Spring Soon

I know, I know, it's cold as the dickens out there, but that doesn't mean it's too early to plan for spring. So, what's on your personal event calendar? I have my datebook here with me, and it's more full that not: PBIR, St. Pete Gran Prix, Amelia Island, Mitty, Mead Garden British car show, etc., etc. I guess that means I need to get some cars back on the road.

I'm slowly starting to think I need more time in my life. IE less house work, work work and parental work so I can focus on my cars.

That or more money to hire help.

Need to get the race car for my 2nd season. Race #1 is in late June.

I want to get the trim installed in the GT6, but its not a priority just want to enjoy the car. Last year with the house sale stuff I drove the GT6 maybe 100KM, but its all good.

So 2 races for the FIAT, maybe a show for the GT6, but I do hope to cover more miles for sure.

A.

For better or worse, Spring for me will mean the start of the racing season...

Mountain bike racing, that is... Which is about all I'll be able to afford or have time for during the next couple of years. I had hoped to co-drive a friend's RX7 in hill climb events, but I don't see it happening.

I do have some projects to do on the other half's Volvo and Spitfire. My E30 and our 2nd MINI will be sold to free up cash and room.

AutoX starts in a month for the XR4, with hopefully a track day or two thrown in this year. It will also go to Georgia Tech Auto show and maybe a Caffeine and Octane event

Fiat should be operational enough for cruising and will attend one AutoX at least before the GRM challenge this fall. Also like to take it to the aforementioned shows, and of course, the GRM Challenge

Nothing melting here ....

Testing the new Spec Miata next weekend.

Hoping to make a SM race first weekend in March.

Sebring 12-hour (Spectating)

Vintage race 1st weekend of April!

Local SCCA branch holds an Auto-X school on April 17th, so I have to get the 'vette ready for that. Given that the Celica is unlikely to see a real road under its tires this year.

Still lots of snow here in Anchorage. I'm flying to Portland next weekend. Hope to get the TR8 out for a day or two there.

No snow in Portland this year.........maybe just a little rain. Next week might be dry for you. Here's what it looked like 2 weeks ago.

Dougie

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Pittsburgh VGP and related activities. Watkins Glen US VGP.

My wife is threatening me with a trip to England. We need to visit the Morgan Factory before Charles brings in the robots. We want to go to the Goodwood vintage event as well.

Plus local sports car events.

Leo

I'm going Winter Karting (indoor) at GPNY, Mt Kisco, NY on February 26 (with VRG).

Then I have two races, also with VRG (and back-to-back, unfortunately):

1-Jefferson 500, Summit Point on May 13 - 15 (hope to see the Classic Motorsports/Grassroots gang there with the Small Bore Challenge). ~Here~ is my Jeff 500 event last year.

2-New Hamsphire Vintage Festival at NHMS on May 20 - 22

The dry weather has my racing itch needing a scratch a little early this year. The vintage schedule looks pretty full for me year if everything goes well. Chassis dyno tuning next month should have the big Healey ready for SOVREN's Sprint Sprints at Seattle Pacific Raceway May 14-15 http://www.sovren.org/. Next is Steve Earle's GRL Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival (formally Wine Country Classic) at Infineon Raceway June 2-5 http://www.generalracing.com/. Then to PIR my home track for HMSA's Portland Historics July 8-9 http://www.hmsausa.com/index.html. August looks empty, but usually gets filled with street car events. September's both the Columbia River Classic at PIR and the Fall Final back at Seattle's Pacific Raceway. I'm still on the fence, but leaning towards participating in the Maryhill Hill Climb event October 1-2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icSvgVgieKY This is a great event but I have had scheduling conflicts with it in the past.

Dougie <img src="" />

It'll be at least another 2 months before it starts to feel like spring around here. But in less than 2 weeks I'll be in South Florida for a brief mid-winter escape from the white-hell of New England. While I'm there I plan to take in the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance on Feb. 27th.

If you have the chance to see Dougie and his Healey on the track, go. I'll be at PIR for the Columbia River Classic and the All British Field Meet.

Though spring is a long time away here in Anchorage, members of the Alaska Sports Car Club have a solution. It's not exactly vintage racing, though there are some vintage or near-vintage cars competing. We drove out onto frozen Big Lake last Sunday to watch racing on the ice.

Pittsburg Vintage Grand Prix.

Speaking of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, do you know that the VSCCA is no longer involved with it (forced out, I believe, so that the new local organizers can start running newer, faster, "more appealing to the public" cars on the narrow roads in Schnley Park)? In retaliation, the VSCCA is now planning a street race in Springfield MA on the same weekend in July. I say good for the VSCCA. And it's great news for New Englanders!

While I have heard similar accounts about the 2011 PVGP event from some folks, I've also heard very different accounts from others. As always, there's two sides to every story.

I agree that the VSCCA seems to have scheduled their new event "in retaliation". That's unfortunate because it'll probably hurt both events. If the Springfield event had been scheduled on a different weekend, it would have been a better circumstance for the vintage racing community (in my opinion). But they apparently chose not to.