The New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosted its annual Vintage Racing Celebration last week, split into 4 days with Thursday and Friday dedicated to the oval course, and the weekend brings a change with a move to the road course. On the “Oval” a good number of cars were out on display including midget, sprint, champ, Indy, modified and stock cars that will certainly provide a high speed exhibition of vintage racing, – racing around “The Magic Mile”.
On the weekend, the track will transform from the “Oval” and be reconfigured into the 1.6-mile road course for the rest of the weekend. Vintage racers from all over the world will test their skills against the winding road course. Racers will feature classic cars, and bikes as well a thrilling sidecar race with a very different version of the monkey you are used to seeing.
The event is appreciated by a close knit group of drivers who look to ensure these cars are seen and raced to ensure these cars do not get lost or forgotten about. One car out on the track was the first Chevy-powered Indy Car which won the Little 500 in Anderson, Indiana, which was a paved quarter mile in 1964. It was driven at Indy by Mike Magill and was built by Chuck Chenworth.
The Legends race topped off the weekends activities on Sunday with Reid Lanpher taking the chequered flag from Beaulieu in second with Buffington third, Bourgoine fourth, and Nick Ladyga rounded out the top five. After five races now, there have been five different winners on the Tour. Will we see winner number six next weekend when the cars return to NHMS for the first 2012 oval race at the track? It will be an interesting race for sure.
Racing is set to start around 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19th. You won’t want to miss it as this season has proven to be one of the most competitive with a new driver up front each week. For more info, news and how you can get into a Legends Car, please visit the Nelcar Legends tour website.
With all this vintage racing I am eagerly anticipating New England’s largest sporting events the two NASCAR events held in July and September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
West Coast Moto Jam 2012 Next Post:
American Le Mans Series – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca