Folks,
If you didn't make it to SVRA Savannah, you missed a great event! The only
negative I heard was that the food and beer ran out at the party Saturday
night!
I know that there has been plenty of fussing and concern about the HSR
influence moderating the core value of SVRA towards a looser standard of
preparation, but I don't see it. I think Jack's job as the Tech Advisor and
classification guru is the toughest job in the world (I know, I've been
there) and Jack and I have been at odds many times, but the car groupings
worked, the classifications made sense (currently AND historically) and lo
and behold, most prod cars and sedans were weighed and found to be at or
above weight! Jack is FINALLY being allowed to introduce and reinforce what
he's been wanting to do for years but what the previous leadership of SVRA
would not allow him to do in their quest to emulate the commercial success
of HSR. If HSR continues to reinforce the core values of SVRA as it did this
weekend, both groups will thrive...
What this weekend showed was that contrary to any "rumors" otherwise, most
SVRA cars are quite close to any reasonable person's idea of "period
prepared" and this was demonstrated in the parity of competition and the
small spead and close racing through the pack this past weekend. The best
racing, the scraps that had me stop what I was doing and going to the fence
to watch were the 2 liter "B Sedan" race in Group Eight. With almost twenty
"2.5 Challenge spec" sedans entered and fifteen people over two seconds, the
top nine people within as many tenths, it was awesome racing! Showing that
you can't re-write history, Bob Kullas' (Krause & England prepared :-) Alfa
GTV was sixth overall before having his left front hub come apart at the
fastest turn on the circuit, sidelining him without damage or injury
allowing the Datsun 510's of Fred Vester and Larry Edwards to assume the
point. Behind Fred, soon passed by Larry, was a hell of a scrap with another
sixteen 510's, GTV's, 2002's and Karen Perrin's beautiful (and fast) Ford
Escort Mexico just behind. After eight laps, the class leaders (Edwards and
Vester) were entering turn 3 while the rest of the pack was thundering into
turn 1! Another battle worth watching was Hugh Tompkins' Alfa GTA and David
Bradyhouse's BMW 2002 (both K&E prepped cars ;-) in a four way battle with
Tom Worsham and John Stahls 2002's with the order changing almost every lap!
Great stuff! This is what makes SVRA special.
It will be interesting to see the results of another "acquisition" as the
English publishing behemoth Haymarket, now acting through it's controlling
interest in US-based Racer Communications (Racer Magazine, Sports Car
Magazine and Speedvision.com) has "won the contract" for publishing Vintage
Motorsport Magazine. An odd move, at once supporting, acknowledging the
prestige and hoping to leverage the commercial appeal of the sport while the
other "hand" of Racer has committed a crime in not continuing with Art
Eastman's terrific and thought provoking race coverage and commentary on the
Speedvision.com website. Hmmmm....What kind of message does this send? More
homogenous, corporate coverage of events? With the demise of Doug Earle's
historiconline site, only Dan Davis and Randy sit at the top of the pile...
-Peter Krause
Eight Bugatti's, an 8C Alfa and an Aston Martin Ulster already for the VSCCA
Governor's Cup races at VIR May 5-6! See www.krauseandengland.com for race
info. Also, the inaugural VSRG 2.5 Challenge races for Under 2 liter sedans!
Entry forms should be in your mailbox this week for the 2001 Homecoming at
VIR, featuring The Gold Cup Historic Races. Carroll Shelby as the Grand
Marshal and David E. Davis, Jr. as the banquet MC (tickets included in the
entry) Working on Gaston Andrey, Bob Holbert, Bob Johnson, Bill Scott, Harry
Ingle and many others to join in the "Alumni" reunion at VIR. June 8-10,
2001. See www.virclub.com and scroll down for Participant Info. Includes
hotel listings, entry forms, tentative classing and groups! Don't miss it!
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