2009 MGVR Focus Event - VIR

2009 Gold Cup Historic Races
at Virginia International Raceway

The MGVR Focus Event at VIR was a great event by any standards. There was plenty of hot racing action as 66 MGs took to the track for this years event, even sharing track time with almost a dozen Morgans for the MG/Morgan Challenge Race. Weather Thursday and Friday morning was unsettled (we missed our MG/Morgan Thursday warm up session) but cleared out Friday afternoon and was beautiful for the balance of the event. Saturdays MG/Morgan Race was won by Les Gonda (BGT V-8) followed by Kent Prather (MGA) with Harry Gentry (Midget)  placing third.

Saturday race action was followed by our MGVR Banquet, this year held trackside at the Pagoda Room.  Free beer, free wine (courtesy Rob Orander and John Targett) as well as a buffet of prime rib of beef and roast chicken among other goodies. Many thanks to Larry and Charlyn Smith for their tireless efforts to arrange this fantastic gathering. The MGVR Banquet usually presents a fine opportunity for the editor to announce future focus event plans. I am proud to announce that next years focus event will be at Mosport in June with our VARAC friends. More on that as plans develop. Our banquet is also when we recognize a few MG vintage racers --Congratulations go to this years Bill Parish Master of Speed Deception Award -Manley Ford. Manley becomes the 6th recipient of this annual award. The Big Copper Bucket, also known as the MGVR Spirit Award, is awarded by a vote of MGVR peers to the racer who best represents the MG Vintage Racing Spirit. This years winner is Jack Cassingham.  Congratulations Jack!

The race action continued Sunday with warm ups, group races and the All MG race. Beginning this year, the winner of the All MG Race takes home a MG V-8 trophy to keep for one year and defend at the next years All MG race. Congratulations go to Les Gonda, who finished first, followed closely by Butch McKenzie in his MGB roadster, with Kent Prather finishing third. Many thanks to Jerry Richards for conceiving of and commissioning the MG V-8 Trophy. Many thanks to all who participated in the 2009 MGVR Focus Event with SVRA at the Gold Cup Historics at VIR.