By: SVRA 18 hours ago The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced that three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford has accepted the role of grand marshal for the June 14-17 Brickyard Invitational. Rutherford is the latest in a long list of Indianapolis 500 winners and Indy car champions to appear at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fathers’ Day weekend event. Rutherford served as grand marshal for the SVRA’s U.S. Vintage Racing National Championships for the golden Bell Racing National Champions Helmet trophy at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) last November.“All of us at SVRA are honored to have Johnny as our Grand Marshal at the Brickyard,” said SVRA CEO Tony Parella. “The fans there know him well for his brilliant drives for McLaren and the Chaparral Yellow Submarine. It’s an honor to work with such an icon and ambassador for our sport.”“The COTA event with SVRA more than lived up to my expectations for outstanding historic cars and quality vintage racing,” said Rutherford. “It’s always a great day to come back to Indy and have the opportunity to see so many familiar faces and engage some of the best racing fans in the world.”Rutherford’s career spanned 35 years, beginning in 1959 when he raced modified stock cars, and included Indianapolis 500 victories in 1974, ’76, and ’80. The 1980 triumph helped propel him to the Indy car championship that year. He won a total of 28 Indy car races during a storied career that also included three pole positions for the Indy 500 (1973, ’76, and ’80). Other career highlights include winning the 1965 United States Auto Club (USAC) sprint car championship and the 1963 Daytona 500 qualifying race for Smokey Yunick – back when the contest awarded championship points. He competed in 35 NASCAR races from 1963 to 1988 and was invited to the International Race of Champions (IROC) five times.

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Rutherford’s success and dignified manner earned him the affectionate nickname, “Lone Star JR,” with fans and media. Since retiring, Rutherford has stayed close to racing with a busy schedule that included serving as the IndyCar pace car driver, numerous media appearances including radio commentary for live race broadcasts, and public speaking. His eloquence and knowledge have earned him the reputation as one of the sport’s top goodwill ambassadors.The Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. A field of Indianapolis 500 veterans will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. The professionals will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting their stints at the wheel. The entry list for that event includes such top names as Al Unser Jr., Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, Max Papis and Willy T. Ribbs. Additional Indy 500 drivers will be announced as they enter in the coming weeks.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. The Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral is also returning, along with vintage motorcycle racing, and 500+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring a race car show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by track historian Donald Davidson will also take place.The weekend is also the second of three stops for the pre-1920 Exhibition Series during the season. The first is at Sonoma Raceway in June and the third at Watkins Glen in September.The Pre-1920 cars involved are extremely rare, in some cases the only example in existence. Long retired brands including Mercer, Packard, EMF, and Locomobile are part of the series. The National that finished seventh in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 is entered. These unique and amazing machines will be part of their own run group so, these are not static displays, they are real, running racers. These cars will also have a special paddock corridor with in-period tools, spares, and other equipment on exhibit. Drivers and riding mechanics will dress in the apparel of the early days, including leather helmets.SVRA sponsors Jaguar and Land Rover will also be on hand to present arrive and drive experiences. Anyone with a valid driver’s license and closed-toe shoes can drive the cars. Professional drivers will coach fans that want to challenge their skills and feel the performance of a Jaguar F-Type on a certified autocross course.

