The Official Newsletter of Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs Summer 2006 Promotional Issue

Road Racing At River’s Edge

In July ‘94, SCCBC opened its current racing venue, the road course at Mission Raceway Park. This exciting, nine turn, 1.5 mile course course is challenging for drivers and offers exceptional viewing for spectators.

The first road race in Canada is believed to have been held at the Abbotsford Airport in the early 1950s. From 1960 to 1990, the Sports Car Club of B.C.(SCCBC) operated Westwood Racing Circuit. Westwood gained recognition throughout North America playing host to such greats as Gilles Villeneuve, Bobby Rahal, and Michael Andretti. The annual Formula Atlantic series races would often draw over 10,000 spectators. Sadly, this exciting facility was closed in 1990 to make way for the Westwood Plateau housing development.

www.caccautosports.org

Vintage Auto Racing

The purpose of Vintage Auto Racing is to restore, race and exchange information concerning vintage sports and racing automobiles. The Club was established in 1976 by a group of Vancouver based friends as a means of sharing with others their enthusiasm for racing and appreciation of the incredible vintage racing machines of bygone days. The Vintage Auto Racing supports the philosophy of racing competition that encourages participation, sportsmanship and display of the vehicle in its natural state on the track. There are no prizes or trophies, merely the great enjoyment of a well prepared vintage racing machine at speed.

SoloSport Events

Have you always dreamed of getting into racing? "I would if I had enough money", is your response to that dream.

Well, it's time to come out of dreamland, & into the world of Solosport - the affordable alternative to the high cost of road racing, and because of that, it is the fastest growing form of motor sport in North America. There are three types of SoloSport events:

Auto Slalom Events

Also known as Solo 2 or Autocross, it is the most basic but largest segment of SoloSport events. In fact AutoSlalom is second only to drag racing in amateur participation. Events are held on large paved areas (parking lots or airport runways). The course is formed by laying out pylons (traffic cones) to form a miniature racing circuit. Each competitor takes a turn to negotiate the course as quickly and smoothly as possible without knocking down a pylon. Usually one car is on the track at a time or they are some distance from each other and unlikely to create a passing situation. AutoSlalom is an excellent way to develop and hone car control skills. Car control is the important factor, not the most power or most expensive vehicle. A new competitor will receive a Novice Autoslalom License and must compete in a minimum of 3 events in a season before being upgraded to a Senior AutoSlalom License.

Several clubs offer driving courses for new and intermediate drivers. Check the Affiliates page for a list of clubs and their web sites.

The CACC affiliate clubs host a Solo Championship Series made up of 7 events and a BC Championship event. The Canadian AutoSlalom Championship (CAC) is held every year and you can go up against the best in the country. Competitors from BC also travel to events in the US to compete in SCCA Regional Events, The SCCA ProSolo series and the SCCA National Championships in Topeka, Kansas. www.caccautosports.org SoloSprint Events Solosprint events, also known as Solo 1, are the next step closer to road racing. Events usually take place on road racing circuits where each competitor takes turns to challenge the track and the clock to turn the fastest time against other cars in their class. Another opportunity to develop your car control skills, but at speeds approaching those of road racing. A SoloSprint competitor must first compete as an AutoSlalom competitor or have equivalent on-track experience before qualifying for a Novice Solo I Licence. After a season of competition under the scrutiny of CACC officials, a Novice can apply for a Senior SoloSprint License. Solosprint requires additional safety equipment beyond that mandated for AutoSlalom.

Hill Climb events The most challenging events under the SoloSport category, competitors are timed in their quest for the fastest time up the hill. Organized and set up on closed winding mountain roads, where often trees line one side and a steep cliff on the other, this environment makes for a heart-stopping ride to the top. Hill Climbs have the most stringent safety requirements of all Solosport events. Drivers must be highly experienced and their cars must be equipped with special safety apparatus. Hill climbs in B.C. are held on Knox Mountain in Kelowna, on the Ioco Road in Port Coquitlam and possibly this year at Bamberton on Vancouver Island.

