David Love Memorial 2018

Words and Pictures by Sean Grimes

Anyone who’s been to the CSRG (Classic Sports Racing Group) David Love Memorial, any vintage racing event, or any race or any car event period ever, would notice a Ferrari 250TR.  Non-car people turn their heads at a car this beautiful and rare.  So you can imagine everyone at this race, staring at David’s very own Testa Rossa sitting in the garage the entire weekend.  I learned that David founded CSRG, the organizing body of a series of vintage car races, after his Ferrari was deemed “obsolete” by the SCCA.  A man of forethought and taste, he traded into this used Ferrari from a seemingly less capable car, a Porsche 550A. Unfortunately David is no longer with us, thus the placement of his car and the renaming of this event by the group that continues in his honor.  

And so went the weekend, cars of more or less pedigree than the Ferrari,  all classic, daring to be destroyed by their owners, a group of people who love cars and specifically racing.  Forget waiting for computer engineered cars to crash for lurid entertainment.  You can see drivers sawing at the wheel at these events. Anything can happen. None of these cars or drivers is perfect. Drum brakes, English electrics (Lotus was a featured marque), bias ply tires, solid steering columns…different versions of instruments of death, pretty much, if that’s what it takes to draw you in (insert Hemingway quote here).  

All during an age when we are seeing the decline of the practical road car. Good riddance. Even the people movers of the day featured at these races are way more interesting than their contemporary equivalents. The Datsun 510, a budget coupe/sedan/wagon of the late 60's, early 70's was in force and in fierce, timeless trim at Sonoma.  

There is an enduring quality to these less than reliable vintage production racers now that sporting cars as we know them are fading.  If you did not visit this year, go to the next David Love Memorial or any of the CSRG races remaining this year to see the past and future? of real people racing.  All events listed at their website:  www.csrgracing.org