Wine Country Classic

[George J]

Wine Country Classic on June 3rd & 4th at Sears Point. Entries have now been posted and it looks like a good group of Alfas. Group Six has no less than 37 cars entered which is a bit much for me, but where else can I get to play with three other SZ's? Best regards, George

http://www.winecountryclassic.com/ev...rticipate.html

Group 1
Car No– Car Disp DRIVER City State
3 –1928 Alfa-Romeo 6C 1500 1500cc Martin Swig Sausalito CA
106 –1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300MM 2300cc Tom Price Larkspur CA

Group 6
Car No– Car Disp DRIVER City State
0 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint 1580cc Gianluca Rattazzi Los Gatos CA
20 1960 Alfa Romeo SZ 1500cc George Jewett Hillsborough CA
57 1961 Alfa Romeo SZ 1500cc Alan Frick Pasadena CA
58 1957 Alfa-Romeo Giulietta 1290cc Sid Gage San Francisco CA
69 1957 Alfa-Romeo Giulietta MM 1290cc Al Leake, Jr. Boulder Creek CA
265 1960 Alfa Romeo SZ 1290cc Sandra McNeil Bayport NY
411 1959 Alfa Romeo SZ 1290cc Esta Swig Sausalito CA

Group 8
Car No– Car Disp DRIVER City State
8 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA 1590cc Marlies Castaing Bloomfield Hills MI
9 1967 Alfa-Romeo GTA 1600cc Dick DeLuna Woodside CA
13 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA 1600cc Robert Paltrow Armonk NY
20 1965 Alfa-Romeo GTA 1750cc Heather Mozart Palo Alto CA
21 1964 Alfa-Romeo GTA 1750cc Ashley Mozart Palo Alto CA
85 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA 1600cc Bob GettBoston MA

[dan farmer]

Hi George-

Does this look familiar? I took it on Friday at the Historics in 2004. Beautiful car, one of my favorites from an incredible day.

cheers-
-df

[jrclem]

Shame on Steve Earl & General Racing Ltd.!!! They rejected the application of the most historically significant GTA on the West Coast!!!- The former Charlie Thieriot GTA, with significant Trans-Am history, now owned by the Rimicci Brothers... (which was "accepted" @ Coronado last summer?)

The Monterey Historics, along with the Napa and the Rolex @ Lime Rock and Coronado, have become slow-motion-parade-museum-spectacles without the completive soul that would otherwise lend a sense of authenticity to the proceedings...
If you are afraid of scratching them, then you should put them in a warehouse "grill show" and never bring them out into the sunlight. (which is probably the right thing to do with some of these zillion dollar unblemished one-of-a-kind classics.) Otherwise let's not kid one-another about what passes for "historic" racing... I love to see these amazing cars motoring around at 80% speed. I would hate to see them motionless in some museum instead! But please STOP PRETENDING THAT THIS IS RACING!!!

[George J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrclem They rejected the application .... The Monterey Historics, along with the Napa and the Rolex @ Lime Rock and Coronado, have become slow-motion-parade-museum-spectacles without the completive soul ... But please STOP PRETENDING THAT THIS IS RACING!!!

[italcarguy]

Rick,

I couldn't agree with you more as to why the ex-Rindt/Thieriot GTA didn't get accepted. Obviously, the event is not about cars when converted Stradale's and other cars with zero history get accepted over Autodelta cars with history back to day one. I also noticed a car that VARA labeled "modified" was accepted...nice!

As for the statements about the racing, I have to agree with George. Would you be saying the same thing if we/you got accepted? With the GRL and HMSA group we drive the cars a little differently because the cars are so valuable and at the end of the weekend we would like to put them back in our garages just as they were when we pulled them out.

Lastly, I certainly hope the GTA did not get accepted based on mine and Fabrizio's age. I can easily see the organizer looking at the D.O.B. and thinking "inexperienced, out of control kid". One must remember, if us "kids" weren't into vintage racing, it won't exist in 20 years and there will be nowhere to run these classics.

[super-racer]

I was pretty upset when I got the "rejection letter". I've been looking forward to this event for a while and now I have to watch from the grandstands...you know what...**** it...I wont even go!

[Bill77]

Unbelievable. Did they give any reason for the rejection?

[bobwass]

re: the bizarre denial of your gta!



Rules

General Racing places the origionality and period correct restoration above the potential speed of a car when accepting an entry for one of our events. We want to see cars as they were not what they could be using modern technology. Please look over our rules package before you apply or arive at an event. It will make your experience that much better if you are ready to run then having to change something at the track.

[George J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobwass re: the bizarre denial of your gta! Rules General Racing places the origionality and period correct restoration above the potential speed of a car when accepting an entry for one of our events. We want to see cars as they were not what they could be using modern technology. Please look over our rules package before you apply or arive at an event. It will make your experience that much better if you are ready to run then having to change something at the track.

[jrclem]

I assume that I will now have the pleasure of the Rimicci Bros & company @ Parump? Lets go racing guys!
I probably owe an apology to the "historic" contingent however...
Indeed, when you own an expensive old race car with significant "history" you would be foolish to go out and bash-it around with a bunch of hooligans, unless that was the deal you signed on for. In Briton they DO thrash around without regard to the historical value $$$. I once asked the owner of a magnificent Maserati 250 how he could justify pounding around Silverstone @ 11/10ths, knocking the wheels off... he pointed out that he employed the original shop manager and several "old world craftsmen" from the original Maserati factory... the very men who had built the actual car, and if he bent it, then they could fix it! We should all be in such a great position!
Absent such a fantasy situation, I don't begrudge owners of rare and irreplaceable machines from seeking a venue in which to display them in simulated vigor... but I do object to calling these historic displays "racing"! Yes, this would be my position even if I were invited to participate, which I would love to do.
There needs to be a clear divide between "Vintage Racing" (which should NOT BE CONFUSED with all out cut & thrust Pro/SCCA style racing... and should remain "a gentleman's [gentlewoman's] sport) and Historic displays involving rare and irreplaceable machines offered for public display.
George, the very fact that you drive your SZ to the Safeway (VERY BRAVE!!!) suggests that your participation in Historic events has little to do with "real" racing; but I would agree with you that dicing with a Lotus is a ball and also fun to watch! What goes on at the front of the pack in these events leads to a grey area that is very difficult to define, and indeed leads to many problems. I think we would all be better served if we would make a clear distinction between "Vintage Racing" and "Historics".

[italcarguy]

Can someome who is going please take a bunch of pics of the GTA's for me?

[George J]

I'll bring a camera. Keep the Oct 13 - 15 on your calender for the CSRG - Charity Challange. - George (o_v_o)

[italcarguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by George J I'll bring a camera. Keep the Oct 13 - 15 on your calender for the CSRG - Charity Challange. - George (o_v_o)

[George J]

Thanks Anthony. I'll be playing at the back of the pack. Hopefully I'll have a nice race with the Lotus Elite and a few other cars. With thirty-seven cars entered and almost all with bigger motors and full race prep I won't pretend to do more than go out and have a bit of fun. I expect I'll do ok with the camera! - George

[Todd]

Whats your car #George , I'll stop by and say hello on Saturday. Oh I see # 20 See ya Saturday