The Knox Mountain Hill climb is one of the oldest in North America and will celebrate it’s 50th Anniversay in 2007. Held on the May long weekend each year, competitors come from all over Western Canada and the North Western US to attend this premier event.

Ice Racing

Often thought of as one of the stranger forms of motorsport, Ice Racing is probably the BEST “bang-for-your-buck” there is when it comes to wheel to wheel racing. Held each winter in January & February, ice racing enthusiasts from two clubs, the Western Canadian Ice Racing Association of BC and the Knox Mountain Motor Sport conduct ice races on lakes in the interior of B.C., weather permitting. Safety is a high priority at the Ice Races, both in car preparation – which are very similar to Road Race regs. and ice conditions which are frequently checked by club personnel throughout the event. Ice Racing is an inexpensive and fun way to get into racing. Car preparation is less intensive and therefore less costly than summer, dry-track racing and yet still allows a newcomer to build a race car they are interested in. Loosely based on Solo 1 & 2 prep. rules, cars are broken into three run groups – Prepared, Modified and Unlimited. As well as vehicle mods, tire selection plays a big part in deciding where you will compete. Rubber-to-ice, Street Studs and Unlimited Studs are the three types of tires with the first two types available at any local tire dealer and the third type available through the club.

ICE RACING Continued…

Emphasis on driver skill plays a large part in becoming an ice racer. Don’t worry, there are lots of experienced drivers to help you get started and all new ice racers must take an introductory driver-training provided by the clubs. Once you get behind the wheel and receive some helpful pointers you’ll soon realize Ice Racing offers the most seat-time of any automobile racing. Typically, Ice Racers log between two and eight HOURS or more per weekend of driving, broken into short sprint races. BUT, you’ll also quickly realize the fun and camaraderie of Ice Racing as many life-long friendships have begun here. The social atmosphere is very much evident at all events be they racing or attending one of the infamous BBQ parties.

Check out the Cars on Ice website for complete info on how to get started on your winter racing career. How do I get started? Check out the CACC and Affiliate’s website pages for a list of Clubs that host your type of automobile motorsport events. Membership in one of these clubs is a prerequisite to holding a competition license. Also check out the Regulations page for the latest rules, car classifications, and license application forms. If you have questions, try the CACC forum, one of the sites hosted by the Affiliated Clubs.

Contacts:

Affiliated Motorsport Clubs President - Edward Smart Sports Car Club of British Columbia Email: [email protected] Tel: 604-986-1423 Motorsport Emergency and Turnworkers Association Performance Driver's Club Vice President - Lorne Stead Email: [email protected] Tel: 604-271-4651 Burnaby Coquitlam Motorsports Association Island Rallysport Club Treasurer - Rod Mores Knox Mountain Motor Sport Email: [email protected] Tel: 604-594-6041

UBC Sports Car Club Secretary - Sheree Wall VCMC Motorsport Club Email: [email protected] Victoria Motor Sports Club Licensing Administrator - Jen Iverson Western Canadian Ice Racing Association of BC Email: [email protected] Knox Mountain Motor Sport Vintage Racing Club of British Columbia Race Director - Paul Bunbury Email: [email protected] Tel: 604-932-3253 Vancouver Drifters Society British Columbia Corvette Club Assistant Race Director - Colleen Moore Canadian XK Jaguar Register / Canadian Classic MG Club Email: [email protected]

Fraser Valley British Motor Club Race Novice Director - Lorenzo Costantino Okanagan British Car Club Email: [email protected] Tel: 604-939-0201 Old English Car Club & Registry Society of BC Victoria MG Club Ice Race Director - Doug Wall Email: [email protected] Victoria Minis Car Club Association Z 510 SX Enthusiasts of BC Solosport Director - Don Nimi www.caccautosports.org Email: [email protected] Photo credits: Ed Smart, Jim Dipalo, Nolan Stead, Steve Milne