The photograph above was taken at our 1997/98 Vintage BBQ held at Rich and Mahala Ernst's home near Moroso Motorsports Park in WPB, Florida. The occasion was Vintage Races as park of the "Longest Night" 24-hour SCCA enduro for IT cars, etc. and the presentation of the 1997 "Spirit of Vintage Competition" Award (SOVC in the discussion that follows). Basically, it was a good excuse to get together with other car people and have a party! Most entered the Vintage races but some came just for the party. Anyway, the picture above is a true Vintage "bench racing" picture and features (left to right) Susan Gabel (1997 SOVC recipient), Sandy Jackson (Inaugural, 1993 SOVC recipient), Mike Jackson (partly obsured, 1996 SOVC recipient), Charlie Kolb and Henry Grady. Charlie and Henry are swapping lies and discussing the "good old days" which they were instrumental in making memorable! Charlie is well known in racing circles and appears, in reference, in Mark Donahue's book "The Unfair Advantage" beginning on page 9 as the previous year's FJ Champion - that should tell you something. Henry was involved with Beach (FV) in the mid-late 50's when they decided to build an american racing car (using a Saab engine) which they named using the first few letters of each of their last names - it was called the Begra and enjoyed some success of note in the H Modified class. We enjoy all these members of our racing community both on-track and off! Other photos from this event follow.
