Tag Archive for: VARAC

Formula Ford Featured at 2015 Canadian Historic Grand Prix

Canadian Historic Grand Prix
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
June 19-21, 2015

 

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 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. 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, drivers and race fans to come home to.

Open-Wheel Formula Ford Racers will be the “Featured Marque” for 2015 and will compete for the Oliver Clubine Trophy in honour of Ollie Clubine, a champion and pioneer of Canadian Road Racing.

1969 Racing Photo By Paul H Gulde

VARAC will step back in time to recreate the epic battles for open wheel supremacy that witnessed the likes of Gilles Villeneuve, Craig Hill, Brian Stewart as well as other world-class drivers like our 2015 Grand Marshal, former Canadian Champion Gary Magwood as they fought their way to even greater heights. One of Canada’s greatest Formula Ford Aces, Gary Magwood will act as Grand Marshall for the weekend. Mosport’s tarmac then as now was the very proving ground that saw Gilles Villeneuve rise from Formula Ford to Formula Atlantic Champion and on to Formula One and more recently, James Hinchcliffe to IndyCars..

VARAC is staging what promises to be the largest ever such contest in its history. In addition to the Formula Ford Feature, 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 to vie for the claim of victory in the Triumph vs MG Challenge.

In addition, there will be three full days of exciting racing for six groups of cars including Monoposto (single seat open-wheel vintage & historic race cars including Formula Ford Pre ’82), 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 including Formula Ford Pre ’93), 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:

  • The “Historic Grand Prix Tribute” hosting the “Checkered Flag Cruise” again this year 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” – 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
  • For more information email: [email protected]
  • 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.

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.

Inside Track Excerpt – The 1977 Canadian Grand Prix

1977 Canadian Grand Prix: Gilles Villenueve Makes His Canadian Ferrari Debut, But a Different Canadian Steals The Show

For Canadian Racing fans gathered at Mosport (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) on October 9, 1977, there was to be drama aplenty. Number one, and the big focus for fans and I was the debut of Gilles Villenueve in a Formula 1 Ferrari. A Canadian, driving for Ferrari? What could be better? With flimsy credentials I had scammed a photo pass, so I could go pretty much anywhere I liked…

The following article is an excerpt from an article written by VARAC member Jeremy Sale for Inside Track Motorsport News:

ITMN

November 2014 Pit Signals

The November 2014 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:

  • VRG at the Glen
  • Introducing Mark Brown
  • Extensive Highlights of 2014 from various VARAC members
  • and more!

October 2014 Pit Signals

The October 2014 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:

  • Grattan
  • New Hampshire
  • Charlie Gibson Award
  • Calabogie
  • Watkins Glen
  • Lime Rock
  • BEMC Indian Summer
  • Mont Tremblant Fall Classic
  • CASC-OR Celebration
  • and more!

August 2014 Pit Signals

The August 2014 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:

  • Legends Take to the Track at Le Circuit Mont Treblant (by Alain Raymond, by Stewart Brown)
  • Racing in Canada (by Peter Mohacsi)
  • Did Racing Save My Life? (by Doug Switzer)
  • The Thruxton Experience (by Nick Pratt)
  • Phil Lamont – Monoposto’s 2013 Most Improved Driver
  • Shannonville For Sale
  • The MGB/Chinook FF Tour 2014 by Mike Adams
  • Join the VARAC Board!
  • Gary Allen Reports from Pittsburgh
  • VARAC Proud at the Honda Indy Toronto
  • VARAC at PVGP
  • Wonderful Waterford Hills
  • Brits on the Lake
  • Jaguar E-Types
  • and more!

June 2014 Pit Signals

The June 2014 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 2014 Canadian Historic Grand Prix
  • CHGP Stories from members Peter Viccary, Phil Lamont, Joe Lightfoot, Andrew Celovsky, Alister & Charles McLean
  • Bill Hirst Memorial Cup
  • Volunteer Recognition
  • In Memory: Oliver Clubine, Al Pease, Raymond Lafleur
  • The #3 Dodge at Glory Days
  • Gary Allen Reports From Summit Point
  • Harry Sale on the CASC Spring Race School and a first track adventure
  • The Pop Rivet Special by Jeremy Sale
  • and more!

Bob Tullius named Grand Marshal for 2014 Canadian Historic GP – June 13-15

This week the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) named one of North America’s greatest sports car racers and creator of “Group 44 Inc.’’, Bob Tullius as the Grand Marshal for its annual Canadian Historic Grand Prix.  Tullius created one of the longest lasting and most successful racing stables in North America, spanning over twenty-five years.  During that time, Group 44 represented British Car Manufacturers and iconic brands such as Triumph, MG and Jaguar.  Tullius and company raced everything from a Triumph TR3 in which he won his first-ever race in 1961 to Jaguar XKEs to his own prototype Jaguar XJR-7.  He is counted as royalty amongst Triumph owners, drivers and racers because of his huge success racing Triumph Cars.

 

Tullius accomplished a great deal on courses as varied as Le Mans and all of the great Trans-Am race courses, including Sebring, Watkins Glen, Mosport, Daytona, Riverside, Laguna Seca and St. Jovite, winning several championships along the way, but he counts Mosport as his favourite.

 

“I have often categorized Mosport as the most exciting and challenging track of all,“ says Bob Tullius. “In fact, it is my personal favorite. Having won six out of the seven times that I raced there may have something to do with my affection for the place, however!”

 

His return to the Mosport will be a reunion for him in more ways than one as he meets up with old friends and competitors like Toronto-based former Trans-Am Champion, Eppie Wietzes as well as two of his famous championship winning cars – the Group 44 Triumph TR6, made famous by both himself and actor/racer Paul Newman, now owned and driven by Bill Warner, producer of the Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance in Florida and also the Trans-Am Jaguar XJS, now owned by Andy and Steve Moore of Toronto.

 

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.  This year VARAC will feature the “Triumph vs MG Showdown”, pitting those two great British makes against each other in the ongoing battle for world sportscar dominance.  US based racing clubs – Friends of Triumph and MG Vintage Racers will be on hand to fill out the grids and provide large fields that will make for exciting racing.

 

Del Bruce, President of VARAC said: “Just let me say that it is an honour for myself and all members of VARAC to welcome Bob Tullius as the Grand Marshal for our 2014 Canadian Historic Grand Prix.  As you know, the race weekend will feature the decades old battle between the two great British rivals that formed the bedrock of sportscar racing in North America, Triumphs and MGs.  We will see them in pitched battle on the racetrack just like in Bob’s day. We expect Triumph and MG Car Clubs to come out in large numbers to cheer them on.” 

 

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

 

·        advance tickets available at: http://store.ctmpark.com/index.php?crn=225

 

  

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. 

 

For more information contact Bob DeShane: [email protected]