By: SVRA May 24, 2018 8:48 AM Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced one of the greatest icons in the history of motor racing will serve as Honorary Chief Steward for its Father’s Day weekend (June 14-17) Brickyard Invitational at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Bobby Unser will return to the scene of his most legendary triumphs from a sterling career.“All of us at SVRA understand what Bobby Unser means to race fans,” said SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella. “We are honored by Bobby’s continued support of SVRA and appreciate that all the Unser family have been a part of building this event.”Unser, affectionately known as “Uncle Bobby” to many in the sport, won the Indianapolis 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981. He also captured the national driving championship in 1968 and again in 1974 with a career total of 35 race wins and 52 poles. Known as a versatile talent, the International Hall of Fame driver won the 1975 International Race of Champions (IROC) series and scored more Pikes Peak Hill Climb victories than anyone in history. A proven winner in sprint cars and midgets, he also competed in NASCAR, Formula 1, and sports cars.An outstanding development driver, Unser is credited with much of the input to the design of the “Gurney Flap,” an integral element of racing wings. He was also vital to the development of the first in-house Penske chassis to win the Indianapolis 500. In the Brickyard Invitational weekends of 2014 and, ‘15 Unser led the event’s oval exhibition races and will play a role in that feature this year.“Tony Parella and his SVRA team run a first-class show for true racing fans,” Unser said. “I enjoy returning to the Speedway in an atmosphere that is so focused on honoring racing history – both cars and drivers.”The Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. A field of Indianapolis 500 veterans will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. The professionals will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting their stints at the wheel. The entry list for that event includes such top names as Al Unser Jr., Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, and Willy T. Ribbs. Additional Indy 500 drivers will be announced as they enter in the coming weeks.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. The Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral is also returning, along with vintage motorcycle racing, and 500+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring a race car show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by track historian Donald Davidson will also take place.The weekend is also the second of three stops for the Pre-1920 Exhibition Series during the season. The first is at Sonoma Raceway in June and the third at Watkins Glen in September.The pre-1920 cars involved are extremely rare, in some cases the only example in existence. Long retired brands including Mercer, Packard, EMF, and Locomobile are part of the series. The National that finished seventh in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 is entered. These unique and amazing machines will be part of their own run group so, these are not static displays, they are real, running machines. Those machines will also have a special paddock corridor with in-period tools, spares, and other equipment on exhibit. Drivers and riding mechanics will dress in the apparel of the early days, including leather helmets.SVRA sponsors Jaguar and Land Rover will also be on hand to present arrive and drive experiences. Anyone with a valid driver’s license and closed-toe shoes can drive the cars. Professional drivers will coach fans that want to challenge their skills and feel the performance of a Jaguar F-Type on a certified autocross course.

By: SVRA 3 hours ago The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association today announced that Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher are returning to race in this year’s Fathers’ Day Weekend Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fisher won the A-Production class of the contest last year, and St. James prepares for her fifth Pro-Am on June 16.“Both Lyn and Sarah are household names for racing fans, and it’s well deserved,” said Tony Parella, the CEO of SVRA. “Lyn has been an important supporter of SVRA, and I think Sarah really enjoyed herself last year, winning on her first try.”St. James (pictured above), a seven-time starter in the Indianapolis 500 and the event’s rookie of the year in 1992, raced in 15 Indy car races in her career. While many fans know Lyn best for her Indianapolis 500 achievements, she is an accomplished road racer and has earned numerous laurels at the wheel of a variety of racecars. She is a two-time competitor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1989 and ’91). She was even more successful in 62 IMSA GT events, amassing a record of six wins, 17 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes. Her 1985 GT victory at Watkins Glen remains the only time a woman has scored a win in that series driving solo.Lyn raced in the 12 Hours of Sebring nine times, winning the GTO class in 1990, and was a two-time winner in the GTO Class at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Lyn raced in 53 Trans Am races with seven top-five finishes. She has held 31 international and national closed circuit speed records and is a member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the SCCA Hall of Fame. She has competed in all of the Indy Legends Pro-Am races since 2014 and has raced in a variety of cars on different tracks at SVRA events. Lyn has also authored articles for SVRA’s Vintage Quarterly Magazine.Fisher is a veteran of nine Indy 500s, more than any other woman. She is also the first woman to compete full time in the Indy Car series. There she earned standout results as the first woman to earn a pole position with a record-setting performance at Kentucky Speedway in 2002. Also at Kentucky, she was the first woman to finish on the podium in 2000 and backed it up with a runner-up finish at Homestead in 2002. Fans voted her Indy Car’s Most Popular Driver for three consecutive years, 2001-’03. She won a similar trophy in 2005 in the NASCAR West Series. Fisher enjoyed early success winning championships in karting and quarter midgets. She climbed the ladder of midget and sprint cars, including World of Outlaws. After her driving career, she became the first woman to own a full-time Indy car team in 2008 and scored a victory with driver Ed Carpenter in 2011.The Indy Legends Pro-Am is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. The Indianapolis 500 veterans will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. The professionals will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting their stints at the wheel. Additional Indy 500 drivers will be announced as they enter in the coming weeks.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral, vintage motorcycle racing, and 500+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring a racecar show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by track historian Donald Davidson will also take place. Also, the Pre-1920 Race Exhibition cars will be on track along with a paddock area full of in-period equipment displays. The National that finished seventh in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 will be driven at speed.Brickyard Invitational ticket information: Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets for all or any one of the four days of the event online through the Speedway or by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Fans can also visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at 4790 West 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. Children 15 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult. Tent camping passes in the IMS infield start at $30 and are available all four days.

