"Normal" vs Vintage Racing

[Zonker]

Big difference is belt driven cooling fan and generator on Vintage (about a 4-hp draw) and treaded versus slick tires. Treads should last 5-6 weekends and slicks maybe 2-3 weekends. Vintage entries are slightly higher.

Another difference around here (CVAR) is that vintage FV runs the "Z bar" rear suspension, not the newer mono-shock. Usually have fields of 18-25 cars of varying speed; you will always have someone to race with.

[dereklola]

Real Racers start off at 11/10ths
- and slow down to 10/10ths when necessary.

Vintage Racers start off at 8/10ths or less
- and try to improve to 9/10ths, a few make 10/10ths.

RRs try hard to get good results.
VRs have fun and each race has a winner..

Chacun à son goût.

[Robert J. Alder]

Very good!!! Well said, with small editorial comments in RED:

Real Racers start off at 11/10ths
- and slow down to 10/10ths when necessary. And break a lot of stuff and probably piss off a number of fellow racers

Vintage Racers start off at 8/10ths or less (Except those who start out thinking they are Real Racers-- see #1 above))
- and try to improve to 9/10ths, a few make 10/10ths.

RRs try hard to get good results.
VRs have fun and each race has a winner.. (Pretty close to the mark, but don't take a racer at the front of a Vintage grid lightly. He/She can probably kick the butt of a "RR".)

Chacun à son goût.

As you said, "To each his own." Life is good.

[dereklola]

Chacun à son goût.
As you said, "To each his own." Life is good.

I always thought it meant "Everyone has gout."

[EYERACE]

Vintage Racing - you care to race
Racing - you care to win

[Daryl DeArman]

Vintage Racing - you care to race
Racing - you care to win

That's quite the wide brush you're painting with there.

There is a large subset of both types at each type of event.

[stonebridge20]

Vintage Racing - you care to race
Racing - you care to win

Um.........No.

[fitfan]

yea but don't get me started on what constitutes an "off" and a "4 off" - i got black flagged for 2 off's and never even went off track once!

my advice to the question is to pick the class that is most robust and active in your region, you will have more support and have more fun. more support both on and off track means it will become more affordable. Fords will theoretically be a bit more expensive than Vee's but in the end everyone is going to spend 20% more than their budget in order to be reliable and competitive no matter what.... i was shocked to hear what people spend to run spridgets/mg's

so go to a few races, hang out with them, figure out your tribe.... rather than just "picking a car" (which the latter is exactly what i did and thankfully it worked out wonderfully, but that was just dumb luck on my part)

if you have "no" racing experience - vintage might be more patient with you than modern scca/nasa - if you have the experaince to jump in and go - modern might make your life easier on track vs finding each vintage groups "vibe" on what they expect from you on track that can vary wildly from 'pile ups at turn 1 lap one, just another day!" to "you passed in a corner and thats just too dangerous!"

i've not found much difference in talent and motivation to win except that the back half of the pack tends to be far tighter and more competitive in modern, where in vintage that can often be a big gap. which is why i say vintage may be more patient and accommodating if your just starting out. the pointy end seems about the same to me as far as talent and speed.

i will say i had bit of a false opinion formed from "paddock talk" that was likely 2 decades out of date... about SCCA FF until i ran with them, it was a very positive experience.

In VARA, 4-off requires you to report to tech. Part of it is self-penalization, part of it is that 50 year-old cars have a higher chance of breakage in a rough off than something newer.

Contact? In my experience, punishment varies based considerably on the circumstances, how contrite you are, the amount of damage to the other car and injuries. Everything from a short suspension to being 13/13'd to a lifetime ban.

[problemchild]

Even the title thread is stupid.

There is nothing "normal" about club racers, whether attending races with SCCA, or other clubs, including the different vintage groups.
There is no common agenda among the racers in any class at any event with any organizer.
It really just comes down to matching your personal agenda with those that you end up being around, whether on track or in the paddock.

[TimH]

figure out your tribe.... rather than just "picking a car"

[Dee]

Whats this BS about " normal Racing",got news for you alot of great pros enjoy racing in Vintage like John Morton,Jeff Kline,Steve O hara,Dan Marvin Case Montgomery and I can go on.
Dee