When I started getting seriously into cars, my first project was a 1972 BMW 2002. This was around 2004-2005. As a broke college student, I scoured the BMW2002FAQ forum for deals on anything and everything. The car had a pretty bad second gear grind so the first thing I did was find a transmission. Pretty well known local forum member John Capoccia reached out to me and gave me a free transmission that I picked up from his house in Sierra Madre. I cleaned it up, replaced the seals and swapped the transmissions in my mom’s garage.
Feeling confident, I wanted to tackle some suspension upgrades next. Everyone in the 2002 world at the time ran either Ground Control or Ireland Engineering. I was doing some clinical rotations for school at City of Hope in Duarte, and conveniently enough, Ireland Engineering was on the way home everyday. I stopped in frequently, many times just to see cool cars and talk shop with Jeremy and Jeff.
I remember seeing Jeff’s vintage Datsun 240Z track car in the shop along with a couple of 2002s and just being in awe of the engineering to make these cars track ready. This was my first exposure to VARA - the Vintage Auto Racing Association. Jeff, Jeremy, and many of their customers participated in both SCCA and VARA racing events. Some of you know Jeff Ireland…he wasn't the warmest or most welcoming personality. He could be very intimidating, but if you spent enough time around him and brought up the subject of racing, he sure became chatty.
This excitement and enthusiasm in racing piqued my interest. A few months later I was installing Ireland Engineering Stage 2 springs, Bilstein Sport shocks and struts, and a front and rear sway bar kit. The car handled amazingly. It was pretty unforgiving on the streets now, but it cornered like a go cart. I participated in a handful of SCCA autocross events as well as some local 2002 canyon drives. Many of the guys that went on these canyon runs were great drivers…and raced VARA events. That was always a level I aspired to get to.
As I got closer to graduating and looking for a job, the car stuff started to take a back seat in my life, and I slowed down on my progress of getting to the track. Work and family life took over, and my track aspirations seemed super far fetched now. Here we are, years later (and many cars in between) I’m setting up a vendor booth at Auto Conduct for the Collective LA car show. I see a track prepared 240Z in the warehouse sporting VARA decals.
It brings back so many nostalgic feelings of excitement from building my first 2002. During the show Ezekiel introduces me to Efrain Olivares, 2nd generation VARA member and B Sedan Class Representative.
We start talking, and I tell him my memories of Jeff Ireland and his race cars. He invites me to join them in some events, and suddenly those Vintage Auto Racing track events aren't so far-fetched anymore.
VARA has been around since 1973, and this is their 50th year anniversary! Many of their members have been around for a long time and are starting to slow down in their involvement. Efrain and some of the next generation members are working hard to keep the Association alive and thriving. One thing I’ve learned in this journey with Makina Drivers Club is how valuable meeting new people can be. Meeting one new person can be that small push you need to fulfill a dream and experience something you’ve always wanted to do. If you’re a vintage car enthusiast like me and like to build your car for purpose, I encourage you to look into VARA and participate in an event. Some of them are actually not competitive and can be done in street cars. Their next event is the High Desert Challenge at Willow Springs on March 18-19. VARA will hold its first All-Japan Feature race for all Japanese race cars. VARA is extending a special invitation for all Datsun, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Acura and other Japanese race cars to come join the weekend and take part in a feature race that will close out the day’s racing on Saturday afternoon. VARA is also extending a special invitation to owners of vintage Japanese street vehicles to take part in reserved paddock parking and a track tour on Saturday.
Makina Drivers Club, VARA, and Auto Conduct will also be hosting a Cars and Coffee Saturday morning from 7:30am to 9:30am at Auto Conduct. This is a great opportunity to meet some VARA members and see some awesome vintage Japanese cars before leaving for Willow Springs that morning. I encourage you to join us for a caravan out to the track and park trackside to watch these cars in action. Hear the sounds, smell the petrol, and be part of the excitement and action. Makina Drivers Club will be out there providing some track support and free refreshments. Let’s keep vintage motorsport alive!