Sportscar Vintage Racing Association

Last updated
Sportscar Vintage Racing Association
Headquarters Decatur, Georgia
Website www.svra.com

The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) is an American automobile club and sanctioning body that supports vintage racing in the United States. [1] The organization was founded in 1981, and is regarded as the premier vintage racing organization in the U.S.

Contents

Along with conducting official race meets, SVRA events also include car shows, auto auctions, vendors, and other activities promoting the "car culture". The organization encourages the restoration, preservation, and racing of historically significant automobiles that are configured as closely as possible to their original design and construction. [1]

Venues

The 2021 SVRA season comprises 17 events at road courses across the country: [2]

Former venues include:

The SVRA runs a "triple crown" for historic sports cars, the Vintage Race of Champions. These three events are the organisation's marquee events and the VROC, featuring pro-am fields, is featured in these three venues:

The VROC is suspended for 2021 because of fan restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Race car groups

The SVRA currently recognizes 12 car groups, with criteria based on car type, age, engine displacement, horsepower, original class placement, and other various technical specifications. [3] The organization largely requires participants to keep the cars as true to their original form as possible, however, certain modern safety modifications are required.

Group 1

1962 Austin Cooper. 1962 Austin Cooper.jpg
1962 Austin Cooper.

Recognized small displacement production sports cars and sedans
Examples:

Group 2

Group 2 racers at Watkins Glen. Group 2 at the Glen.jpg
Group 2 racers at Watkins Glen.

Pre-1973 Formula cars.
Examples:

Group 3

Group 3 racers at Watkins Glen. Group 3 at the Glen.jpg
Group 3 racers at Watkins Glen.

Recognized series-produced sports cars and sedans in production prior to 1972.
Examples:

Group 4

1958 Lister Jaguar. 1958 Lister Jaguar.jpg
1958 Lister Jaguar.

Limited produced sports cars, racing "specials" and GT cars built or in production prior to 1960.
Examples:

Group 5

1969 Ford GT40. 1969 Ford GT40.jpg
1969 Ford GT40.

World Sports Car Championship and World Manufacturer's Championship GT's and prototypes as raced between 1960 and 1972. USRRC sports cars and Can-Am cars as raced before 1969 with invited later models. Front engine "specials" as raced after 1959.
Examples:

Group 6

1967 Sunoco Camaro Z28. 1967 Sunoco Camaro Z28.jpg
1967 Sunoco Camaro Z28.
1967 Jaguar XKE. 1967 Jaguar XKE.jpg
1967 Jaguar XKE.

Selected big-bore production sports cars and sedans through 1972. This is the group that is utilized for the Vintage Race of Champions (VROC) pro-am series, which includes the Indy Legends Charity Pro–Am race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Examples:

Group 7

1969 Lola T70 MkIIIb. 1969 Lola T70 MkIIIb (2).jpg
1969 Lola T70 MkIIIb.

World Championship for Makes sports cars as raced after 1970 on slicks. Under 2.0-liter sports cars as raced after 1972. Center-seat Can-Am cars. SCCA, ASR & BSR, Sports 2000.
Examples:

Group 8

1971 Datsun 240Z. 1971 Datsun 240Z.jpg
1971 Datsun 240Z.

Recognized series-produced sports cars and sedans in production prior to 1979, and later cars by invitation.
Examples:

Group 9

1970 Chevron B17B. 1970 Chevron B17B.jpg
1970 Chevron B17B.

Wings and slicks formula cars complying with SVRA post-1973 formula car regulations.
Examples:

Group 10

1975 Chevrolet Monza. 1975 Chevrolet Monza.jpg
1975 Chevrolet Monza.

Selected IMSA and FIA/GT sports cars and sedans as raced between 1973 and 1999. NASCAR Cup/Busch series stock cars. Production-based contemporary cars.
Examples:

Group 11

GTP/Group C, ALMS, PSCR, WSC, Grand Am, and WeatherTech Championship prototype cars as raced from 1981 to five years before the current date. SVRA may permit cars that are deemed obsolete by rules, such as the 2003-16 Daytona Prototype chassis, made obsolete after the 2016 season, before the five-year rule is applied. Tube frame Trans Am and IMSA GTS, GTO and FIA-GT cars as raced from 1981 to specified cut-off date (five years, but SVRA may permit cars once their GT3/GT4 homologation has expired to participate). Production-based contemporary cars based on performance history as raced from 1999 to 5 years prior to calendar year or homologation has expired (car cannot be used in current sportscar racing). Can-Am and A Sports Racing cars as raced after 1967 on slicks, over 6.0 Liters. Center-seat Can-Am cars on slicks over 5.0 Liters.
Examples:

Group 12

Select GT sports cars and sedans raced between 1973 and 5 years prior to today's date or when homlogation has expired. These are Production-based cars such as the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge or any other stock / prepared racing series once their homologation has expired. Early IMSA GTO and GTU small bore cars will be accepted on an individual basis. SVRA may permit a car no longer permitted in the Pilot Challenge or other similar series to participate in SVRA without regards to the five-year rule.
Examples:

Annual Awards

United States Vintage Racing National Championship

On October 25–27, 2013, SVRA held the inaugural United States Vintage Racing National Championship at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas. 500 vintage race cars competed in twelve classes with a national champion crowned in each class.

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References

  1. 1 2 "SVRA Today". SVRA.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  2. ↑ SVRA events
  3. ↑ SVRA Website - Race Groups
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