Have a Vintage or Classic Car? Now Go Race It!

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GO RACING!!

Browsing through this month's Classic Motorsports magazine I read through Pete Brock's article, which essentially said, go racing.  But Pete Brock is an engineer, and the article read a little like an engineers blog; technical.  I thought I'd try my hand at the same article, but in layman's terms for us simpler folks.  What I'm really hoping to do is show you it doesn't matter what kind of hoopty car you have, you can get involved with competition and have a blast.

This is a Pete Brock design - author's photo

First the personal testimony; for the last four years or so I've been trying all sorts of new motor sports.  They are a complete kick in the pants.  Some of them give you adrenalin rushes.  Some of them make your technical skills better.  Some of them give you great camaraderie with friends and other participants.  I cannot recall once leaving an event and wishing I hadn't went, even when the rallycross filled my car with an inch of dirt.

What type of racing?  Here are some suggestions and encouragement to just do it.

Got an old American car? Finally bought that Chevelle but couldn't afford the SS?  Or maybe you're driving the slant six Dodge Swinger.  It doesn't matter!! Go drag racing!  There are fast and slow cars at drag races, and you're going to have fun.  Some of the amateur classes are run so that you get different release times, for different cars.  In other words, it tests your reaction time (green light, go) rather than your car; in these races you might beat a high performance SS 396 Camaro with your stock Vega!  And you'll have fun!

Is your car a little more sporty?  In your free time do you enjoy carving corners?  Take the car to an autocross.  Yes, it seems silly driving around cones in a parking lot, but it actually is a complete rush.  You're on a very tight track forcing you to have quick reactions and fine tire placement.  It's quite a challenge, and I've left more than one autocross sprint with a slight adrenaline shake.  And your car doesn't need to be amazing.  I did it in a lethargic 79 MGB.  I've seen crossovers do it.  You won't be the most ridiculous car there, and even if you are no one would care.

Have you never been much for speed?  Do you enjoy your car but would prefer a more "respectable" pace?  Join a Time-Speed-Distance rally.  Find a friend that's an engineer to do the math.  In these "races" you're pushed to complete "sections" in exact times, rather than race through them.  I've heard rumors of "open" sections, where it's as fast as you can go, but in my experience it's always under the speed limit.  The challenges are not getting lost, following directions, and getting your math right.  As you do this, you get a whole lot of car time to BS with your buddy and have fun.  It's a great laid back atmosphere.  Here in Portland these are on the first Friday night of every month and run around the country back roads for a couple hours; a great start to the weekend!

Are you a little more gritty?  Does your car have All-Wheel-Drive and you're not afraid to use it?  Do you like to be sideways on a mountain road with a ribbon of dust following you?  Try a rallycross.  These are short courses, much like autocross except off road.  In my experience, the courses are a little longer than autocross but it's very similar skills, except now you have dirt rather than asphalt for grip.  If you don't think throwing your car sideways through a dust filled corner is fun, you might not be breathing.  These are a complete blast.  Just be aware, you may need your spare tire and if you see oil pressure drop shut-er-down. It is possible to bust an oil pan on these outings. But who cares?  You're having fun!  You can fix oil pans and tire holes!  Live a little!

 Loving the pavement but autocross getting a little boring?  Well, head for the track day!  They let my hoopty MGA out on a track day, I'm sure they'll let your car out (as long as it's mechanically sound, and if it's a convertible it must have a roll bar).  This allows you to experience corners as fast as you care to take them without worrying about Johnny Law!

Everyone is going the same direction too.  No drunken F250 drivers heading down your side of the highway on a public mountain road!  Mostly, the only person that can mess  you up is yourself!  You'll have a great time, and you'll get to know other guys with a similar passion as you.  Give it a try!  I'll bet money you enjoy it.  And it doesn't matter much what you drive.

Photo Courtesy of Sublight Photography

Photo Courtesy of Sublight Photography

You might even drive off the track.  A lot of tracks have runoffs. They're designed to let you go sliding.  Take for example this off track excursion by my buddy.  No big deal. Some dirt in the tire beads were the only issue after it was done.

Photo Courtesy of Sublight Photography

Did you build a car with a lot of torque and great suspension? Give hillclimbs a try!  I'm sorry to say I haven't done this yet, but I have every intention of trying this year.  We have several here locally and I'd bet you do too.  I've been watching videos of them on youtube and they look like a blast.  Probably the closest things you could get to a closed road race in this modern US of bubble babies, warning signs, and security blankets.  Have fun!  Point the nose to the sky and see how much guts you have going around those corners with steep drop offs!  And if you go slow, who knows or cares?  You don't even have to tell your buddies you went, and even if you do they probably have no context and won't know or care if you drive like your grandmothers poodle.

These are all cheap, fun ways for the average guy to get out competing! Give them a try!  You might find you enjoy them.  That's when the trouble starts if you ask me.  Now I'm researching what it would cost to make my car track racing legal.  Fuel cells, roll bars, harnesses, etc.  The prices start to add up.  But it'll be fun and worth it, and I learned that from doing the above.  Find out for yourself.  Wear that proud smile of "I did it!".  And I repeat, it doesn't matter what you drive.  I did it with a beat up old MGB and MGA.