The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Open Letter from Dr. Grease to Sports Car Racers of the 1950s and 1960s

9 June 1998

[Editor's Note: The Auto Channel received this note from Dr. Grease. If you were a Sports Car Racer in the fifties or sixties, it sounds like there are some events happening in relation to the historic races at Buchanan Airfield in Concord that you may not want to miss. After we published this note, Dr. Grease wrote to tell us he'd messed up on some of the phone numbers and dates. What follows contains the corrections he sent.]

FROM: Dr. Grease - 1-800-385-7216
TO:   Sports Car Racers of the '50s and '60s
RE:   EX-SCCA Bench-Racing & Competition Liar's Association

DATE: 5/8/98

Now that the seventh running of the Buchanan Field (Concord) historical reunion sports car race is locked in, it's time for us old-fart racers to get together again. The Buchanan Field event this year is being sanctioned by the CSRG (classic sports racing group) and 50-some odd '50s sports racers are entered.

These are the parts of the weekend that will appeal to us oldsters:

(1) - FRIDAY, JUNE 19 (two days before the race)- No-host get together at the Sheraton Hotel bar. For old timers only. The Sheridan backs onto Buchanan Airfield. If you raced at Buchanan Field in '49,'50,'51,'55 or '56, bring your old photos and/or video-converted movies. Buchanan Airfield is on Concord Ave. and John Glenn Drive in Concord, just off the intersection of Hwy 680 and Hwy 4. If you want to attend, call Bob Potter at (note the new area code) 925-932-6262 so he can get a head count. If he's not there, leave a message on his machine. Starts at 3 p.m. and goes on until the bar runs out of gin.

(2) - SATURDAY, JUNE 20 - Fancy evening dinner for current drivers, air show flyers (there's an air show being held between the three races), dignitaries (like the mayor, etc.) and us pioneers like Bjorn Qvale, winner of the '49 event. For details call Race Chairman Mike Querio at Royal Trucking 925-689-6441. It's going to be a good bash with lots of Old Timers making fools of ourselves. If you have your own kilts, wear them.

(3) SUNDAY, JUNE 21 - The three sports car races (one for british cars only) and four stunt plane events. Several vintage car clubs in attendance, plus a bunch of Bay Cities Racing Association '40s and '50s vintage midgets.

If you want to drum up a ride in the Buchanan Field Historical Reunion Race on Sunday, June 21 (Father's Day), you're on your own. Even my 13th place finish in the Buchanan Field sedan race in '56 didn't cut any ice with the current car owners.

Stan Peterson is racing his MG-TC again, being unable to restore his original '56 MG "Cal-Can Special" in time. Spectator fee is only $5 for charity, and it includes access to the pits (I think). Spend the five bucks for charity so you can lie to the new guys about how fast you drove here in '49, '50, '51, '55 and/or '56!

GATES OPEN AT 9 A.M.

If you want to make a weekend of it, rooms are available at the Sheraton Hotel on the airport site. Call 925-825-7700. Just like the old race weekends - a party in every room. Who says you can't go back?