"Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless but because they are priceless." - Anonymous

A History of the Historic Racing Group (HRG)

The current Historic Racing Group (HRG) is an outgrowth of the original Volvo Historic Series (VHS) racing group started in 1997. Some chronology follows:

1996 – Two ranking employees of the Marketing and Corporate Communications Departments of Volvo Cars of North America, which had their home office in Rockleigh, NJ, raced production cars in SCCA. Together they noticed the ranks of production cars were dwindling and became curious as to why. One, being a friend of Tom Lynch who was also racing at the time, asked Tom to a meeting to see what could be done. Tom then contacted Dave Panas who was the Competition Chairman for Northern NJ Region. This led to a series of meetings with Volvo where it was decided that the problem stemmed from the then current SCCA production car rules in that it was costing people more and more money to race competitively, and as a consequence cars were being stored away and not being raced. It was decided that a new series for old cars needed to be started to lure these cars back onto the track. Volvo very generously offered to subsidize the entry fees for these cars, and to also offer Regions that conducted one of these races some monetary help for worker parties. Thus was born the Volvo Historic Series (VHS). In keeping with Volvo’s sales arena, the series would only be open to Production Cars and Sedans. No formula cars and no sports racers. Presentations were made at the Northeast Division conventions over the 1996 – 97 winter to publicize the Series.

1997 – The VHS ran five races in its first year. There were three classes; up to 1500cc, 1501 to 3000cc, and over 3000cc. The first two races were at Pocono on Mothers Day weekend with the NNJR double regional. Eleven cars entered. The next foray took place at Bridgehampton with a New York Region National race. Unfortunately most people didn’t want to make the trek through NYC and four cars took the green flag at The Bridge. The next two races were in July and August at Lime Rock Park, and it became obvious that the Series was becoming popular. In July with a New England Regional, 19 cars started. In August with a NNJR Regional the entry was up to 22. In all 35 different drivers participated in the 1997 Series.

1998 – The Series expanded to 7 races at four tracks in 1998. It also expanded to 4 classes; up to 1300cc, 1301 to 2000cc, 2001 to 3000cc, and over 3000cc. Michelin tires came on board as a Series sponsor, as did the Oregon based Volvo specialty company IPD, and the TV program “Motorweek”. Forty six drivers participated and entries totaled 153. Volvo Cars gave away three drivers schools to VHS race workers. There were two 3-day schools at Pocono and a one day oval track school at Nazareth.

1999 – The Series again expanded to 10 races at four tracks. In addition to Michelin and IPD, PowerMist Racing Products joined as a Series supporter. Sixty four drivers participated which created a total of 251 entries.

2000 – Again 10 races but now at 5 tracks. 66 drivers – 238 entries.

2001 – Aero Tec Labs (ATL) arrived as an associate sponsor, but Michelin and IPD decided not to renew their sponsorship. Again it was a 10 race season, 285 entries this time with 88 individual drivers. It should be noted that after the horrendous day of 9/11, 39 cars showed up at Watkins Glen and took part in a very emotional ceremonial parade lap to honor those who perished that day, including Northern New Jersey Region members, Linda Gronlund and Joe De Luca.

2002 – The class structure was again expanded, now to 5 classes – up to 1300cc; 1301 – 1800cc (lowered from 2000cc); 1801 – 2500cc (upper limit lowered from 3000cc); 2501 – 3500cc (all different); and over 3500cc. Unfortunately for the Series, the prime sponsor Volvo was bought by Ford Motor Co. and moved their headquarters to the west coast. Therefore the subsidy that Volvo had brought to the Series was eliminated. It didn’t seem to bother the entrants though, since entries only dropped by four from last year (down to 281) with only 9 races this year but still with 85 drivers.

2003 – The Series drops the name “Volvo” from its logo and becomes the “Historic Series”. There is a 12 race schedule spread across 5 tracks including BeaveRun. A new high for participation occurred with 291 entries from 79 different drivers.

2004 – A new era dawned as the Series was formally adopted by SCCA’s Northeast Division Council as the NEDiv Historic Racing Group (HRG). An eleven race season ensued with 76 drivers accounting for 266 entries.

2005 – Twelve races at 5 tracks with 257 entries spread among 74 different drivers. HRG ran “in public” for the first time as a support race in October for Lime Rock’s NASCAR Busch North race.

2006 – Ten races this year again among 5 tracks. Entries were down to 203 with 63 drivers.

2007 – As scheduling difficulties began to emerge as well as the increased proliferation of other vintage / historic groups, the schedule was cut back to 6 races at 3 tracks. Still 56 drivers accounted for 142 entries in these races.

2008 – This was a difficult year for HRG. With the closing of Lime Rock Park for paving and the consequential eliminating of opportunities to race at a track that people like, the Series was forced into a four weekend, eight race season at only Pocono and Watkins Glen. These four weekends were contested by 37 different drivers constituting 128 entries.

The future looks bright as interested parties came together after the end of the season and examined the potential to expand the Series beyond simply SCCA and the opportunity to run with other organizations.

For more information, check out the Historic Racing Group web site.

Last updated 4/27/10.