By: SVRA May 31, 2018 12:36 PM The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced that Geoff Brabham, Scott Harrington and Tom Bagley are returning to race in this year’s Father’s Day Weekend Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The field of Indianapolis 500 veterans for the June 16 race is nearly complete.“This will be our fifth running of the Pro-Am and interest remains extremely strong,” said Tony Parella, the CEO of SVRA. “We are honored to have all these drivers return to this very special event. In particular, Geoff Brabham has enjoyed SVRA success. In addition to three impressive runs in the Indy Legends Pro-Am, he has scored several open-wheel wins with Ron Hornig’s 1971 Brabham BT-35 at both IMS and COTA. ”Brabham is a 10-time starter in the Indianapolis 500, with a best finish of fourth in 1983. He was active in the Indy car series during the 1980’s recording eight podium finishes and 31 top tens. Brabham was a master of sports car racing and the star driver of the dominant Nissan team that won four successive IMSA GTP championships from 1988 through 1991. During this time he scored an amazing 23 overall victories. He also won the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 1989 and 1991 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1981 Can-Am series championship.Brabham’s outstanding career earned him six invitations to compete in the elite IROC series where he won two races. He began racing Formula Fords in Australia in 1973 and won the 1975 Australian Formula 2 championship and the 1979 Formula Super Vee championship before reaching the top levels of the sport. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Australian Hall of Fame this year.Bagley is one of those drivers who accomplished much with limited resources. A three-time Indianapolis 500 starter, he was Indy car rookie of the year in 1978. He competed in 42 Indy car races with top-four finishes on three occasions and placing in the top ten 23 times during a period when some of the greatest legends in history were at the zenith of their careers.Scott Harrington (above) began his motorsports career on two wheels, earning success in both AMA Motocross and Supercross. He transitioned to four wheels racing in Formula Atlantic and SCCA Can-Am, where he won the 1992 series championship. He earned a starting spot in the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and later won the rookie-of-the-year award for the series in 1999, his first year running the full season. This will be Harrington’s fifth Indy Legends Pro-Am.The Indy Legends Pro-Am is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. The Indianapolis 500 veterans will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. The professionals will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting their stints at the wheel. The full field of Indy 500 drivers will be announced the week of the race.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral, vintage motorcycle racing, and 500+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12.An oval exhibition featuring a racecar show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by track historian Donald Davidson will also take place. Also, the Pre-1920 Race Exhibition cars will be on track along with a paddock area full of in-period equipment displays. The National that finished seventh in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 will be driven at speed.

By: SVRA June 5, 2018 9:59 AM The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced that Canadian superstar driver Ron Fellows will join the field as a second promoter’s option for the June 16 fifth annual Indy Legends Pro-Am at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The other promoter’s option entry is NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, whose entry with legendary crew chief Ray Evernham as co-driver was filed several weeks ago.“This event has been a tremendous success for us, but I’m looking to keep it fresh,” said Tony Parella, the CEO of SVRA. “We’ll always focus on Indy 500 veterans, but there are a lot of tremendous drivers like Ron who never had the opportunity to compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in high profile competition. I believe we can give this event an International Race of Champions (IROC) feel.”Related

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Fellows built an exceptional career in auto racing both at the wheel and on the business side. He is one of Trans Am’s most prolific winners with 20 overall victories, but that is just the tip of an iceberg of success. During a driving career that dates back to the early 1980s, he amassed an amazing record of championships and victories across a dazzling array of disciplines. Just some of his major accomplishments include 25 ALMS wins from 2000 through 2006 where he also won three consecutive GTS class driver’s championships. He was the overall winner in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2001 and brought home two first-place GTS class trophies at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001 and 2002.

In some corners of the sport, Ron is best known for his NASCAR accomplishments in all three of the sanctioning body’s top series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide (now Xfinity), and trucks. Referred to in the media as a “ringer,” Ron was one of the drivers teams brought to road courses because of their exceptional abilities in that discipline. He was particularly successful in Nationwide where he picked off four victories to go along with eight other top-five finishes. In the truck series, he scored two wins and two thirds in just 15 races. Always a threat in his 25 Cup appearances he earned five top-ten finishes including two as runner-up.Fellows began to wind down his driving career in 2008 but returned in 2010 with the assistance of business executive Dave Roberts — who will share his 1969 Camaro with him in the Pro-Am — he returned to compete in three SCCA World Challenge GT races, winning two of them.

