I had the opportunity to attend the annual San Francisco Region SCCA Vintage Spring Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway this Sunday. The weather was postcard perfect, sunny and 65. I was helping out in the Moore Speed pits, and hanging out with friends and family. I’m usually at the track racing, so it was kind of fun to play ‘tourist’ for the day. My wife and our yellow Lab came along as well, making it a great day off from work! I roamed the pits snapping pictures and talking with old and new friends alike. I hope you enjoy the photos…
Nice site, great shots!!! My car is the goofy red 1964 Volvo PV 544 (#544) which is pictured at the top of this page. Thank you for having such impeccably good taste to show my car in such a prominent spot.
My weekend at Laguna Seca was pretty good. The car ran well and I got a great start on Sunday’s race. I was holding off a couple of buddies in Minis all race and keeping my nose clean. Got to about lap 13 holding the two Minis and an Alfa well back in my rear view all race and was uncharacteristically shifting conservatively. When I got through turn 11 and onto the main straight to start lap 14 it would absolutely not go into 4rth gear. I tried several times and was just coasting into turn 2 when all three cars just drove by me. It finally went into gear and I followed the three cars into turn 2.
I was really ticked as I had worked so very hard to keep in front of those three cars all race. The big tall Volvo is a lot of WORK to make go fast, especially in the corners and it made me KRAZY to have to let those three cars motor by me so easily. I continued at a leisurely pace and finished the last couple of laps with no more problems finishing 12th overall.
When I really thought about it I was so privileged to be at that beautiful track and had been lucky enough to run well all weekend that I couldn’t get too upset. Two of the three cars that drove by me were really good friends and I was happy for all of us. This vintage racing is fast becoming much more of a friendship thing than what happens out on the track. I highly recommend it to anyone who is even slightly interested.
I wanted to race all my life but only was able financially to take it up about 10 years ago at age 53. I have run about 50 race weekends since I started and have loved every minute. My wife always comes to the nicer tracks and we have a great time together. There have been highs and lows over the years…but mostly highs. Since the last three years that I have been racing this Volvo my racing budget is less than half what it was with my old car, and the Volvo has had some issues. 95% of the people involved in vintage racing are first class and great fun to race with and hang with.
Try it!
Very cool – I discovered your site a couple months ago, forgot how actually. Anyway, you have a shot of my car on here! Very cool. It’s the #53 Lotus. Unfortunately, the car had an electrical issue that I was not able to correct so I only got a few laps the entire weekend. Oh well. Next year! Great event – I did it last year in a ’72 Elden Formula Ford. Anyway, very cool to see my car on a site that I’m a fan of. Pen Pendleton.