1999 Vintage Racing Events to Attend
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The Tracks
Gingerman
(GM) is the newest roadracing track, and is located east of South
Haven, Michigan. As a new track (I believe it is less than five
years old), it still lacks some amenities--the first time I was
there, it didn't even have grass! Today, there are bathrooms and
food service. But what a track--for driver and spectator! At two
miles of what appears to be flat track, I have yet to hear a consensus
of what the "correct" line is for driving it! Favored as a test
track by the automotive magazines, it is a difficult, baffling enigma
of 10 corners. If you go as a spectator, bring sunscreen because
there are no trees, but it has the best sight lines of any track
I've been to, period. Make a point to walk or drive out of the paddock,
around the outside of the track to the remote lot, then climb the
hill. From there, you can watch the entire track! It is the only
track where you can see the ebb and flow of two closely matched
cars trying to overtake one another through an entire lap of racing--very
cool.
Grattan
(GR) is like a slot racing track--tight, twisty, big hills and bizarre
turns. Located 30 miles east of Grand Rapids, MI, it is my favorite
track to drive--it beats the hell out of the car and makes me nauseous,
but man is it fun! There is a fast, long main straight and a left
turn which drops twenty feet(!) through the turn, a jump, triple
"s" curves, a Monza bowl and a 270 degree bend with a two foot drop
right at the apex! That's a lot of stuff for a 2-mile course! If
you've been to Twist's late summer party, you've had a chance to
drive this track and watch as a spectator. Don't watch from the
grandstands outside the track, by the end of the long straight:
come inside and watch from the paddock hill. With a short walk,
you can see all of the paddock and most of the track. Sight lines
are excellent and much can be seen from one view point at one time.
Bring a fishing rod (there are 2 stocked ponds in the middle of
the course) and a bathing suit (there is a pool there too!).
Midwest Council of Sports
Car Clubs can be reached at: (815) 434-9999 or web page address
http://www.execpc.com/~mcscc.
Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association can be reached at: (616)
949-8281 or web page address http://www.iserv.net/~vscda
(tell Judy I said "Hi"). You can reach me at: (847) 256-8332 or
at sfohr777@aol.com.
Scott
1999 Vintage Racing Events
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