Some of you may follow what was going on this year in the Greatrace. This
cross-country rally for old cars is in it's 21st year. Originally it was
open only to pre-WW II cars. Then in the early mid-90's they developed a
tour division open to a wider range of cars. My wife competed with our 1954
XK120m. This year under new management the years were extended so that
sports cars from the 50's were eligible. I have been competing in Greatrace
events since 1989 and have competed in a 1938 SS100, 1936 Ford Tudor and
this year the Jag. The jag is an awesome car to rally in and I see why it
one so many rallies in the late 40's and 50's. It has one drawback though.
In the "M" configuration the ground clearance loaded is around 2.75 inches.
Not a problem on paved roads even the occasional patch of gravel. Grass is
another story and though I slam this car around race tracks and street
courses with Vintage race groups, and the car has the scars to prove it, I
do not drive on grass that I have not pre-walked above an idle.
This year for the first time in all those years and all those rallies,
between my partner, wife and I we are talking close to 60 events, they put
us on grass. It wound up to be a very short section, though you could not
see that when you entered it, but it cost me a cracked exhaust and grass
jammed into my exhaust.
Rally Partners Inc's, the new owners of Greatrace, official reaction is
that there was nothing wrong with the leg, their rules state that all
competition will be on paved roads only, and that I am basically a poor sport.
I also happen to be the VSCCA race chair for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand
Prix. If I pulled a rule change like that I would be skinned and quartered
there on the spot by over 130 entrants and a crowd of 75,000.
I would like to stress though that the Northeast Old Car Rallies held in
Millsboro, De in the fall and Millville, NJ in the spring do not run on
grass or non-paved roads and never will so for a great rally sign up for
the one in October. They hire Greatrace for the insurance more than
anything but the operative word here is HIRE.
The TR3 from out on the West Coast looked good on the rally. I was hoping
to be around them in competition one day. It would have been a hoot and
something out of the history books.
Ralph Steinberg
President
Cloverleaf Auto Service Inc
260 Bridgewater Road
Aston, Pa. 19014
610-364-3800
www.cloverleaf-auto.com
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