The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) released results on Wednesday, July 29 from the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International (WGI) in Watkins Glen, New York. The Glenora Wine Cellars U.S. Vintage Grand Prix presented by Welliver event took place at WGI July 23-26.
At its core, the historic/vintage racing weekend is made up of a series of practice sessions, qualifying, and then races in several different classes of historic and vintage race cars. Historic Motorsports attended the event all four days; results for several races are listed below.
Over 250 cars were on hand racing in 11 different classes. Special features and exhibitions were also part of the weekend’s action.
Due to the repaving work on the track, the typical date of September for the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix was moved to July. The repaving also necessitated that SVRA could not use the “boot” section of the historic racetrack this year.
Neither of these changes seemed too bothersome in the end for either the racers/owners who came out, nor the spectators who enjoyed the openness of the track at historic events like these. Spectators can enjoy the ability to not only watch races from anywhere of their choosing but to also talk with the drivers and owners of the cars in the paddock.
Here are top three placements for the races held on Sunday, July 26:
Group 1, Race 2 (“Small bore,” mass-produced sports cars and sedans built prior to 1973) — 1st, Dave Morgan of Georgetown, Ontario (1968 Austin Mini Cooper S); 2nd, Larry Coste of London, Ontario (1965 Mini Cooper S); and 3rd, Jim Holody of London, Ontario (1959 MG A Twin Cam).
Group 2, Race 2 (Open-wheel cars built prior to 1973) — 1st, Travis Engen of Weston, Connecticut (1970 Chevron B17b); 2nd, Marc Giroux of Cushing, Maine (1969 Brabham BT29); and 3rd, David Porter of Darien, Connecticut (1971 Lotus 69 FF).
Groups 3 & 4, Race 2 (Group 3: Medium-displacement, mass-produced sports cars and sedans built prior to 1973. Group 4: Limited-production sports racing cars built prior to 1960). 1st, Harry Gentry of Knoxville, Tennessee (1964 Genetta G4); 2nd, Joseph Colasacco of Stamford, Connecticut (1963 Alfa Romeo TZ-1); and 3rd, Randy Williams of Towanda, Pennsylvania (1966 Jaguar ERA).
Group 5, Race 2 (WSC and World Manufacturer’s Championship cars raced 1960-1972; also Can-Am cars prior to 1969 and front engine “specials” after 1959). 1st, Ken Mennella of Armonk, New York (1963 Chevrolet Corvette GSRep); 2nd, Roy Walzer of Litchfield, Connecticut (1963 Lotus 23B); and 3rd, Simon Lane of Middlesex, England (1959 Chevrolet Corvette).
Groups 7b and 11 — Joel Finn Cup Race; Group 11 Race 2. (Group 7: Sports 2000 race cars as built from 1984-2008. Group 11: GTP/Group C, ALMS, WSC, and Grand Am prototype cars as raced from 1973-2008; tube frame Trans-Am, IMSA (GTS, GTO) and FIA GT cars as raced from 1981-2008; production-based race cars as raced from 1999-2008). 1st overall, Travis Engen of Weston, Connecticut (2005 Audi R8 LMP); 2nd, Jacek Mucha of Laval, Quebec (2005 Swift JMS 016 CP); and 3rd, David Porter of Darien, Connecticut (2007 Pescarolo 01 Judd).
Group 8, Race 2 — (Mass-produced sports cars and sedans produced from 1973-1985). 1st, Jim Hamblin of Fraconia, New Hampshire (1968 Porsche 911); 2nd, Sean Brown of Ramsden Heath, Essex (1975 Ford Escort RS MK); and 3rd, Joseph Riolo of Woodbury, Connecticut (1972 Datsun 240Z).
Group 9, Race 2 — (“Wings & Slicks,” open-wheel race cars as raced from 1973 to 2008). 1st, Marc Giroux of Cushing, Maine (1997 Lola T97/20); 2nd, John Burke of Rumson, New Jersey (2001 Swift 014a); and 3rd, Mark Sherwood of Lakeville, New York (1995 Ralt RT41).
Feature Events:
New York Governor’s Cup for Chevron Cars (celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chevron) — 1st, Dominick Incantalupo of Oldwick, New Jersey (1973 Chevron B23); 2nd, Turner Woodward of Indianapolis, Indiana (1975 Chevron B31); and 3rd, David Jacobs of Boulder, Colorado (1971 Chevron B19).
Alfas at The Glen Race, The Nuvolari Trophy — 1st, Jay Iliohan of Angola, New York (1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 Daytona); 2nd, Terry Stahly of Bloomington, Illinois (1972 Alfa Romeo GTV); and 3rd, Joseph Colasacco of Stamford, Connecticut (1963 Alfa Romeo TZ-1).
Hawk Performance Endurance Series, Historic GT/GTP/ALMS Endurance Race — 1st, Lee Brahin of Cherry Hill, New Jersey (1999 Dallara Infinity); 2nd, Bruce Hamilton of Monkton, Maryland (2008 Dallara Infinity); and 3rd, Travis Engen of Weston, Connecticut (2005 Audi R8 LMP).
In 2016, SVRA plans to return the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix to its traditional date at The Glen in September. The downtown race reenactment and festival normally held in conjunction with the SVRA weekend did not happen during July’s event this year. The Grand Prix Festival will take place at its normal weekend in September.
