Photo by Peter Viccary