2008 Race Reports

 by Henry Frye

Hard to believe we have been doing this for 6 years, but the Sixth Annual Wild Hare Run at VIR was held on April 18-20, 2008. Another strong showing thanks to our friends at VRG.. For many it was their first run of the season, but those folks who hail from the deep south never seem to have an off season. I wonder when they overhaul their cars?

VDCA runs combined race groups so everyone gets plenty of track time. Groups 1 & 4 run together; 2, 5 & 7 get to play; then 3, 5 & 8. To make the numbers work, we share the track with the BMWCCA and one Pro F2000 group. It's a great partnership that allows everybody access to VIR, undoubtedly one of the premier tracks in the country. While our run groups are big, they are easily handled by the 3.27-mile track.

Everyone enjoyed a picture perfect day on Friday. One of the grid workers was telling us this is what we get when we engage a Weather Steward. It was so nice you almost had to believe him! We ran 3 regular sessions, then The Wild Hare Run late in the day. The Wild Hare is a pursuit race that has our race director using advanced mathematics all Friday afternoon. Mike takes the fast lap for each participant and figures out how long it should take each racer to complete six laps. The cars are gridded slowest first, and then each is released on track the instant that would achieve an impossible feat. We theoretically want all cars to take the checkered flag at the same time! It never happens, but it is great fun trying to catch the first car. Or if you are the first car is it great fin trying not to get passed! As the fast guys are sitting on the grid waiting to get released, the not-so-fast guys are whizzing by having completed their first lap. Kind of frustrating, but that’s The Wild Hare.

Also frustrating is the fact not everything always works as planned. Since cars from different groups happen to have the same car numbers, sometimes we are not lined up in just the right order. Like the S2 that got mis-gridded. I’ll bet he passed everybody in front of him before Oak Tree, as he completed 8 laps in the time it took everybody else to run 6. And he didn’t win! That’s The Wild Hare.

Running the race wearing bunny ears is a plus. Either on your car or your helmet. It may help confuse grid workers to get you a better starting position. Or not. That’s The Wild Hare.

Then there are the trophies. The only races you will see a trophy for in VDCA are the gimmick races. First place gets you a nice little trophy. But second place get you the real prize, the "Bunny’s Butt." That’s The Wild Hare.

This year the winner was David Hughes in his Aston Martin DB4. David was awarded the club trophy and a bottle of Wild Hare Vintage Wine. The winner of the coveted second place trophy and the other bottle of Wild Hare Vintage Wine was John Sambrook. Bob Clarke of Nashville, TN donated his time and creativity to develop the second place trophy that is infinitely more desirable than first place, and this year was no exception. The Bunny’s Butt Steering Wheel will no doubt adorn a prominent place on the Sambrook trophy shelf. Thanks to Bob for the trophy, and to Paul Meis and Doug White for the wine.

Speaking of trophies, the Triumph guys awarded the 2008 FATBASTARD Champion Award to Mark Wheatley. In the spirit of the beloved Martha McDougal, the award is presented to a Triumph pilot that exemplifies the comradery, perseverance, racecraft and positive attitude, for which Martha was so well known. Dennis DeLap, our 2007 Champion, presented Mark the trophy, which included Martha’s left shoe. The award was in recognition of his years of contribution to the sport and on-track performance during the weekend’s racing.

Saturday’s weather was almost as nice as Friday, with all the VDCA Qualifying heats run in the dry, but the showers did dampen the last session of the day, the BMW enduro. But come on, they have wipers and defrosters, right? What could possible go wrong?

The Enduro on Sunday morning was run on dry track, with 33 cars taking the green flag. David Clubine in his Swift DB2 set a blistering pace and dominated the race by leading from green flag to his pit stop, then regaining his position up front as others went in for their mandatory 5-minute pit stop. David remained in the lead and saw the checkered flag fly first. Bob Hooks started in last place and worked his Swift DB2 through the field to finish second, while Tony Cove drove his Club Ford to third.

Our feature races on Sunday afternoon were run under threatening skies, but everyone had dry track. Groups 2, 5 and 7 started after lunch and David Clubine did it again, leading from the green flag to the checker, while Jack Veldon held second for the entire 8 lap race. Jeff Wright took third. Everybody on the podium piloted a Swift DB2.

Next up was Groups 1 and 4, and the three Group 4 cars swept the podium. Dick Fryberger in his Lotus 11 led start to finish, followed by Ray Morgan and Baxter Phillips. The Group 1 cars were a bit outgunned here, but perennial frontrunner Jack Cassingham drove his Midget to fourth overall, the first Group 1 car. The Formula Vee crowd runs their race within this race. Using a split start they get a little time to form their ‘trains’ and get organized as they catch the back of the pack. Using the draft they work their way through, positions changing every lap. The first FV to take the checker was Paul Buttrose, with Paul Meis less than two tenths behind.

Groups 3, 6 and 8 finished up our day, and the front three cars came loaded for bear. Les Gonda had the pole in his MGB-GT V8, with Dennis Moser on the outside front row in his Pontiac GTO. Behind Les was Randy Williams in his Jaguar E-Type. As they came around turn one, Les held the lead, Randy took second and Dennis was in hot pursuit. Unfortunately, Randy only held the position for one lap, retiring with a split coolant hose. Les continued to hold off the charging Dennis until the third time around, when Dennis took the lead for good. Les ran a strong second, and rounding out the podium was Butch McKenzie in his MGB.

I am not really sure how this happened, but the Triumph Ghetto has gotten out of hand. Through the tireless efforts of a Leo Oddi, Dean Tetterton and Don Marshall, the word has gotten out that this is the event to drag your Triumph to. Heck, they even got our own Mike Jackson to abandon his FV buddies for the weekend and bring his TR3. When is the last time you saw that happen? While there were many Triumph racecars in attendance, the grid looked kind of light on Triumphs for the feature race. Perhaps a few of them broke?

Somebody observed that the Vintage drivers all have gray hair and their crews have dark hair, but the F-2000 drivers all have dark hair and their crews have the gray hair. The BMW crowd was all across the board. We are not sure how bald fits into this, but maybe someone can figure this out for the next Newsletter.

See you at the track!

photos courtesy of