VARAC’s Group 70+ class is basically a run what ya brung home for race cars from 1970 onwards that don’t meet the traditional classes that VARAC layed out oh so many years ago. It has also become home to some of the older traditional cars that don’t quite fit the profile of the other classes. Take Ian Lok’s Volvo 122S in the picture above: you are looking at an under 2.0 liter Trans Am car. As such, Group 70+ seems to be the perfect home for it.
Ian has owned and raced this car for a long time now and has been know to pull off some pretty incredible feats of driving. Things that just aren’t done. Today, in the pouring rain, Ian made a pass for the lead at the bottom of Mosport’s infamous Corner 2. Only 2 laps from the end, he made the pass stick and won the race.
Now, follow the break and check out the huge gallery of machines that little old, 4 cylinder, normally aspirated Volvo dominated. Mr Lok should be very proud, while perhaps some of the big budget guys should hang their heads in shame.
Note: I have since discovered that Ian actually came in second when the red Porsche re-passed him on the back straight. Still, it was an epic battle!
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Last year Ian performed similar (but not quite winning ) heroics – said he would have done better if the rain had continued.
He also admitted that he did it without rain tires! I didn’t have a chance to check – was he on ‘wets’ this time?
Ya Ian sure is fast in the rain might explain his Ice racing success as well! he went by me on the outside of 8 about as fast I go in the dry!
What car were you driving Sean? I’m sure I’ll have a shot or 5 of it in the 922 pictures I took on Sunday!
Just a note. The tires I used on the CSL were about 10 years old and the last time I raced these in the wet was in a Canada Challenge Cup race in 2001. They were worse then slicks.
I could see that you were definitely being very, very gentle in 2.
I must say – the CSL sounds absolutely wonderful!
Pictures from sunday to come in the next few days!
Gary… Very cool to meet you in person.
http://www.124racer.com/mosport/gallery/09/raw/index.html
Some Group 3 photos. I was kinda limited this year while working on #418…
Despite the wet weather it was an awesome weekend.
Even got to set the GT6 loose on the track for the parade lap.
A.
It was indeed nice to meet up in person. It was really cool to see a crowd gathering around the GT6 at the car show, when it was surrounded by some really cool cars.
Once I get around to sifting though all those photos, I have some shots of it during the parade lap.
Oh I want those. It is the one thing I do not have.
Someone captured some of the car at the Glen last year, but he was a pro so its all watermarked.
The parade lap was fun, got to do some good bomb runs.
Too bad the pontiac ferrio was so hard on braking. Could not get up to some good fun speed.
Videos coming of lap 2 soon.
Missed meeting you Gary. Drove around Paddock on Sat. but it was pouring so stayed in car. No rain gear. Spent rest of day at 3 and Sun. as well while I was there. My neighbor took forever to get ready Sun. morning so we just got there in time for races and because he made another commitment (I found out on the way to the track) we had to leave early. Not too pleased.
I looked for you on Sunday, but nobody I spoke to had seen you.