As a follow-up to last month’s diatribe, I have to applaud the University of Toronto study, recently reported in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (no quote from Car Craft this month), which found that a driver using a cellular phone is more than four times as likely as other drivers to be involved in an accident. Even the cellular phone industry spokesperson had to admit, "When you are behind the wheel, your most important responsibility is safe driving. Period." Or as my current second-favorite bumper sticker says, "Hang Up And Drive." (For what it’s worth, my current favorite is, "I’m Pro-Lifejacket and I Boat.") No "Rant ‘n’ Rave" feature this month, though; just a look ahead at the ol’ Vintage Racing calendar.

Vintage Sports Car Racing’s spring schedule began with a general membership meeting February 11. A couple dozen hardy souls ventured out to member Doug Karon’s new building, to admire the cars and talk about the racing season to come. For our annual winter awards banquet, VSCR took over the Ellingson Car Museum in Rogers for the evening of March 1. Joe Marchetti, founder of the Chicago Historics, was our special guest.
Upcoming events include the spring Swap Meet and Barbecue, which is set for Saturday, April 5, at Quality Coaches, 38th and Nicollet, in Minneapolis. The Swap Meet always seems to be the first unseasonably warm Saturday of the spring, and holding it in April should make the weather even less iffy than usual. It’s a very pleasant way to enjoy a Saturday, ogling the cars Mark Brandow has on hand, discussing the upcoming season and partaking of the first picnic of the year.

VSCR traditionally provides car jockeys for the Kruse Auto Auction, which will be April 26 this year. It’s hard work driving cars we can only dream about owning, but we’re glad to be able to do our part. Last year, we learned a lot about Model A's, as two 1931 Model A's in close succession were the subjects of large group discussions about how to start them and how to keep them running. I personally got my only chance all year to drive a Triumph.

In late April or early May, we’ll get to blow the dust out of our own cars at the VSCR Test Day. The date has yet to be finalized, but we expect the event will be at Canterbury Park. We’re hoping our Test Day will be early enough in the season that mufflers are not required. The Test Day is open to all cars with seat belts; each participant needs only a helmet, a signature on the release form, a VSCR membership and $30. Nonmembers who show up with the $30 can have their first year’s membership for free (a $30 value). No wheel-to-wheel racing at this event, but sometimes people who ask nicely get to fulfill a dream of trying out a friend’s car they’ve admired. We should have the details in the next Tonneau.

Our racing season begins, with the rest of LOL, at the Memorial Day weekend drivers’ school and races at BIR. Stop by the Vintage paddock for a visit, even if you’re not racing a Vintage car.

The highlight of the 1997 season promises to be the Grand Prix of Minnesota on Independence Day weekend. Last year, a color photo of the Vintage field graced the front page of a certain local daily newspaper, notwithstanding some rather unenlightened comments from the stick-and-ball guys in the sports section. We expect an interesting field of experienced competitors, most from our local club. The weather will be perfect all weekend this year, and a good time will be had by all. I hope we can also provide opportunities for VSCR members who are not racing to participate in meaningful ways.

VSCR is proud to have been invited back to the Grand Prix. This is a showcase event for auto racing in Minnesota. Last year’s attendance was somewhat lower than projected, as Minnesotans are usually reluctant to associate themselves with something new. (If anything goes wrong, it might be embarrassing, and we can’t have that!) Now that a successful event has been run, I believe the public will embrace the Grand Prix. The commercial interests who were disappointed last year should be much happier this year. So much for Fearless Predictions.

I can, without fear, predict that 1997 will be a heck of a lot of fun for the members of Vintage Sports Car Racing. We’re trying to get an early start and to keep the momentum up all through the season. Come out to the track or to one of our local events, and see what all the excitement is about.

Copyright 1997, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: March 8, 1997