Take A Cruise Through Time at the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Ackford, 614-793-4620, rackford@midohio.com TAKE A CRUISE THROUGH TIME AT THE VINTAGE GRAND PRIX OF MID-OHIO DUBLIN, Ohio (August 16, 2006) - The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the 24th year to celebrate the history of motorsports and sportscar racing during the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, August 18 - 20. This three-day event will feature vintage cars from around the world competing on the 2.4-mile, 15-turn circuit, while auto enthusiasts showcase their classic machines off the track. With an open paddock, spectators will find prior champions within close reach, and current car owners willing to talk about their pride and joy's history and triumphs. The Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio will celebrate two titanic names this weekend - MG and Trans-Am. The British sports car icon is the featured marque and will be the highlight of many weekend activities, including a display on Championship Row featuring MGs owned by Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course spectators. With a racing tradition that began in the early 1930s, MGs proved to be competitive and capable from the very start when they appeared in road races, rallies, hill climbs, trials and other four-wheeled, motorized competitions. As the models evolved, MG became competitive in almost every facet and level of racing from international events to SCCA club racing. Through its storied history, MG will always be associated with sports car racing around the world. Trans-Am, the racing representation of American muscle, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and to commemorate their storied history there will be two Trans-Am Reunion races on the schedule this weekend. Sometimes called the "pony car wars," the early Trans-Am races featured Barracudas, Camaros, Challengers, Firebirds, Javelins and Mustangs driven by names like Donohue, Follmer, Hall, Jones, Posey, Revson and Titus. The Trans-Am also featured under 2.0-liter cars, such as Alfa Romeo, BMW, Datsun, Lotus (Cortina) and Porsche. Two trans-Am Reunion feature races - one for cars from 1966 to 1972 and one for cars from 1973 to 1996 - will provide a "moving" history of the cars of the Trans-Am series that were a vital part of U.S. road racing for 40 years. In addition to the Trans-Am Reunion races, the weekend will include 10 SVRA group races, two Enduros, the 8th annual British Car Showdown and the popular Concours d'Elegance car show. Participation in either car show event enables individuals to take part in a parade lap around Mid-Ohio's 2.4-mile circuit during the lunch break on Saturday or Sunday, and participants will also receive a commemorative souvenir. Fans may also wander through dozens of car corrals or enjoy another installment of Mid-Ohio's "drive-in" movie series Saturday night - this event's feature is "RV" with Robin Williams. The Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio will be the fifth event on Mid-Ohio's eight-race 2006 schedule. Still to come is the National Auto Sport Association Championships (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). Tickets for all events are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com <http://www.midohio.com/> . Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. -30-