His most recent Trans Am appearance was a one-off deal in 2014 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) where he shocked the field by scoring an overall win after an 18-year absence.Other top names who will line up at the famous yard of bricks include Al Unser, Jr., Paul Tracy, Willy T. Ribbs, Geoff Brabham, and Davey Hamilton. Sarah Fisher, the defending champion of the A Production class, and Max Papis, who won B Production last year, are also looking to drink more milk.The Indy Legends Pro-Am is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. Professional drivers will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. They will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting their stints at the wheel.

Additional Indy 500 drivers will be announced as they enter in the coming weeks.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral, vintage motorcycle racing, and 500+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring a racecar show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by track historian Donald Davidson will also take place. Also, the Pre-1920 Race Exhibition cars will be on track along with a paddock area full of in-period equipment displays.

The National that finished seventh in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 will be driven at speed.Brickyard Invitational ticket information: Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets for all or any one of the four days of the event online through the Speedway or by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Fans can also visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at 4790 West 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. Children 15 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult. Tent camping passes in the IMS infield start at $30 and are available all four days.

By: SVRA 18 hours ago The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced that the field is set for the June 16 fifth annual Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented by RACER Magazine at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year’s June 14-17 Brickyard Invitational has attracted an elite gathering of top drivers, including champions of the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, NASCAR, Le Mans, the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Trans Am, 12 Hours of Sebring, and classic short track racing with sprint cars and midgets.“Our fifth running of the Pro-Am promises to be the best yet,” said Tony Parella, the CEO of SVRA. “With our promoter’s option entries it has an IROC feel to it, and I think it is very fitting that we announce a new sponsorship with our friends at RACER Magazine.”

“RACER has followed the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am with keen interest and reported on it both at RACER.com and the magazine since its inception in 2014,” said Paul Pfanner, founder, CEO, and executive publisher at RACER Magazine. “Tony and his SVRA team have created a vintage race that has become a part of the mainstream motorsports conversation. We’re proud that it is now called, the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented by Racer Magazine.”Some of the top names who will be lining up at the famous yard of bricks include Al Unser, Jr., Bill Elliott, Paul Tracy, Willy T. Ribbs, Geoff Brabham, and Davey Hamilton. Sarah Fisher, the defending champion of the A Production class, and Max Papis, who won B Production last year, are looking to drink more milk. Three-time Indianapolis 500 champions Johnny Rutherford and Bobby Unser will oversee the entire weekend as Grand Marshal and Honorary Chief Steward. IMS Track Historian Donald Davidson will serve as master of ceremonies.

The charity event will benefit IGNITE – the Autism Society of North Carolina’s community center for young adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. IGNITE was founded by The Evernham Family Racing for a Reason Foundation – a nonprofit established by legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham and his family. The Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented by RACER Magazine also supports the Morgan Adams Foundation founded to fight children’s cancer by the parents of Morgan Adams, a five-year-old girl who lost her battle with brain cancer in 1997. The foundation has a history of working with vintage racers to support their cause.

The Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented by RACER Magazine is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. The cars are 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. The professionals will be paired with amateur drivers. New rules this year include the requirement that the Pros qualify the cars and that is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, June 15. Also, amateur drivers will start the race and be required to drive a maximum of seven laps.

The final Pro-Am entry is Rick Treadway, who raced in the Indy car series for two years, qualifying for the 2002 Indianapolis 500. He is the son of Fred Treadway, who won the 1997 Indianapolis 500 as a car owner. Treadway is a veteran of four Indy Legends Pro-Am races.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. Paul Tracy is pulling double-duty this weekend with his second appearance of the year driving Doug Peterson’s #87 Camaro in the TA 2 class. Tracy finished seventh in his return to professional racing at Road Atlanta in March.

