Are the Vintage Sports Car Club a bunch of sad old losers?

[eclectic]

The Vintage Sports Car Club puts on several race meetings every year mostly for their sort of pre-war stuff. Do any of you Historic guys go to support them? If you don't, why?

I only ask because I am a long time competitor in their events and the VSCC seems to be courting more modern racers, putting on races for 1950's sports cars and old FF and Juniors and not just the pre-war cars and early post-war racing cars which are the cars eligible for the club.

Has this encouraged your support or are we just a load of sad old losers?

[TimD]

Losers? Hardly! Not even close, in fact.

I've been attending VSCC meetings, man and boy, for the last 30 years (I'm 35) and there is nothing to compare with the atmosphere of a Boulogne Trophy or a GP Itala Trophy meeting. My only sadness is that it takes more effort nowadays to convince people who've never been bitten by the vintage bug that it's just as likely they'll see exhilarating racing at a VSCC meeting as they will at a BTCC event.

I can accept the presence of the BRDC 50s Sportscars at VSCC meetings, because they have a clear lineage, I believe, with the cars which have traditionally been the meat of a vintage event. But I will confess that Historic Formula Ford is usually my cue to go and look for a cup of coffee, unless the grids are very, very big.

But if the truth be known, the reason I go to a VSCC meeting isn't for the post-war cars anyway. I've been under the spell of the vintage Bentley for my entire life, and it's for them that I attend. I also adore the big aero-engined specials, and the Edwardian Handicap that takes place at Mallory Park each year. And if you've never given the vintagents a try, I can only urge you to come along and see the most diverse grids in the racing calendar.

[squareleg]

Its a few years since I attended a VSCC event, mainly due to other commitments etc - not a deliberate decision not to go. Therefore I wasn't aware that the more recent cars are now catered for, but with so many "historic" races at "normal" events these days, I think it diminishes the appeal.
The VSCC were always that little bit different, and seeing ERA's etc being wrestled around Cadwell Park was simply awe inspiring.
Bunch of losers? - NO WAY!

[Aysedasi]

I'm in the same boat as squareleg. I used to attend, but then I used to attend a lot of other events. Now I content myself with a visit to La Sarthe each year (or even twice, as in 2002). I used to thoroughly enjoy the VSCC evenbts though.

[Andrew Kitson]

The losers are the folk who never attend or have never attended a VSCC meeting. What they are losing from their lives is the opportunity to witness a great mix of sights, sounds and smells. Ah...the Castrol R! As squareleg says, an ERA around Cadwell is something else!

[Dave Brand]

I have a serious complaint about the VSCC - they don't have race meetings at Oulton Park nowadays. Looks like we may be paying a visit to Silverstone this year......

[neilwaynesmith]

Absolutely not. it's soooo laid back at VSCC meetings, a healthy antidote to modern formulae. The scratch races and handicaps are very good fun to watch, but I would suggest that VSCC races need to be run on the 'right' sort of circuit. Long 'power' circuits often do the cars no justice, the casual spectator is used to seeing far higher speeds and spectacle at these tracks than can be provided by most of the cars taking part. Note the word 'casual', for many subscribers to this forum, and many 'hardcore' fans, I would imagine the pleasure comes from simply observing the cars. Quite often, I watch them pass and try very hard to blank out any 'modern' paraphenalia in order to see them in their original settings....

[Truckosaurus]

The only VSCC event I've been to was what they termed a 'speed trial' at Brooklands. It was most entertaining.

[bolide]

Aaaah - the VSCC...

To my mind, there is no more influential club in the UK than the VSCC. It's chock-full of barking mad car fiends but - let's face it - so are most car clubs. What sets the club apart is the members' total dedication to motorsport. Whilst most club racers are tucked up in bed, or enjoying a winter break, VSCC members are at Brooklands, or Clitheroe, or Exmoor, or Silverstone - and that's just January and February!

Last year I was competing at Silverstone in the Pomeroy Trophy - my first race meeting post ARDS-course - and the day started with horizontal snow. Did this upset the VSCC members? Er, no - even the Edwardian cars were lapping the National Circuit at an obscene rate

Of course I am biased - I've been following VSCC events since 1998, and have been a member since the Pom last year. But of all the clubs I've seen racing, none better the VSCC for style, dedication and attitude. Till you've seen a Tiger Moth-engined Riley lapping Silverstone, or an air-cooled V8 special with no seat belts, you ain't seen real racing

Nick Froome
www.bolide.co.uk

[Peter Mallett]

I agree with all of the above. The VSCC is a great club full of barking mad enthusiasts. So what's the problem?

The inclusion of 50s Sportscars seems to me to be the thin end of a very large wedge. It won't be long before we revise the term "vintage" to that of our American cousins which includes (I believe) anything more than ten years old! That's my fear.

But the spectacle and the fun are still in the VSCC events and if I had time I would attend.

[GTV27]

Sounds like you are lucky to have the VSCC (and the lovely cars). The backbone of historic racing in Australia would be the 60's and 70's touring cars, alhtough more and more openwheelers and sports cars seem to be emerging.

The historic category dates vary with the class of cars:

Sports and racing cars can now be categorised as historic up to 1987.
Production sports cars up to 1977.
Touring cars up to 1972 (I think?).

These dates change as time progresses. Except for the pure racing cars, 30 years old seems to be the point at which just plain old becomes historic. Of course, with a proper racing car, they can be just plain old after 1 year, so hence the lessor threshold.

[eclectic]

Many thanks all of you for replying, it was a bit of a 'stir' but there is some disquiet in the Club at the promotions being undertaken to attract new spectators, last year it was Lotus.. which are completely ineligible for almost all VSCC events, the next big idea is a tribute to Ayrton Senna at Donnington???????

Am I missing something or is nmodern Formula One Racing no longer catered for elsewhere!

The VSCC is huge fun, I am one of those who races an Edwardian Road Car, (American, 1918, 6 litres, four cylinders 16 valves and dual ignition. Can you identify it?) and other stuff from time to time, all prewar. If I want to celebrate modern racing I go to a modern meeting.

What are the VSCC directors up to?

[TimD]

So - you drive a Stutz Bearcat then?


Veeeery nice!!!

[Andrew Kitson]

eclectic - I guess the directors are trying to get as many paying punters through the gates as possible to offset the huge track hire costs imposed by the circuits these days. Once impressed by the VSCC racing, they will hopefully return. I guess there is a limit to the amount of paying public that attend a 'pure' VSCC event as we tend to be the hardcore fans. Attracting the Lotus fan clubs, Senna fans whatever would surely increase the gate - but I must admit, a Senna tribute at a VSCC meeting is a bit bizarre!

[eclectic]

Tim D, come and introduce yourself at the Pom, maybe there would be time for you to take the Bearcat for a spin.!