Vintage Racing Revival at Palm Springs in November

[john rogers]

My fast 356 driving buddy Ted told me HSR West had added an additional race this year, the Vintage Revival at the Cochran airport in Palm Springs. Dates are November 18th to 20th. If I remember correctly, there used to be races there a long time ago? It will similar to the Coronado races with lots of spectator seating, car corral's, vendors and air shows at lunch time. If I can make it through the Tijuana race in Oct I plan to go and try to beat up on Ted and those other pesky 356's! Oh yea, they let the 944 spec cars race against the medium bore cars and newer Porsches are put into a modern exibition group.

[Tim Comeau]

The Coronado race management is changing hands. Perhaps they'll provide more bleachers for the fans? Palm Springs sounds fun. Never been there! Tell me more.......

[martinreinhardt]

Do you think they would let a 964 Carrera 2 drive at Palm Springs I mean is it old enough?

[john rogers]

PLease check HSR West's web site and you'll see some info about the race. They have started a group for the "in between" cars, not the current race cars but not old enough for true vintage (73 or older). This gets things like ALMS corvettes, Porsche Cup cars and 80s and 90s sports cars of all sorts. If you do a Google search on vintage CA sports car racing, Palm Springs was one of the places including Delmar, Torry Pines, Carlsbad, Tijuana and even the stadiun (when Mr Ferrari owned a farm near by) where there was a lot of racing. I would think just being part of the first of the revival at Palm Springs would be a real blast.

[John Straub]

I think the last time they raced in Palm Springs was about "94-95".

They ran at the airport in "85-86". It was lots of fun, I ran my "65" 911 there when I was running vintage races with it.

I can't wait

[DonNewton]

So, John (either). . .where in the "in between" section would my '75 run? Hoping that power-to-weight gets me through. . .

[john rogers]

Hi Don, I would guess it would run against the medium bore cars, such as Steve Livelsberger (sp? sorry) does and about the biggest headache for a 914 there is Gery Smith's 914, the D-Jags, the 510s and the Elise's from Lotus. Sure makes for an interesting grid. John does this mean you'll come over and run?

[John Straub]

John,

I will be there. May not run, the last autocross was the first driving event I have run in the last few years. I need to get some more seat time before I get out there with other cars again.

[Gary Burch]

John, it's nice to have you back.

[john rogers]

Oh John you should drive anyways. They would start you at the back probably with a big 'ol X since it would be your first with HSR West so the chances of issues are pretty slim. The problems happen with those high horse power cheater motor drivers in 356's banging around at the front. I hang around and get good in car videos of it!

[DonNewton]

John-
We should both go so we'd have matching "Xs". Haven't had one of those in a long time!

[DonNewton]

OOOH, just went on-line to HSR and checked out the rule book. The money outlay to return my car to some semblance of legality would be astronomical! Dzus fastened body work doesn't cut it, I guess. . .

[john rogers]

Hi Don, if you meant the rules for the 2L Porsche challange, I don't think you'd make it. The tube framed, semi-tube framed, removable body parts cars usually all go into the medium bore class. The winner at the June HSR event at the CA Speedway was Geary Smith with a white 914 that has most body panels removable, big wing, huge brakes and monster horse power. He was matched up against a really fast Jag and finally got by it under braking. They put on a hell of a show for several laps. Anyways, HSR West and even VARA has been allowing cars in from PCA, BMW club, Corvette club and other groups that are not the strict SCCA class cars that most people think of when they think of vintage race machines.