British Columbia Historic Motor Races

[dougie]

I decided to take the 5 hour trip north to Mission, BC last weekend to get out of the 100+ degree weather Portland, Oregon was anticipating. With race car in tow, we made it across the border, set up our pits and were through tech in time to have a steak dinner on the veranda of the hotel as the sun went down. We didn't out run the heat however, 98 degrees both days. The big Healey did better then the driver and our Canadian hoists were wonderful. Here's a short video, I found the maximum speed through T7A....

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[Andrew_Grannis]

Great video, thanks!

 

[Jerry]

I assume that was a datsun 510 you were chasing. I used to own one and don't remember them having enough power to run that fast. But who knows what was done to the engine.
Nice run.

Jerry

 

[aeronca65t]

Great stuff!

We're "off" for August and will return to racing in September.

Many of the cars in your video look similar to what we race here.

Jerry:
The Datsun 510 may actually be the car of <span style="text-decoration: underline">choice</span> for vintage racing.
They are fairly light, handle well and can make lots of reliable horsepower. A typical 510 with decent race prep can make 225 horsepower easy (stock is about 100 horsepower).
Here on the east coast one of our top 510 racers is Bob Leitzinger

I've been on track with him......I'd bet his Datsun make a <span style="font-weight: bold">lot</span> more than that.

 

[dougie]

Yup, Datsun 510 it was. As Niels pointed out these can be made into real rockets.
The one I was chasing ran on slicks, had a very well prepared engine and bare bones interior. Needless to say, on their home track I had a great view of the back of this car most of the weekend.

 

[aeronca65t]

......
The one I was chasing ran on slicks, had a very well prepared engine and bare bones interior......

Interesting.

We're starting to have questions about more and more guys running slicks in local vintage races here.
I realize you were in Canada and they may allow different things.
Here on the east coast, we tend to hear that our cars are more radical and modified than the west coast vintage cars.
Some of it doesn't make a huge difference (to me), but running slicks instead of treaded tires (like my Toyo R888s) is really giving some racers an unfair advantage.

I expect to see a lot of east coast racing organizations start to crack down on slicks and get folks back to treaded tires with 60 (or bigger) aspect ratio.

 

[dougie]

Tires are still pretty regulated in the states here on the west coast and I was surprised to see all the locals in Canadian's running what ever they could fit under their car. My used up bias-ply vintage TD's didn't stand a chance..... It wasn't that long ago GRL and HMSA only allowed Dunlop's. Now they just frown at you when you show up with Hoosiers.