PIT SIGNALS LATE BRAKING NEWS FOR THE VARAC VINTAGE RACER - By JEREMY SALE JANUARY 2016 CORRECTION>>>JOE BLOE The Dick Baker MGA! “It‘s a unique race car, with dis:nct Canadian history and a connec:on to a man who was so instrumental in vintage racing and the Founding oF VARAC.” Mystery Photo! Pung the “Can” in the Can-Am Series. Story and photos oF the very first Can-Am race in 1966 by Bob Harrington...... In this edi*on: Larry Coste’s Hot Wheels tribute Mini. Story and photos by Perry M. Mason. Contribu:ng photos by Richard Coburn. From the Editor Phew! This issue oF Pit Signals seemed to take on a liFe oF its own. Every :me I thought I was finished, something else popped up! Like the internet chaer on the VAY Special, which I asked Gary Magwood to comment on For us. There is also some good news From Phil Lamont on tyres! And Bob Harrington contributed a great ar:cle on the first Can- Am race, 50 years ago. Then Perry Mason unexpectedly sent in a story he had done on Larry “Hot Wheels” Coste. We also finally put together the “Dick Baker MGA” story I had been promising myselF we would get done. And there was even more that I have decided to leave For the next issue. Which reminds me, I have an assignment For you, For the next issue, should you care to par:cipate! I have some memories From races last year kindly sent in by a couple oF members. I’d like any oF you who have a Favourite recollec:on From 2015 to tell us all about it. I have wriUen beFore about my Favourite 2015 moment at WaterFord, (right). Now it’s your turn to tell us about the best racing memory you had in 2015. Send your comments, let’s say about 250 to 275 words, with a photo iF you have one. We will publish them in the next issue. Send to: “The Year That Was” at [email protected]. Thanks, J. 2016 Canadian Historic Grand Prix June 17-19, 2016 AUen:on all vintage racers – that means you – the date has been set and registraon will soon be open For the 2016 Canadian Historic Grand Prix being held at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Our Feature this year? Flat 6 vs V8s. (European engineering vs North American muscle) Similar to prior years, the official event runs From Friday to Sunday, with a test day available on Thursday For an addi:onal Fee. Friday’s sessions include prac:ce, qualiFying and race; Saturday and Sunday will have two races each day For each grid. At the end oF racing on Friday we will be hos:ng a “Paddock Tour” – locaons will be set up in the paddock For compe:tors, crew and workers to congregate, enjoy some finger Foods, and perhaps a libaon (iF Peter and Doug are successFul in their “special project”). We hope everyone involved with the event will drop by and say hi. The 30 minute Feature race will be held at the end oF regular racing on Saturday. Immediately Following the race, we will all head over to the new ConFerence Centre Building For a “Brats and Dogs” recep:on. Drivers, crew and workers are all welcome at this new type oF dinner For VARAC. Off track we will have the Legends oF Canadian Motorsport panel, as well as the always popular, Field oF Dreams Car Show and Parade laps on Sunday. The Canadian Historic Grand Prix is the premier vintage racing event in Canada – we sincerely hope you will join us on the track with your vintage, historic or classic race car, and then off the track For Friday night’s paddock tour and Saturday’s recep:on. Pit Signals received good news From Hubbards, Nova Sco:a today, see below From Phil Lamont. Editor. Dear Editor, Dunlop Vintage Race Tires are back! It has taken longer than we liked to move produc:on oF Dunlop's range oF classic bias-ply racing :res; early produc:on was allocated to England and Europe to meet the contractual requirements oF FIA Appendix K. Limited numbers had been flown to Vintage Tyres Limited, the distributor oF Dunlop Racing Tires in North America. Sea container quan::es are now being allocated, but supplies oF some sizes may be limited in 2016. Canadian customers – please contact Britain West Motorsport 519 756-1610 to reserve your tyres. A Forecast oF your needs helps us avoid disappointment. Our warehouse in Canada is shipping to Roger Kraus Racing in CaliFornia and SascoSports in Virginia. Place your orders early to avoid disappointment. Cheers, Phil Lamont. The V.A.Y. Special Rides Again... Some recollecons by Gary Magwood with Jeremy Sale Photo by Bob Harrington Above: Mike Rosen racing the VAY with VARAC.... While was:ng :me on the world wide web the other day I saw some chaer about the quirky “V.A.Y. Special”, which had appeared on Bring A Trailer.com. Some VARAC members may remember Mike Rosen racing the car with VARAC at Mosport. I knew that it had gone on to the Excited States and I have seen various ads For it since. On asking Gary Magwood about it he said, “Actually, I know quite a lot about the VAY Special. I bought it in the early 60s. It was built by Vic Yachuk (hence V.A.Y.) to compete in the recently established Canada Class (an aempt to allow home builders to build and race cars u:lizing produc:on components).” We asked Gary where he had acquired the car... “I Found the car behind an old gas staon on Dundas West in the winter oF 1963. A guy had bought it a year earlier but whacked it a couple oF :mes and lost interest. The trailer that came with the car was just two lengths oF highway guardrail welded to an axle/hitch assembly... very primi:ve but it worked really well!” So now you had a car to restore and a race license to obtain… “Yes, I rented a garage in behind a motorcycle gang's house in Etobicoke, I shared it with two Brits who were conver:ng a DKW- powered Canada Class single seater into a sports racer. They also had a modified Aus:n A-35 that we all used to get our CASC licenses! UnFortunately the damn thing was so slow going up the back straight at Mosport, we almost had to downshis going up the rise to corner 8! The only consolaon was that Graham Hill had raced one in his early years!” So now you had a car to restore and a race license to obtain… “Yes, I rented a garage in behind a motorcycle gang's house in Etobicoke, I shared it with two Brits who were conver:ng a DKW-powered Canada Class single seater into a sports racer. They also had a modified Aus:n A-35 that we all used to get our CASC licenses! UnFortunately the damn thing was so slow going up the back straight at Mosport, we almost had to downshis going up the rise to corner 8! The only consolaon was that Graham Hill had raced one in his early years!” So what was the VAY like when you got it out on the track, Gary? “When I first raced the VAY in 1964 it had the original bodywork and an Alta overhead converted Morris Minor engine. The engine preUy much selF-destructed every weekend, to the point where Bob Hanna's Autosport dealership ran out oF Alta parts!” “Anyway, realizing the VAY’s power unit needed upgrading and that the bodywork was quite primi:ve, I undertook to rec:Fy both problems. Geng married generated enough cash (a story unto itselF!) to purchase a Sprite engine and gearbox. I even signed up For a welding course to learn how to braze steel tubing. I removed all the crude sheet metal Fenders and other "lumpy" bits. The resul:ng, selF- designed cleaner bodywork was aluminum, riveted to a new Fabricated Frame, the "core" centre-sec:on was les alone. (Above) The result was definitely lighter and more powerFul.” How long did you have the VAY, Gary? “I raced the VAY For two years: the first year with the original Alta overhead conversion For the flat head Morris Minor engine and body configuraon; the second year with a 998cc Sprite engine and tranny in my "flying shingle" design. It was a very stable and Fun car to drive, but by the :me I had the new engine and bodywork, Canada Class designers/builders had realized that single seaters could be built to the CC specs. That made all the two seaters obsolete in short order and needless to say, earning any points in CC races was now a pipe dream. “ “However, I did wire it and mounted lights to enter the 6-hour Sundown GP at Mosport in 1965. (See photo above) Aser a Few minor dramas the now re-named BS&T (Blood Sweat and Tears) Special finished the race. I later sold the car to Bill Bovenizer. That's how I recall it anyway...” Gary . PS. Bill Bovenizer ran the car in 1967 and then sold it to acquire a Lotus 51. PPS. Pit Signals contacted the new owner, Dave Gibson, a 944 Racer For the past seven years, compe:ng with the 44 Cup series and winner oF three championships with NASA Mid-Atlan:c in the German Touring Series.