“As the Dust Settles”
Some Feedback Comments from SVRA’s Gold Cup
At VIR – MGVR Focus Event 2009
Here are just a few of the feedback comments MGVR received
from its recent “Focus Event 2009” at VIR this June. Thank you to
all who replied. Overall (except for rain on Friday), a great
event! The next MGVR Newsletter will have more feedback and
coverage. If you’d like to see some photos from the event, go to
“SVRA.com” and then click on: Heacock Classic Gold Cup, then Race
Photos.
Hope to see you at the 25th running of the Collier Cup this September
at Watkins Glen!
“..we few, we happy few, we band of brothers..”
Greg Prehodka, MGVR Publicity
July 19,
2009
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I am not fast. My car is fast… It
will make up for a multitude of errors. Butch McKenzie is fast (MGB).
With a 100 less horses he finished the race less than 1.5 seconds behind
me and Kent Prather. Best lap time in a MGA was less than half a second
slower than my best. These guys have talent! Jerry Richards and I
have been talking to anyone who would listen, about the MGB-GT V8’ for
years. It is a great car. Fast, dependable, fun to race and best of all,
it beats Porsches. Les Gonda, MGB-GT V8 (winner of the
MGVR “MG V-8 Challenge Trophy”)
The entire SVRA staff is always happy to see
the MG racers come to one of our events. They are the best
organized and most well run large organization that we deal with.
A great group of well driven cars that put on a great show… Carl
Jensen, Race Director, SVRA
I was once more amazed at the great
driving of the T series crowd who seemed to have no trouble staying with
anyone! It was an honor to share the track with someone like Kent
Prather who seemed to be enjoying this as much, if not more, than his
SCCA championships. Storm Field, MGB-GT V8
Mike Lewis (MGTD) was the second MGVR person I
met after my family moved South in 1983. He was racing his beautiful red
TF 1500 then, and our kids were of similar ages and we had a lot of fun.
26 years later, we are still having FUN! Mike had not been to VIR
before, but he sure learns fast! He won the qualifier (in our group
race) by a nose, then let me take the Pre-War feature by a fender. This
was the real thing! George Pardee, MGTF
The turnout of MGB-GT’s (of all types) was
unprecedented at this event and allowed us to test our cars against very
similarly turned out and prepared GT’s. In most of the sessions, only
seven seconds and a few inches seemed to separate the 5 or 6 GTs. We
didn’t beat our personal best at VIR, but it didn’t matter given the FUN
FACTOR! Jim Allen, MGB-GT
The most amazing thing in the MG-Morgan
Challenge Race was getting passed (lapped) by Les Gonda on the back
straight. I saw a green and white dot in my mirror as he acme out of Oak
Tree turn (I was one-third of the way down the straight) and, at what
appeared to be “warp speed”, he was coming by me! Even more amazing was
that Kent Prather was right behind him in his MGA! I pointed Kent by
just before the Roller Coaster, ducked in behind him and followed him
into Roller Coaster past a couple of guys I was trying to get by for a
couple of laps. PURE JOY! Butch O’Connor, MGB
It was great to be out there in MG land with so
many of my MG friends, new and old. Bob Watkin, Bob Schoeplein and I all
started vintage racing in the late ‘80’s, helping each other get our
racing licenses, encouraging each other when the going got tough and
having a great time making memories. Bob started with an MGA and has
remained true to the marque (and the same MG) over the past 20 years.
Bob Watkin started with a Spitfire but now races an MGA Twin Cam coupe.
Bob has always been an MG Coupe guy and it’s great to see him with his
true love now. I started vintage racing with a 1966 Mini Cooper S and
now have an MGA 1500 roadster, my first love. Bob Vitrikas,
MGA
The organization at the event was first class.
As a voluntary organization MGVR should be proud of its achievements! I
look forward to the day when we have enough V8 MGs to challenge the
Porsches! That day is coming! All who participate should encourage their
friends and families to participate in this organization before we all
get to old and MG racing goes the way of so many other makes.
Jerry Richards, MGB-GT V8
Kurt Byrnes delivered my TD from
Pittsburgh Pa. To VIR for me. Overall it was a pleasant last minute
surprise to be able to be at VIR and participate in this special
gathering. Most people look at me with faintly disguised
wonderment that I would travel across the country to do such foolish
things – they haven’t had the MG group experience!! Mike Barstow,
MGTD (California)
My daughter Rachel was racing my MGTD
this weekend (a joy to crew for her), which has Michelin tires on it
that are becoming vintage themselves. Saturday morning, George Pardee
came over and said “Greg, I have an extra set of mounted Dunlop
vintage racing tires with me, do you think Rachel would like to try them
out?” I replied “You bet Ya – thanks George”. Then his son came over and
put them on my TD for the weekend. Rachel loved them! Rachel now
want me to buy a set for the car! Now that’s a true friend(I’ve know
George since the early 80 when we both raced T’s then)! Greg
Prehodka, MGTD
(On receiving the Bill Parish Award from MGVR)
“I was truly surprised and honored to receive the award! Bill will
always be remembered by those who knew him. I am proud to add my name to
this award as a fellow MASTER OF SPEED DECEPTION and will do my best to
live up to the spirit of its honoree and those who have previously been
recognized for demonstrating that joyous spirit in their approach to
vintage racing.” Manley Ford, MGTD
“I race for the fun of racing and especially enjoy
racing with the MG gang. I have learned a lot and I take a lot of
goodies to the track with me, so if ever I can help any of you out with
your MGs, please come by and see me, because that’s what Vintage Racing
is all about.” Jack Cassingham, MG Midget (winner of
MGVR’s 2009 Spirit Award)
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These are just a few of the feedback comments
from VIR. This weekend (July18-19) is the PVGP where there is a
good turnout of MGs competing. Hopefully some MG racer will give
us a report on how that turned out.
And in a few weeks, it will be the 25th
running of the all MG Collier Cup race at Watkins Glen in September.
If you want to get the Early Bird discount of $75, be sure to get your
entry in by August 1st. It will be a really special event this
year.
Looking ahead, the MGVR Focus Event
for 2010 will be in June at Mosport with VARAC.
The Past Racing Into The Future
MGVR
