The U.S. Vintage Grand Prix was held September 10-13th, 2009 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.
Sanctioned by SVRA, the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix is perennially one of the largest vintage car races in the country and this year was no exception, with more than 400 entrants taking to the 3.4 mile road circuit.
In addition to the featured marque Morgan, there was a special tribute to the racing career of Lyn St. James.
“The fact that we are yet again one the largest vintage racing events in the country, is a testament to the drawing power our historic road course,” said Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International. “There is no better place to celebrate the history of racing and the career of Lyn St. James than in this great town of Watkins Glen, and no better time of year than to honor these cars than in the fall in Upstate New York.”
The weekend also included the Grand Prix Festival presented by the Chemung Canal Trust Co. in the village of Watkins Glen on Friday, September 11th where Lyn St. James was inducted into the “Walk of Fame” by the Village of Watkins Glen and served as the Grand Marshal for the reenactment.
Group One Results
1. Pat Ryan, Asheville, NC – 1967 Triumph Spitfire
2. John McCue, Charleston, WV – 1972 MG Midget
3. Charles Guest, Greensboro, NC, 1967 MG Midget
Group Two Results
1. Philip Harris, Powell, OH – 1968 Brabham BT23c
2. Ted Wentz, Villanova, PA – 1968 Brabham BT23c
3. Dave Handy, Semora, NC – 1969 Brabham BT29
Group Three Results
1. Watkins/Tillinger, Allegany, NY – 1967 Datsun 2000
2. Bob Colaizzi, Dayton, OH – 1964 Lotus Super 7
3. Butch McKenzie, Burlington, NC – 1966 MGB
Group Four Results
1. Robert Bodin, Spring Park, MN – 1957 Devin Chevrolet
2. Glenn Stephens, Alpharetta, GA – 1956 Lotus Eleven
3. Bob Wechsler, Delray Beach, FL – 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Group Five Results
1. Phil Harris, Powell, OH – 1970 Lola T210
2. Farrell Preston, Largo, FL – 1965 McLaren M1B
3. Bill Thumel, Virginia Beach, VA – 1967 Lola T70
Group Six Results
1. Chris Hines, Scottsdale, AZ – 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
2. Sean Ryan, Biltmore Lake, NC – 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
3. John Farano, Toronto, ON – 1971 Chevrolet Corvette
Group Seven Results
1. Joe Blacker, Columbia, MD – 1978 Lola T298
2. Joel Finn, Roxbury, CT – 1972 Chevron B21/23
3. David Clubine, Brantford, ON – 1987 Swift DB2
Group Eight Results
1. Chip Vance, Dublin, OH – 1971 Porsche 914/6
2. Frank Beck, Phoenix, AZ – 1972 Porsche 914/6
3. Les Gonda, Keswick, VA – 1972 MGB/GT V8
Group Nine Results
1. Travis Engen, Weston, CT – 1997 Lola T97/20
2. David Porter, Darien, CT – 1997 Lola T97/20
3. Mark Brannon, Paradise Valley, AZ – 1997 Lola T97/20
Group Ten Results
1. Bill Hawe, Hollis, NH – 1985 Porsche 962
2. Jeff Bernatovich, Breweryon, NY – 1990 Chevrolet Corvette
3. Chris Musante, Coventry, CT – 1972 Porsche 911
Click for additional results: U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen Final Results
U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen Photo Gallery
[envira-gallery id=”109985″]
[Source: Photo credit: Al Wolford and John Stone]
Great photos and it looked like a fantastic meeting, until I saw the rain shots! Nice to know that its not only England that has changeable weather.
especially in a car not paid for hey!!
Great photos and reminds me how far Singapore is from upstate New York. Photo 35 does not look like any of the Matich SR3 I recall from my native Sydney. Can anyone clarify please??
Tony –
Thanks for your comment. We used the official SVRA entry list to identify the cars and it lists the car in photo 35 as a 1967 Matich SR3.
Wish we could offer more, but we admit to not being intimately familiar with the Matich SR3 to fully answer your question.
Hopefully someone else will chime in.
Best,
SCD
Thanks The Matich cars were built in Sydney in small numbers. I’m not expert on the marque by any meams, but I recall SR3 and SR4 sports cars and then a series of Formula 5000 openwheeler models (again as best I remember)A50 and later A51. All were the brainchildren of Frank Matich, an incredibly talented Aussie who ventured offshore (including to CanAm and L&M races)only seldom.
I’m almost certain the photo is not of a Matich, but I am intrigued to know waht it is???
Cheers tony
It always is jarring to see cars in vintage races that I remember seeing when they were new race cars. The Borax Lola brings back memories of F5000 with Brian Redman at Elkhart Lake. Thank you for the great shots.
Looks like a great event, and some great photos. Thanks for sharing. Nathan
The Matich SR3 was originally bought by Marvin Webster and much later re-bodied. There was an SR3 which ran in Australia which was also re-bodied and looked much the same. The original much prettier body can still be seen on Keith Berryman’s car today. Does the program say what engine the SR3 is running? I believe it ran an alloy donovan Chev block in more recent years but it was originally 4.4 litre Olds and Matich himself ran the 4.3 litre Repco-Brabham engine. I would be interested to know more about the current specs of this SR3 based in Amreica. Aaron.
Aaron
Thanks for the clarification. Ive seen Keith Berrymans car in Aus in relatively recent times, but Ive certainly never seen the rebodied model – that I can recall.
Cant help you on the motor other than confirming my recollection on the Repco motor
Rgds tony