Sports cars enthusiasts are always on the lookout for some great racing events around their area to attend as spectators or participants. There are several racing events that take place exclusively for vintage sports cars. Vintage cars may not have modern-day technologies, enthralling performance attributes compared to the cars today, or even design language, but they still stand out. Vintage cars operate in a realm of their own and they bring rich automotive history. This is one of the reasons collectors buy vintage cars and they are worth millions.
There are several racing events that allow car enthusiasts to travel back in time and witness some of the finest from an era they know very little about. A vintage racing car event is surely a fantastic view experience and there are several that take place around the globe.
Classic 24 Hour at Daytona
This event is famous among vintage and classic car fans ever since it was introduced in 2014. This racing event features cars that date back to the 1950s. The racing event includes a one-hour long session that continues for 24 hours. This coveted event is organized by Historic Sportscar Racing and it is held for two weeks at the Daytona International Speedway. Classic 24 Hour also features the Sprint Races, Daytona Historic events, and Endurance Series.
Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion
This racing event invites about 550 cars to participate in the racing event that is held during the Monterey Classic Car Week. The vehicles are accepted to compete on the basis of race prevalence, authenticity, and period that it belongs. If the car specifications fit the requirements set by the organizers, the vehicle is entered. The racing event features a variety of eras going back to 1910 and it is an exciting display of motor history. The prestigious racing event hosts 14 racing classifications and is truly a one-of-a-kind experience for car enthusiasts.
Velocity Invitational
This three-day racing event focuses on bringing together some of the most remarkable vintage cars. The event celebrates wheel-to-wheel racing, and the participating vehicles are prepared beforehand. The vintage cars are put into groups according to their period and motorsport heritage.
The latest event to be held was the 2021 iteration and it was organized at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The racing event welcomed nine vintage car groups and featured three racing that included vehicles from 1907 to 1972. The Velocity Invitational was originally named Sonoma Speed Festival, but it was later renamed.
US Vintage Grand Prix
There are several prestigious events that are held at Watkins Glen including SCCA Grand Prix, IndyCar Series, USA F1 Grand Prix, and NASCAR Cup Series to name a few. The trend picked up ever since the successful first SCCA Grand Prix held back in 1948. Among the various sporting events, one of the most prominent and iconic racing events to be held at the venue is the SVRA’s US Vintage Grand Prix.
This event is a way to relive the American racing legacy and to commemorate this the event gathers hundreds of vintage cars belonging to different eras, models, and makes. One of the highlights of the event is the Trans-Am championship.
Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66 GT Cars Championship
This racing event celebrates GT cars that were produced before 1966 with mini-endurance races. The Gentlemen Drivers Pre-66 GT Cars Championship classifies the vehicle based on its engine capacity and year of production. The vehicles are driven by one or several drivers as the race has pit stops and the race duration is long. This way the audience is provided a fantastic racing spectacle adding teamwork and strategy into the racing event.
For this event, the criteria to qualify are rather strict. Cars that have participated in at least one World Endurance Series held before 1966 and have an FIA Historic Technical Passport holder can take part in the event.
Masters Historic Formula One Championship
This event is exclusively for Formula One cars from the golden days and features vintage cars from 1966 to 1985 with a 3-liter engine. The event was initiated in 2013 and it is a three-day affair spanning over the weekend. The vintage cars are split into four-year classifications. Just like the Gentlemen Drivers, this event also only allows cars that hold an FIA Historic Technical Passport. Moreover, the cars that have Cosworth DFV engines are limited to 10,000rpm. The event is a great way to relive racing nostalgia as great sporting history comes together.
Monza Historic
This racing event also known as Autodromo Nazionale di Monza has had a layout that has remained the same ever since it started out. The event offers a racetrack that has only a few corners for cars to slow down and hence has earned the title ‘temple of speed’. This event includes cars from different racing circuits such as GTs, touring cars, sports cars, and prototypes that were produced between 1950-2000. As the time period allowed by the event is expansive, the event welcomes a rich variety of cars from different eras sporting different capabilities. In 2019, the vehicle that attained a top speed of 190.3 mph was the 1990 Nissan R90 CK.
Le Mans Classic
This 24-hour event started in 2002 and features cars that were made before 1979 only. The vehicles are classified into six groups based on time periods. Le Mans Classic is one of the most formidable events to be held spanning over 4 days. About 600 cars participate in the race, 85000 classic cars are displayed, and the event is attended by 195,000 people.
Bottom Line
Racecar enthusiasts can attend these one-of-a-kind vintage car events to get an opportunity to witness a congregation of different eras of motorsport history. The events mentioned above have garnered international recognition and are some of the most celebrated vintage racing events across the globe. Each of these events has a unique criterion that makes it stand out and interests car enthusiasts.
