when does a car become "vintage"

[ADAM]

my car is almost 15 years old.....when is vintage? vintage?

[Triumphracer]

Hi Adam!

The Vintage Auto Racing Association of Canada, (VARAC), accepts cars built in 1972 or earlier as vintage; I think 1962 or earlier is historic.
VARAC requires the original appearance of the car to be maintained very closely, so no fender flares, no more than 1 inch lower than stock, wheels no more than 1 inch wider than stock and tires no lower than 60 series.
Some sanctioning bodies are more lenient, I have seen early Fox body Mustangs in HSR races.

Simon (if the windows wind up and down instead of unclipping its modern!)

[rpr]

They also have Group 70+: "Group 70+ includes production based and purpose built race cars that were designed to race in successful series such as IMSA, TransAm, SCCA and CASC GT classes among others. Showcasing an exciting mix of style and speed, the Group 70+ grids feature everything from ground pounding Corvettes and Mustangs to sophisticated 2.0L Sports Racers and Porsche 911s. This ‘rolling’ T minus 15 year race class currently includes the 1973 to 1987 racing period."

Which coincidentally includes my 87 Civic... not in it's current form though... :)

They may not have updated the site though, since as of last week it would be up to 89, from what I gather.

Tom

[glh]

Would a 1985 Onmi be concided for vintage. the car remained unchanged from 1982 thru to 1989 with the exccption of a turbo motor in 85 thru to 89

[rpr]

I believe the criteria also includes that the car was run in some kind of sanctioned racing in the period in question. i know mine was (Honda/Michelin series) not sure about the Omni. Go to www.varac.ca to see the rules.

[glh]

The Onmi GLH was run in SCCA . Thank you for the link

[Trackdog]

Hi there... VARAC's Group 70+ currently celebrates the racing periods of 1973 to 1987... rules are available at www.varac.ca/technical.html

We've got a Group 70+ monthly email distribution list for all those interested in the series, if you'd like to be copied in just send me an email offline at lddale@hotmail.com

Diane

[glh]

I did check the rules and think my car only needs a couple of changes to comply a fuel cell and fire equpment If there is any body who could help me with used equptment or specs I would apprecate it
steve

[tintop]

The GLH sounds interesting. As the G70+ rules are 'Point in Time' you will need to prepare to a specific year. As 1987 is the current cut-off date for G70+, you will need '87' SCCA class prep. rules (Showroom,Production??) for a GLH. I understand that Diane has assembled a body of CASC & SCCA rules from various years. You can contact her at: iddale@hotmail.com

[GT-1]

What if you have a car that is classed older than 1973?
I race a heavily modified 60's Corvette (Blaise's old car),
it does not fall into prod classes and is too old for 70+..

[Trackdog]

Hi Paul,

Group 70+ is a little different as it administers rules and regulations of a specific period, as opposed to other VARAC classes which are based on chassis year. An earlier car can run Group 70+ as long as it would have been eligible for any series that ran during 1973 to 1987.

We've been researching like crazy and have gathered a significant number of rule sets (from different series) during that era to help owners with eligibility. The intent is to 'recreate a page in history' on the grid. And it was a really fun era - certainly a significant one as that is when a totally different direction in motorsports improvements began. We've got some great cars coming out - Porsche, BMW, Datsun, Honda, Toyota, Ford - just like turning back time!

Eligibility rules are at www.varac.ca/technical.html.

Diane.

[ctheo]

Personally I consider a car vintage once you have so much money into you realize you could have bought a new car (that's faster, handles better and has brakes that work) for less money than you have sunk into the "vintage" one.

[sjagman]

I wanted to run a 75-76 XJC 5.3L V12 but they said it didn;t fit into thier criteria........................ Even thiough Jaguar RACED them in the european touring car cahampionship. Gave up on that idea and have taken my XJS ( another car) and have gone to SOLO 1.

No sour grapes just movin on.

thanks
Steve

[Trackdog]

Hi Steve,

Actually - if your XJC is prepped to period rules, we'd welcome it on the G70+ grid! (It'd be great to get your car out for the Vintage Festival - June 25th to 27th). Contact Jonathon Brett (kim.zachjess@sympatico.ca), he can help determine the elegibility. I can send you some G70+ series info - just send me your email address offline at LDDALE@hotmail.com.

Diane.

[gravlguts]

i have just come across an early sixties Fiat 1500 spyder that looks to be a good starting point for a restoration. would it be possible to build the car for vintage, or does a car have to have a specific race history?

[Trackdog]

Hi there,

No, the car does not have to be 'historically significant' - meaning the car does not have to be one that actually raced during that time. It is possible to prepare a car (any year prior to 1988) to any of the regulations of any series that ran from 1973 to 1987 to run with the Group 70+. (i.e. you could have an earlier year car eg. 1969 prepped to the rules of 1975). Or - you could prep the car to the regulations of its time (i.e. prepare a 1963 car to its orginal regulations) and run it in Historic Porduction (or Vintage Production if it is older). (The different class definitions are available on the website www.varac.ca)

Hope that helps!

Diane