Last weekend VARA held it’s annual 2-hour Twighlight Enduro at Willow Springs Int’l Raceway during their High Desert Challenge race weekend. I was invited to co-drive the second hour of the enduro by Steve Villata, the current owner of the Race Wagon, and was more than happy to partake. Most vintage races are in the 25-35 minute sprint length, so this is one of the only West Coast opportunities for a longer vintage race format. It takes a bit of planning: driver change, refueling, pitlane repairs if necessary, things that we just don’t get to practice very often. But it’s the best ‘race laps for the dollar’ ratio you can get anywhere, and man, its a whole lot of fun!
The race had 17 entries, and Steve drove a great first half, dicing steadily with a 240Z and turning consistent laps in the 1:42 range. After the pitstop and driver change, I had a good battle going with a 911 for several laps, but with ten minutes to go and running in 4th place, the Wagon’s motor decided it had had enough abuse and we had to call it a day. Steve’s brother Ron (a second season racer), and his co-driver Lawrence Dunnigan (a rookie season racer) finished their Capri’s first enduro in a very respectable 12th place. Can’t wait for next year’s Enduro!
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