by Butch Gilbert

      HMSA will honor MG in American racing with a special historic race weekend March 20 and 21 2004 at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. The celebration will feature many race-winning MGs from the fifties and sixties, including the 1950 MG TD Von Neumann Special and the famous Ken Miles R1 and R2 Shingles. The event will also pay tribute to the Kjell Qvale San Francisco BMCD Sebring Team. It will be 40 years ago to the day in 1964 that two MGB's from the three-car team finished 17th and 22nd overall at the 12 hours of Sebring. Those two cars will be reunited with Qvale; Joe Huffaker, who prepared the cars; surviving drivers Ed Leslie, Jim Parkinson and Jim Adams; crew chief Frank Morrill; and other members of the original team. In addition to a full weekend of historic racing, other scheduled highlights include an all-MG race and special paddock displays including the first MGB out of the factory.

      The sanctioning body is HMSA and Cris Vandagriff has agreed to accept all MGs that comply with rules from any VMC club. The safety equipment and driver qualification are also as required by the participants home club. HMSA or VMC medical cards are the only licensing requirement. The entry fee will be established the first week of January and entry forms can be obtained from the HMSA at their web site www.hmsausa.com or by calling Cris Vandagriff at 818-249-3515. There are plans for a social function at the track and possibly a dinner for the MG group. A special rate for a block of rooms at the Embassy Suites is being negotiated through Laguna Seca. A list of other hotels can be provided.

      Those attending this event can take advantage of another Vintage Race the following weekend at Infinion Raceway (Sears Point). CSRG is the sanctioning club and the event dates are March 27 and 28, 2004. They have agreed to open their event to MGVR drivers attending the Monterey race. There will not be a MG only race but cars will be placed in appropriate groups. To obtain entry information contact CSRG at www.csrgracing.org or call Dan Radowicz 925-736-2823.

      Drivers will have the opportunity to run two world class tracks at events sponsored by premier Vintage clubs. Laguna Seca is 75 miles south of San Francisco and Sears Point is 30 miles north of San Francisco near Sonoma, CA in the heart of the Napa / Sonoma wine country. Visits to Carmel, Pebble Beach, San Francisco and the California wine country will help you appease your significant other during the week between the events. Storage for cars between events can be arranged.

Butch