“I went into the race testing myself to see if I could still be competitive,” Tracy said. “I think I not only demonstrated that, but also I had a lot of fun. These Trans Am cars and drivers are the real deal and I’d like to figure out if I can be more involved in the series.”The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral, vintage motorcycle racing, and 300+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring the iconic 1950’s roadsters will close the day on both Saturday and Sunday. Also, the Pre-1920 Race Exhibition Series cars will be on track along with a paddock area full of in-period equipment displays. Former Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-Year Lyn St. James will be among the drivers of those cars. She has also lined up a ride with SVRA star Bruce Hamilton for the Sunday enduro in his Indy Lights car. Geoff Brabham is entered in a Brabham BT-35 in the weekend’s Group 2 open wheel races.

Brickyard Invitational ticket information: Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets for all or any one of the four days of the event online through the Speedway or by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Fans can also visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at 4790 West 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. Children 15 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult. Tent camping passes in the IMS infield start at $30 and are available all four days.

By: RACER Staff 12 hours ago Fans new to the sport of vintage racing and trying to get their heads wrapped around what is actually taking place can only do it one way — by coming to the track and experiencing it. Without a first-hand look, it’s easy to see the show as a confusing hodgepodge of old cars and aging drivers.“I have talked to people who were once great fans of racing but have turned away because they feel like it has changed,” says Indianapolis Motor Speedway track historian Donald Davidson. “I tell them to come to the Brickyard Invitational because it is, in many ways, what racing used to be.”The Brickyard Invitational is part reunion, part industry convention, and entirely a good time. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the drivers and teams still want to win their races. This is especially true among the Indy 500 veterans and other professionals who come for the chance to relive their glory days in the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented By RACER Magazine.Related

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“I recall speaking with Lyn St. James a couple of years ago and she spoke of a special bond among her peers,” Davidson adds. “People think all the Pros just naturally know each other, but many never raced against each other. Still, they recognize names and faces from media coverage of the ‘500.’ What connects them is that they all share a special bond. They all raced in the Indianapolis 500.”

Click: https://racer.com/gallery/2018-brickyard-invitational/

2018 Brickyard Invitational



The SVRA event has become a networking opportunity where people connect and reconnect. St. James met SVRA regular Bruce Hamilton at the 2014 Brickyard Invitational. Since then they have shared his 2008 Indy Lights racer as co-drivers in 60- and 90-minute “enduros” at IMS and other tracks. Darren Manning and John Martin are two drivers who never shared the same track before competing in the Pro-Am event. Now they are collaborating in a coaching and driver development business for aspiring young drivers and vintage drivers on a quest to improve their skills. Another example is Willy T. Ribbs and Al Unser Jr., who recently formed a similar business called Unser-Ribbs Vintage Racing.“I have known my little brother Al for over 30 years, but over time we didn’t really stay close,” says Ribbs. “I give full credit to Tony Parella for helping both of us stay relevant and find a renewed life in racing. Since Al and I both raced in the first Pro-Am back in 2014, we became very close friends, like family. I’m excited about going into business with him and seeing if we can create some new adventures.”Understanding the Brickyard Invitational weekend, or any SVRA weekend is all about soaking in the wide variety of race car design, engine sounds, and even smells. The grounds at IMS this week is packed with over 300 racecars and the transporters and motorcoaches associated with them. The cars range in vintage across a span of 100 years from the Pre-1920 Race Car Exhibition Series to 21st-century sports car prototypes, Formula One machines, and Indy cars.