The opening round of the Vintage Road Racing Association series this past weekend (June 1-3) was a success despite less than ideal weather conditions. The rain started early Friday morning and continued in varying stages of intensity throughout the day. It didn’t do much toward dampening the enthusiasm of 120-plus racers however, who were more than eager to be back on the track after a long season away.
The VRRA’s annual race school was attended by 28 enthusiastic newcomers (including Inside Motorcycles Editor Graeme Jones), and after the morning classroom session ended the students were out on track. Heavy rain cut the track time short and race direction also wisely cancelled the endurance race slated for mid-afternoon.
Saturday rewarded riders with a much friendlier weather environment, and heat races gave spectators some great entertainment. Approximately half the previous days’ students stayed to participate in their first race, and their enjoyment was clearly evident.
The “Try the Track” program was also launched this weekend, which gives street riders a chance to lap with their own bikes at a spirited pace on a racetrack. Also available is the opportunity to ride as a passenger in a sidecar race rig. Cost is 20 bucks, and the program will be available at every event this year.
Sunday’s finals included some very close racing (literally) as racers shared space in the corners and more than once elbows and fairings contacted each other as the battles came down to the final laps. All in all it was a safe weekend, although there were a couple of incidents (including a very spectacular sidecar pileup that fortunately didn’t include injuries). The sidecar final also provided fans with excellent racing that came right down to the wire. The next round is scheduled for July 14 and 15 at Shannonville.
View our event photo gallery – click here!
Class Winners
Period 3(1972 to 1982) Lightweight David Cote
Period 4(1983 to 1989) F3 Lightweight Dominic Aubrey
Period 2 (1968 to 1972) Sidecars Paul Whittaker
Period 2 Heavyweight-Middleweight Production Brett Waller
Period 2 Lightweight, pre-65 500 pre-65 350, P1 200 Tim Voyer
Period 3 Middleweight Mike Mistlbachner
Period 1(up to 1967) 500, Period 1 250 Paul Brubaker
Period 3 Heavyweight Tim Ruhl
Period 4 F2 Middleweight Jamie Barkley
Period 1 open-350 and pre 1950 Doug Forbes
Period 4 F1 Heavyweight Bill Quail
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