Vintage View
by Bill Medcaff
President VSCRIt’s mid July as I’m writing this - where did the last month go? For many of us it was spent either preparing for or participating in some really fun event. Myself, I had the opportunity to take in the Pacific Northwest Historics at Seattle International Raceway on the weekend of July 1, as a guest of vintage Can-Am owner and long-time friend Merrill Faulk. This was my first weekend back to SIR in more than 25 years, but more on Merrill and his car. Merrill bought his Burnett MK II Can-Am car in 1981. It was a basket case. In 1996 he completed the restoration and began campaigning it with key stops including the Can-Am reunion at Road America, where the car topped 212. At SIR this weekend, the car was turning lap times of 1:29, with basically stock Chevrolet heads and down on power by about 60 horses, running at about 640 (new heads are on the way).
Other interesting facts and statistics about Merrill’s car include: It was designed and constructed in 1964 by the late Stan Burnett of Seattle, Washington, Stan was later killed at SIR in 1971 during an event. It had an extensive Northwest racing history, competing in both the United States
Road Racing Champion (USRRC) and Canadian-American (Can-Am) Challenge Cup events from 1964-1977. It weighs 1600 lbs. and is powered by a 700 HP Traco Chevrolet motor, and it is the last Burnett racecar left in existence. If you would like to know more about this car and its history, it’s available at http://home1.gte.net/injun.
This weekend also proved to be quite memorable as I continued to run into old friends who remembered my racing years in the Pacific Northwest, and on this very track - ever notice how the speeds and time improve with years?
The Pacific Northwest Historics is a benefit event sponsored by SOVREN, benefiting the Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. This year’s running was the 12th annual historic race run at SIR, with more than 300 vintage cars in attendance, the featured marque being the Alfa. The racing was superb - just a short shower on Saturday, low 70’s and partly sunny, the motors built lots of power and the stick was good on the track. There were no really serious incidents with the exception of Vic Edelbrock trashing his Jag sportster on Sunday-what a shame to see that car looking that bad, but Vic was ok, and that’s the most important point. The night before I had a very good time bench racing with Vic and his family, as they were paddocked next to us.
Any of you remember Mike Mulcahy’s 67 Shelby Trans Am car from Chicago? As you know, it’s been for sale for some time, and I’m happy to report it’s recently found a new home in Seattle and was running well in the USRRC Senior Tour group.
Our test days at the Dakota County
Technical School are fast coming to an end, with the remaining dates being August 12 and September 9, 2000. For forty dollars it’s hard to beat this deal! If you’re interested, contact Bill Groschen at (612) 331-1235. By the way, if anyone would like to chair either of these remaining events, Billy would sure appreciate the help.
What’s on the horizon? Key local Vintage/Historic events remaining this season include the Vintage Grand Prix Au Grattan & Summer Party on August 18 - 20 at Gingerman, the Jack Pine Sprints on Labor Day weekend at Brainerd, and the Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival September 22 - 24 at Road America. The featured marque for the Vintage Festival event will be the "Jaguar"; look for some very interesting Jags to show up.
Looks like we’re out of time for this session, the checker is out, see you down the road, and thanks again Merrill for letting me hang out with your team.
LOL WEB SITE GETS AWARD
The page titled "Land O’lakes Region SCCA", at http://www.scca-lol.org was selected as a Links2Go "Key Resource" in the Central Division topic, at http://www.links2go.com/
topic/Central_Division
Deadline for the September
Tonneau is August 8th.
Please submit your material at the LOL Board Meeting that night or send it to Lois Bjelke.
Tonneau On-Line August 2000
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Copyright 2000, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: March 13, 2003
