MISSION, BC – The 35th running of the “Titanium Ford” B.C. Historic Motor Races (BCHMR) took place under great weather conditions at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsports Circuit, Mission Raceway Park in Mission B.C. Vintage & historic racers from B.C., Alberta, Washington, Oregon, California and one entrant from England all came together for the two-day event (August 10-11, 2024) put on by the Vintage Racing Club of B.C. (VRCBC) and hosted by the Sports Car Club of B.C. (SCCBC).
GALLERY COURTESY BRENT MARTIN. STORY CONTINUED BELOW
There were four race groups this year consisting of Group “A” (Fast Cars, pre 1980), Group “B” (Faster Cars, pre 1980), Group “C” (Vintage cars from 1980-1999) and an Open Wheel/Sports Car group. This year there were also two feature races, on Saturday was the second round of the West Coast Sprite-Midget Challenge and Sunday featured the “Driver’s Edge” Spec Miata Race of Champions.
The BCHMR featured lots of exciting racing in the Group “A”, Group “B” and Group “C” divisions for closed wheel vintage production & improved production cars. Group “A” had five races with Langley Washington’s Michael Deilke in his 1969 BMW 2002 taking home the first two wins, Rossland B.C.’s Robin Strachan taking home wins in races three, four and five. There were also five races for Group “B” with Anthony Nadalin from Woodinville Washington in his 1965 FFR Challenge taking the race one win. In race two Mike Gibson from Langley B.C. in his 1998 Nissan 240SX took home the win. Race one winner Anthony Nadalin also took home the remaining three race wins in Group “B”. The Group “C” race one winner was Ryan O’Conner of Vancouver B.C. in his beautiful 1985 Chevrolet Camaro, The race two winner was Coquitlam B.C.’s Harry Watson in his 1990 Mazda Miata. Races three and four were won by Brad Zimmerman of Maple Ridge B.C. in a 1995 Nissan 240SX. Ryan O’Conner also took home the win in race number five. The final race of the weekend for the combined group “A”,”B” and “C” cars for the Jim Latham Memorial Trophy was won by Ryan O’Conner followed by Cameron Turtle in his 1979 Mazda RX7 and Jon Wright in a 1990 BMW E30
The Open Wheel/Sports Racer group also had five races over the weekend with John McCoy from Bellingham Washington in his 1986 Mallock Mk27 taking home the race one win. Abbotsford B.C.’s Christopher Britten took home the wins in races two, four and five in a 1999 Van Diemen RF99 and Alan Baker from Vancouver B.C. took home the win in race number three in a 1998 Van Diemen formula ford. Two of the fan favourites in the open wheel group were Marty Knoll from Creston B.C. in a 1975 Johnston JM3 Formula Atlantic car that use to race at the famous Westwood Motorsport Park in Coquitlam B.C. back in the days of the Players Formula Atlantic series. The other favourite was Langley B.C.’s Doug Seal in his beautifully prepared 1967 Lotus Type 41.
Saturdays feature race for the Sprite-Midget Challenge Series was won by Bill Okell (Victoria B.C.) in a 1992 MG Midget followed closely by Geoff Tupholme (Pritchard B.C.) in a 1970 MG Midget and Paul Quackenbush (Grants Pass OR) in a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite.
Sundays feature race for the “Drivers Edge” Spec Miata Challenge was won by Daniel Friedman (Vancouver B.C.) in a Speed-Fanatics Motorsports 1990 Mazda Miata followed by the Delta Velocity team of Mark Nickel (Surrey B.C.) in his 1990 Mazda Miata and Corey Macleod (Langley B.C.) 2001 Mazda Miata.
Once again this year several SOVREN racers from Washington and Oregon state made the trek up to Canada to battle for double SOVREN points and enjoy some great Canadian hospitality as well as make some new friends. This year the SOVREN Canada Cup was presented to Loren Campbell from Issaquah Washington who came north with his 1959 Austin Healey Sprite and was recognized for his unbridled enthusiasm for vintage racing as well as promoting the West Coast Sprite-Midget Challenge Series. The VRCBC was grateful for their participation and they all had nothing but great things to say about the event (a few of them even told the mayor of Mission how much they loved coming up to Mission year after year)and were planning on coming back in the future & bringing more SOVREN members with them.
The other trophies for the weekend were the Abbotsford Cup (Formula Vee racer Aaron Robbins), Westwood Trophy (Formula Ford racer Erle Archer). The SCCBC award for spirited driving was presented this year to Michael Deilke and his 1969 BMW 2002. The Battered Cup which nobody wants to win was awarded this year to Courtenay B.C.’s Michael Zbarsky in his 1988 Chevrolet Camaro who had several issues on the weekend. The final award for the weekend was the Chairman’s award that this year was presented by event chairperson Gayle Baird to Loren Campbell in his 1959 Austin Healey Sprite. (Gayle as usual did double duty during the weekend racing both her 1991 Honda Civic and 1964 Formula Vee). Even though there was no trophy (maybe there should be one next year), the furthest travelled award was Dr. Richard Bateman from Westerham Hill, Kent, Great Britain in a 1979 Datsun 210
At the end of the weekend everyone went home happy and excited about returning next year for the 36th running of this great event. The VRCBC would like to thank all the participants, volunteers, course marshals & emergency crew for making this year’s event another great success. VRCBC would like also to thank the B.C. Historic Motor Races title sponsor “Titanium Ford” and associate sponsors The Province of B.C., IWE Rear Ends Only, the Sports Car Club of B.C. & all the other program sponsors for their continued support.
For information on the 2025 B.C. Historic Motor Races visit vrcbc.ca or bchmr.ca
