JOINING A VINTAGE RACING ORGANIZATION
At a time in history when the 1960s and 1970s halcyon years of racing and high performance street cars were besieged with the pressures of a global fuel crisis, combined with mounting public safety and environmental concerns, car manufacturers around the world diverted their assembly lines to building moderately-powered and economically-focused vehicles. This tectonic shift in automobile industry and car market trends left millions of motorsports and racing enthusiasts without their treasured nourishment sources: compellingly fast cars, powerful engines, and racing innovations that for years had peaked the passions of car lovers and driving enthusiasts. It was 1972-1978, the dark ages of automotive innovation and motor sports zeal.
But consumer passion never ceased. And the heartfelt people that were mesmerized by high performance automobiles and racecars created forums for them everywhere – informal gatherings, clubs, concours events, rallies, car shows, hill climbs, autocross meets and yes – racing organizations. Such groups focused on cars that were generally developed during periods from the mid 1950s to the early-mid 1970s, and sometimes extending to particular cars of the 1980s.
Organizations that were formed for the purpose of racing these cars became known as “vintage racecar” or “historic racecar” clubs. Today, for example, in the USA there are over 25 regional entities and one national organization that are devoted solely to vintage auto racing.
All vintage auto organizations welcome vintage race car enthusiasts of every age, gender and skill level – including supporters and enthusiasts of the sport; mechanics, prep and pit crew, track workers and flagging specialists, family, friends, spectators, photographers and general enthusiasts. Most are membership organizations, offering renewable annual memberships at nominal fees, and most all provide lessons and licenses for vintage motor racing. Races are held throughout the year and schedules for differing organizations vary, depending mostly upon weather and racetrack availability in the region.
Generally each organization offers some type of racing school component in their charter, for purposes of orienting drivers to track driving. Certified race licenses are earned, as a result. A race driving competition license from one club is commonly recognized by most other clubs, each group honoring the other’s, under national sanction from VMC (Vintage Motorsports Council).
FINDING A VINTAGE RACECAR ORGANIZATION NEAR YOU
Some of the major USA vintage auto racing organizations are:
National, USA
SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association) www.svra.com
West Coast Region, USA
VARA (Vintage Auto Racing Association) www.vararacing.com
CSRG (Classic Sports Racing Group) www.csrgracing.org
HMSA (Historic Motor Sports Association) www.hmsausa.com
ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION www.weathertechraceway.com
Northwest Region, USA
SOVREN (Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts) www.sovren.org
Rocky Mountain Region, USA
RMVR (Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing) www.rmvr.com
Midwestern Region, USA
VSCDA (Vintage Sportscar Driver’s Association) www.vscda.org
VSCR (Vintage Sportscar Racing) www.vscr.org
MCSCC (Midwestern Council of Sportscar Clubs) www.mcscc.org
WHRRI (Waterford Hills Road Racing, Inc.) www.waterfordhills.com
Southwest Region, USA
CVAR (Corinthian Historic Racing Association) www.corinthianvintagerace.com
SWMS (Southwest Motorsports) www.swms.org
Southeastern Region, USA
VDCA (Vintage Driver’s Club of America) www.vintagedrive.com
IEI (Intercontinental Events, Inc.) www.gorace.com
Eastern Region, USA
HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing) www.hsrrace.com
PVGPA (Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Assoc.) www.pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com
VRG (Vintage Racer Group) www.vrgonline.org
Northeastern Region, USA
VSCCA (Vintage Sportscar Club of America) www.vscca.org
Canada
VARAC (Vintage Auto Racing Association of Canada) www.varac.ca
VRG (Vintage Racer Group) www.vrgonline.org
