At the VDCA races in Savannah last December, we awarded the status of
"Vintage National Champion" to the highest placing cars that complied with
the 1972 SCCA rules and regulations. In a continuing series of profiles, I
am providing some details about the winners and their cars. The
F-Production Vintage National Champion for 2001 is Bob Spruck and his 1967
MG Midget.
Bob Spruck started vintage racing in 1991, after autocrossing a Bugeye, a
Sunbeam Alpine, and a Barracuda Formula S in the '70s. He crewed for Bob Van
Kirk on his 1965 MG Midget for three years and, when he decided he wanted to
join in on the fun, the two Bobs decided to build a car for Spruck that
would be very similar to Van Kirk's. Thus was founded the SafetyFast MG
Vintage Race Team.
The project began with a $300 car and was completed in four months of
intense nights and weekends. The two Bobs did all the work except the
machining and the painting. It still follows
closely the configuration in which it would have been raced in 1967. It is
now equipped with a .020 " overbored 1275cc engine, a Kent 266 cam, two
period modified 1 1/4" SU carbs, and an LCB header. The clutch and
transmission are completely stock. Suspension upgrades include offset poly
bushings, race prepped Armstrong lever action shock absorbers, a 3/4" front
sway bar, a Panhard bar to locate the tires under the square wheel arch rear
fenders, and 560 lb racing front springs and offset rear springs. Wheels
and tires are Hoosier A70s on 5" period correct Western alloy wheels. An
on-board fire system, an Accusump, and a cut-down stock windshield complete
the major equipment on the car. Of course, it is British Racing Green and
carries the number 67.
Bob is a member of the Spridget, Midget/Sprite, Vintage Racing, and MG
Vintage Racers internet Lists. He is a member of the Peachtree MG Registry,
HSR, SVRA, and VDCA racing groups, and MG Vintage Racers. In addition to his
racing #67, he drives and shows his restored 1972 MG Midget. He also
photographs and writes articles covering shows, races, and car/driver
features and has been published in British Car, Grassroots Motorsports,
Midget & Sprite, Spitfire/GT6, B+, and Classic MG magazines. Bob is a
Manufacturing Systems Consultant and Department Manager for American
Software in Atlanta, GA.
Congratulations! Bob has the bragging rights until next years event and
the 2002 Vintage National Championships. The F-Production class is
historically a very competitive class with a wide range of potential winners
- Alfa Romeo, Datsun 1600, Fiat 124, MG Midget, MGA, Triumph Spitfire and
Volvo P1800 to name a few. If you are the owner of one of these or any
other F-Production vintage racer, mark your calendar for next years VDCA
events. If your car also complies with the 1972 SCCA regs, come to Savannah
and compete for a National Championship!
Doug Meis
VDCA Group 1 (Small-bore) representative
1967 G-Production Honda S800
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