A Great Racer: ’30 Ford Model A
The terrific part of our hobby is competition. Those of us who love old cars have a secret passion for competition. While some feed that passion with a trip to a Concours, others take the gritty route of racing. Racing has diversity within the category. It can be on a track or off. The track stuff speaks for itself. You bring a race car to a track, pass safety and scrutineering and off you go. Of course, you need a license and a modicum of skill. But it isn’t always about winning. It’s about experiencing your car the way it was intended. Sort of like taking your pet Labrador bird hunting. It is where it belongs. The other race is vintage rallying. That’s what we like to do. We watch the track racers with admiration. And that takes us to Sunday’s featured car – 1930 Ford Model A racer that competed in The Great Race. Not the movie version but the real one started in the 1980s for old and veteran cars. The Race typically lasts for 2,000 + miles so you know they are well prepared. And this one is. The Great Racers have to sport original engines and or period correct modifications. This one has it in spades. Is it attractive? Not very. In fact it sort of looks home-made and that in itself is pretty cool. The entry fee for the 2014 Race is $5300 for a Corporate participant. About a grand less for a privateer. You can buy the racer for $18,500 and use it year after year. They change the route to encourage repeat competitors. Click here for the eBay auction.