forwarded with permission from Peter
"Peter L. Krause" wrote:
> All,
> This is a message that I wrote to Mini driver (and old friend) Bob
> Marcum in response to his query of "What is the VDCA all about?; will they
> allow later cars?; will they allow the Hoosier Street TD's on Mini's
> specifically?". After an affirmative response from David Whiteside and Alex
> Quattlebaum, I am forwarding this message to a wider group of people to
> generate awareness and inform the wider vintage racing community just what
> is being "hatched" down in these parts. Please forward this to anyone you
> think might be interested and publish it if you can or wish. The first event
> is due to have taken place December 10-12, 1999 in Savannah and there are
> currently four confirmed dates in the Southeast for 2000. Thank you. -Peter
> Krause
>
> Bob,
> The purpose of the VDCA is to call a halt and move in a different
> direction from a majority of the clubs and for-profit organizations in place
> today. When Will Thomas bolted on the Hoosiers TD's and chopped almost FOUR
> seconds off his time at Savannah without doing anything else to his car that
> weekend, it was all of a sudden clear to many of us that this deal was
> getting out of hand.
>
> The purpose of vintage racing, as outlined by the "Southeast Vintage Racing
> Association" before it was sold to Alex Quattlebaum and still managed by
> none other than Joe Pendergast, was that "the pleasure of taking part must
> exceed the desire to win at all cost..." That has really been forgotten by
> most folks, especially in the last five years. In 1991, the quickest Group
> One (SVRA Small Bore Production under 1300 cc)car at Savannah was Dick
> Faille, followed by Bob Pass, Don Narde and Ross Bremer. Not one of those
> broke 1:30 'til the following year. By 1994, the Baker brothers, one in a
> Seven, one in a Mini were in the high 1:27-low 1:28 range. By 1997, Jim
> Roberts and Sean Ryan were in the high 1:23-low 1:24 range, with Will third
> at a mid 1:24, I think Fred did a high 1:27 on the other tires that weekend,
> I think you broke 1:30 in the under 1 liter car!!!
>
> The formation of VDCA is designed specifically to "dumb down" and make the
> cars conform to a set of rules that are further away from contemporary cars.
> The most likely path to that end is to restrict tires, wheel width, body
> material and configuration, track width, displacement, carburetion and
> weight. I know that the reason why the VDCA will succeed is because a lot of
> people are tired of the "slippery slope" downward towards greater mechanical
> advantage and less disciplined car preparation. This is not about going
> fast. This is about preserving a part of the past. This is about having fun
> with friends. It has been said that "organizations will shed those that do
> not share the values of that organization," and that, quite frankly, is
> exactly what is hoped will happen here. The philosophy is one that
> encourages restraint, rather than excess.
>
> I have always told folks to prepare their cars to the specifications of the
> most conservative sanctioning body that you want to run with, then you can
> run with all of them... In answer to your question, I do not anticipate that
> any cars manufactured after December 31, 1967 will be eligible to run in the
> Small Displacement group at VDCA. It is even more likely that the 10"
> Hoosier TD's will not be permitted on any Production based car for use in a
> VDCA event. The evidence presented by Jim Fuerstenburg, Will Thomas, Fred
> Vester and yourself indicate that the Hoosiers will not slow the cars down,
> which is what we want to do. While we would like you to participate with
> VDCA in their expanded Southeast schedule next year, we'd like you to do it
> in a car that is about like the one you turned 2:00 laps at Road Atlanta in
> 1993! If you'll remember, that was the year that you and I and Nick all went
> back and forth. That was fun, with friends.
>
> One of the difficulties of SVRA and HSR, and certainly a growing problem
> with VSCDA, is that the clubs are trying to be all things to all people.
> VDCA's mission is to provide a place for "period prepared" cars with an
> emphasis on above average driver deportment. We have the framework in place
> to do just that, and from the response so far, this mission has struck a
> chord in those who are interested in the same thing. I'd like to tell you
> that this car and that tire is ok, but that is counter to the mission of the
> club as it has been defined so far. There is no shortage of dates on the
> Vintage racing calendar, and I feel certain that those who can't or don't
> wish to prepare their cars or their behavior to VDCA standards can find any
> number of other venues to go play, but our hope is that we can rekindle what
> drew many of us to Vintage Racing in the first place, the "pleasure of
> taking part..."
>
> Thanks for your inquiry and let me know your thoughts. -Peter Krause
> Board of
> Representatives
> Vintage Drivers
> Club of America
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