Eighteen different drivers climbed atop the podium during the weekend’s vintage racing, with six drivers sweeping their class’ races. Scott Fairchild led the way in Group 2 driving his 1978 Zink Z-10, while John Nash stayed out front in his 1962 Lotus Super Seven. In Group 6, Scott Borchetta continued his winning streak driving his 1969 Chevrolet Corvette. Driving his 1966 Ginetta G4, Thomas Grudovich won the Group 8 races, while Lewis Cooper Jr did the same driving his 2007 Panoz DP01 in Group 9. In Group 12, Robert Korzen won his first two races of the year driving his 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302.
In Group 5A, Thomas Kane won Race 1 driving a 1984 TIGA SC84. Mark Clark, who finished second in the group’s first race, went on to win Race 2 driving a 1990 Swift DB5. Group 5B also saw the second-place finisher in the first race go on to be victorious in the second race with Joey Bojalad winning Race 1 in a 1963 Elva MK VII, and Chris DeMinco winning Race 2 driving his 1971 Mallock 11B. In Group 11, Larry Connor in his 2005 Audi R8 LMP bested Clayton Eley during Race 1. However, it was Eley who finished first in Race 2 driving his 2018 Ligier JS P3.
Group 1 saw two different winners with Andrew McLean winning Race 1 in a 1958 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite, while Peter Uzdavinis won Race 2 in a 1964 MG Midget. In Group 10, Wally Dallenbach Jr. won the group’s first feature driving his 2000 Ford Mustang Cobra, while the second feature went to Lance Ausec in his 2000 Chevrolet Corvette. Michael Oritt won in Group 4 driving a 1959 Elva MK IV, while Hobart Buppert drove his 1969 Lola T70 MKIII to the Group 7 win.
The weekend also featured the awarding of the VIRginia International Raceway Gold Cup. A tradition since 1957, the Gold Cup trophy is awarded to recognize the heart and soul of the motor racing community. With previous recipients like Carroll Shelby, Roger Penske, Walt Hansgen and Paul Newman, SVRA’s John Nash was surprised with the Gold Cup Award. Nash, a native of Gulfport, Fla., got his start with SVRA as a graduate of the SVRA Driving School at Roebling Road. Now he’s a regular in the series, hauling his Lotus Super Seven to tracks across the East, covering everywhere from Sebring to Lime Rock to Indianapolis and Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
SVRA also celebrated the 60-plus-year motorsports career of Ceasar Cone, who competed in his final races during the VIR SpeedTour weekend. Cone, a resident of Charlotte, N.C., raced in both Group 3 and Group 8 competition with a duo of Alfa Romeo Duettos. With the crowd yelling “Hail, Ceasar!” a group of teammates and rivals gathered in camaraderie to celebrate a career well done.
For a full list of SVRA’s podium finishers at the VIR SpeedTour, visit SVRA.com.
Just three SpeedTour events remain on SVRA’s 2021 calendar. Utah Motorsports Campus, October 7-10, COTA, November 4-7, and the rescheduled Auto Club Speedway, November 19-22. SpeedTour Plus+ Pass subscribers will be able to watch the Austin SpeedTour live from COTA on the SVRA App, November 6-7. Download the SVRA App & subscribe, here: https://nagrasports.app.link/YHkRxfOxq7.
About SVRA:
Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) is the premier vintage racing organization in the United States. Founded in 1978, SVRA has grown steadily to 2,500 active members with a database of over 11,000 race cars. Race weekends take place at some of the finest racing venues in the United States, including Charlotte Motor Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sebring International Raceway, Road America, Watkins Glen International, Michelin Road Atlanta Raceway, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Portland International Raceway, Auto Club Speedway, Lime Rock Park, Sonoma Raceway and VIR. In 2013, SVRA hosted the first U.S. Vintage National Championships at COTA in Austin, Texas—a tradition it continues today. Find additional information on SVRA, a complete annual schedule, and entry lists on the SVRA website Be sure to check our Facebook page and YouTube channel, which currently boast a library of over 300 action-packed event videos, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Most SVRA races will be live-streamed on the SVRA app.