“This weekend has a great vibe,” says Chris Gardner, an enthusiast of Hoosier history who goes by the Instagram handle, ‘Indiana Junkie.’ “The relaxed atmosphere is just pure fun. Everything is so accessible. You can roam the garage areas and even poke your head under the hood of some amazing machines. No credentials are necessary. It’s good to share with your family. Kids get in free and can go into the garage areas too.”Scott Gauger is an Indianapolis resident who has a long history of signing onto pick-up team roles for race teams in May who need extra hands for the month. Scott has a couple of winner’s rings to show for it, including one for being part of Takuma Soto’s team in 2017.“This is a wonderful event and the more a person roams the IMS grounds, the more racers and history you come across,” Gauger relates. “You might walk into a garage and find a guy like Johnny Rutherford just standing there, looking at an Indy roadster.”Rutherford served as grand marshal for the weekend and spent a great deal of time simply tooling around in a golf cart to visit old friends or check an interesting car. The Patrick Petroleum Special he drove in the 1969 Indianapolis 500 was speeding around the circuit this weekend. When asked about his grand marshal role, the three-time Indianapolis 500 champion chuckled.“It sure sounds important, doesn’t it?” Rutherford says with a smile. “Oh, they ask me to do a few ceremonial things like give the command for the Pro-Am drivers to start their engines or do an autograph session, but mostly it’s about fellowship and camaraderie. This atmosphere is so informal, so relaxed, compared to the hectic, high pressure of competing in the Indianapolis 500 or other major races. I really enjoy just chatting with fans and listening to their stories about watching all us old guys race years ago.”In a similar role as “Chief Steward” was another three-time Indy 500 winner, Bobby Unser. He doesn’t get around as fast as he used to, but his mind and biting wit are sharp as ever. Still a most recognizable character, “Uncle” Bobby motored his golf cart about the grounds so much that at times he seemed ubiquitous. Fans called his name and he coasted to a stop to sign any number of pictures of his old cars, models, and checkered flags.Other big-name drivers without assigned roles can be found roaming the grounds like any other fan. Scott Goodyear, perhaps the best-known Indy 500 runner-up of the last 50 years, was seen catching up with fellow Canadian and Pro-Am driver Ron Fellows. As he walked, he was greeted by fans and acquaintances of the past, some seeking a conversation, others an autograph.The informality of the entire weekend is exemplified by how several of the Pros raced in other events beyond the Pro-Am. Max Papis rode a motorcycle in the vintage moto sessions and races. Bill Elliott and Ray Evernham brought other cars and ran in enduros, as did Davey Hamilton and Lyn St. James. Geoff Brabham continued his winning ways in SVRA with another victory driving Ron Horning’s 1971 Brabham BT-35 in Group 2.In addition to the drivers, many of the SVRA crews have professional mechanics and engineers who previously competed at the highest levels of the sport. Jay Creech, of Jay Creech Motorsports in Avon, Indiana just west of Indianapolis, was previously a top mechanic with IndyCar and Indy Lights teams of Gerry Forsythe and Ron Hemelgarn. He saw an opportunity for a good living and a more enjoyable career path by opening a prep shop to support vintage racers.“Vintage racing in general and this weekend, in particular, is just so enjoyable for everyone,” says Creech. “The competition is serious but never ruthless. I love the camaraderie. People help one another, even your competitors. It’s the way I remember racing used to be.”-Mark Dill

