Vintage automobile racing is a sport that combines collecting and competition. Enthusiasts restore and maintain historic old high-performance cars and drive them
in organized races. The sport emphasizes the faithful
preservation of the cars’ original appearance, performance characteristics, and mechanical construction.
History
The history of vintage auto racing extends back to the
early 20th century, when new generations of cars began
to replace the original pioneer vehicles.People who cherished the older cars started to collect and preserve them
and eventually formed clubs to sponsor rallies and other
events. After World War II, the interest in collecting and
displaying vintage cars gained new momentum, along
with an overall growth of automotive racing sports.
Vintage auto racing began to evolve into a distinct
sport because a growing number of collectors wanted to
run their cars in actual races. Many vintage racing
groups and events were subsequently organized beginning in the 1960s, and by the 1990s more than 100 annual vintage automobile racing events took place in
North America.The sport is also popular internationally.
Rules and Play
Vintage racing is distinct from hot-rodding and other
automotive sports that use modified older cars.Vintage
auto racers, in contrast, do not alter their cars’ basic design and construction. Instead, they strive to maintain
it in peak condition, exactly as it was originally built.
Most vintage auto racing associations are based on
either geography or specific types of automobiles. The
sport’s overall scope is illustrated by the divisions
within the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association
(SVRA), a large organization in the United States that
sponsors events in many categories. In SVRA, Group 1
includes small-bore production-based cars from 1955
through 1967, such as Alfa Romeos, Lotus Elites, and
Mini-Coopers. Group 2 is for high-performance professional racing cars, such as the Formula 1 and the F-Libre. Group 3 includes Corvettes, Austin Healeys, Triumphs, and other production-based sports cars built
from 1955 through 1962. Group 4 is composed of classic racing cars built through 1959, including Ferraris,
Elvas, and Lotuses. Group 5 includes sports racing cars
built from 1960 through 1965 and FIA championship
coupes built through 1972, including such specialized
sports racers as the Elva MK-7, Cooper Monaco, and
the Ferrari 512. Group 6 covers production sports cars
and high-powered V-8s from 1963 through 1972, such
as Jaguars, Cobras, and Sunbeam Tigers. Group 7 is for
racing cars from 1966 through 1972, such as the Gulf
Mirage and the Lola. Other rare and very old classic
cars that are driven at high speeds, but not actually
raced, are included in a special category.
Vintage racing events range from local, informal
gatherings to large races that attract drivers and spectators from around the world. Major vintage races are
held at historic and prominent racetracks like Watkins
Glen in New York, Lime Rock in Connecticut, and Sebring in Florida. They also take place at smaller tracks,
or as touring races on open roads and other sites.
Some events loosely recapture the general spirit of
older racing. Others re-create the actual routes and
conditions of particular races as faithfully as possible.
For example, the Mille Maglia was a historic 1,609 kilometer (1,000 mile) Italian road race that was discontinued in 1956 and has since been revived in the same
location as a prominent event for vintage race cars. A
separate re-creation of the Mille Maglia has also been
held along similar mountainous roads in California.
Vintage cars are often expensive to buy, restore, and
maintain, so owners tend to be affluent or extremely
dedicated. Some owners contract with professional
teams to maintain the vehicles. In the 1990s a branch of
the sport using retired stock cars emerged as a less expensive alternative.
—JOHN TOWNES
Bibliography: Egan, Peter. (1993) “Vintage Racing vs. ‘Real’
Racing.” Road & Track Magazine (July). Yates, Brock.
(1995) “A Strange Thing Is Happening: Old Stuff Is In.”
Car and Driver Magazine (November).