By: SVRA | June 5, 2018 9:59 AM The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced that Canadian superstar driver Ron Fellows will join the field as a second promoter’s option for the June 16 fifth annual Indy Legends Pro-Am at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The other promoter’s option entry is NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, whose entry with legendary crew chief Ray Evernham as co-driver was filed several weeks ago.“This event has been a tremendous success for us, but I’m looking to keep it fresh,” said Tony Parella, the CEO of SVRA. “We’ll always focus on Indy 500 veterans, but there are a lot of tremendous drivers like Ron who never had the opportunity to compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in high profile competition. I believe we can give this event an International Race of Champions (IROC) feel.”

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Geoff Brabham enters SVRA Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am

Hamilton, Parsons, Kite, Beechler return to Indy Legends Pro-Am

Vasser, Tracy return to SVRA Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am

Fellows built an exceptional career in auto racing both at the wheel and on the business side. He is one of Trans Am’s most prolific winners with 20 overall victories, but that is just the tip of an iceberg of success. During a driving career that dates back to the early 1980s, he amassed an amazing record of championships and victories across a dazzling array of disciplines. Just some of his major accomplishments include 25 ALMS wins from 2000 through 2006 where he also won three consecutive GTS class driver’s championships. He was the overall winner in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2001 and brought home two first-place GTS class trophies at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001 and 2002.In some corners of the sport, Ron is best known for his NASCAR accomplishments in all three of the sanctioning body’s top series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide (now Xfinity), and trucks. Referred to in the media as a “ringer,” Ron was one of the drivers teams brought to road courses because of their exceptional abilities in that discipline. He was particularly successful in Nationwide where he picked off four victories to go along with eight other top-five finishes. In the truck series, he scored two wins and two thirds in just 15 races. Always a threat in his 25 Cup appearances he earned five top-ten finishes including two as runner-up.Fellows began to wind down his driving career in 2008 but returned in 2010 with the assistance of business executive Dave Roberts — who will share his 1969 Camaro with him in the Pro-Am — he returned to compete in three SCCA World Challenge GT races, winning two of them. His most recent Trans Am appearance was a one-off deal in 2014 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) where he shocked the field by scoring an overall win after an 18-year absence.Other top names who will line up at the famous yard of bricks include Al Unser, Jr., Paul Tracy, Willy T. Ribbs, Geoff Brabham, and Davey Hamilton. Sarah Fisher, the defending champion of the A Production class, and Max Papis, who won B Production last year, are also looking to drink more milk.The Indy Legends Pro-Am is the Saturday feature event of the Brickyard Invitational. Professional drivers will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA “Group 6” A and B Production. They will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting their stints at the wheel. Additional Indy 500 drivers will be announced as they enter in the coming weeks.In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Invitational including the Sunday, June 17 feature race by the professional Trans Am series headed by 2017 champion and emerging superstar, 20-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. The weekend also presents the Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral, vintage motorcycle racing, and 500+ vintage racers ranging over 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring a racecar show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by track historian Donald Davidson will also take place. Also, the Pre-1920 Race Exhibition cars will be on track along with a paddock area full of in-period equipment displays. The National that finished seventh in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 will be driven at speed.Brickyard Invitational ticket information: Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets for all or any one of the four days of the event online through the Speedway or by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Fans can also visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at 4790 West 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. Children 15 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult. Tent camping passes in the IMS infield start at $30 and are available all four days.

By: SVRA | August 7, 2018 8:39 AM Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) announced today that two of the biggest names from NASCAR history have entered a new Pro-Am race at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) on September 22. NASCAR Cup champion Bill Elliott, who has raced with SVRA on several occasions, will be joined by 2000 NASCAR Cup champion Bobby Labonte in the American Racing Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented By RACER Magazine.

The new Pro-Am for NASCAR legends builds on the successful momentum of the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented By RACER Magazine. That event has been held annually since 2014 during SVRA’s Brickyard Invitational weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in June.

The VIR event will benefit IGNITE – the Autism Society of North Carolina’s community center for young adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. IGNITE was founded by The Evernham Family Racing for a Reason Foundation – a nonprofit established by legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham and his family.Evernham will share a car with Elliott as the amateur of the team in the VIR race. The two have raced in the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented By RACER Magazine the past three years.“I have thoroughly enjoyed my growing relationship with Ray Evernham who has been instrumental in making this Pro-Am with NASCAR stars possible,” said SVRA CEO Tony Parella. “Having Bobby join us for the first time at VIR underscores the level of interest in this event. Stay tuned, because there is plenty more to follow.”

Labonte is the first driver to win both the NASCAR Cup Championship (2000), and the Busch Series Championship (1991). He backed up those accomplishments by winning the elite 2001 IROC Championship with two victories in the season’s four races. In a NASCAR Cup career that spanned 24 seasons Labonte amassed 21 race wins and 26 poles. In what is now the Xfinity Series he scored 10 race wins and 10 poles. He is one of a handful of drivers to score victories in all of NASCAR’s top three series: Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks.Already inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame, Labonte is a nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He has extended his career since leaving NASCAR Cup racing in 2016, both as a driver and motorsports analyst. He is currently running a full season in the NASCAR Euro Whelen Series. He also serves as an analyst for Fox Sports 1 (FS1) Race Hub and Race Day TV programs.

Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR Cup champion, is one of the most accomplished drivers in American auto racing. He scored 44 race wins at NASCAR’s highest level including the 1985 and 1987 Daytona 500s. While he was previously well established as a top driver on the NASCAR scene, it was in 1985 when he won the “Winston Million” for victories in three of the series’ marquee races: the Daytona 500, the Southern 500 and the Winston 500 that he broke through to superstar status. His million-dollar bonus for the achievement earned him the nickname, “Million Dollar Bill.”

Elliott has been inducted into both the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Bill’s son Chase is currently a NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series driver for arguably the most heralded team in the sport, Hendrick Motorsports.

In addition to the new Pro-Am, the professional Trans Am presented by Pirelli Series will join SVRA at VIR. Trans Am and SVRA continue to leverage growth for both series by sharing the track at eight event weekends in 2018. This approach delivers a motorsports festival atmosphere. Fans can expect more of the Hagerty Insurance “show and shine” car corrals and a marketplace of accessory, memorabilia, art, and apparel vendors. The event includes an entire weekend of racing with hundreds of vintage cars competing in a variety of classifications.