Put-in-Bay, Ohio – The Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion for the ninth straight year will again wake up the residents of sleepy South Bass Island (off Ohio’s North Coast near Sandusky, OH) with the sights, sounds and smells of vintage sports car racers roaring through its quaint streets and around its airport, much the same as it was on the island for one weekend a year back in the 1950s and early ‘60s. This year’s event takes place from Monday, August 28 to Wednesday, August 30.
Unlike most vintage racing events, the Put-in-Bay Road Races Reunion (PIBRRR) welcomes owner-drivers of qualified racing and non-racing vintage sports cars of all types to be part of the show and participate in various events and activities. Those activities revolve around vintage racing generally but racing is just part of what’s going on.
Of course the racing is very cool since it’s generally for the types of cars that raced at Put-in-Bay back in the 1950s: closed-wheel, small bore sports cars, sedans and sports racers – Triumph, MG, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Morgan, Lotus, Elva and many others. This year the organizers are also expecting a significant turnout of specified open wheel cars. Drivers of vintage Formula Vees and Formula Jrs have been invited to come experience PIBRRR’s surprisingly challenging airport circuit and are offered both a reduced pre-July 1 entry rate and a separate race group.
Provisional Overview of Events For PIBRRR 2017
Sunday, August 27 – Registration opens. Welcome wine and cheese party at Put-in-Bay Winery.
Monday, August 28 – Morning focuses on PIB Road Races History featuring historic PIB racing presentations and guests. Racing orientation and practice sessions commence at the airport after lunch (1 – 5 PM), followed by late afternoon laps of the original course (about 6 PM, ATTENTION! – normal traffic and pedestrians will be diverted off the connecting sections of Delaware Ave., Toledo Ave., Langram Rd., Meechen Rd. and Catawba Ave. while this tour takes place). Rocker cover races follow tour of old course (6:30 – 7:30 PM at The Goat Restaurant).
Tuesday, August 29 – Race Day 2 at the Put-in-Bay airport (10 AM – 5 PM)! Featuring qualifying races in the morning, track “Lunch Lapping” for Street Car participants, followed by feature races and the Put-In-Bay Cup race. Racing awards party following the on-track activities.
Wednesday, August 30 – Vintage Car Show Day, followed by farewell luncheon and car show awards presentation including presentation of The Paul Henry Award (8:30 – 11 AM, located at the field opposite the Bay Shore Inn).
* Free admission to many viewing areas! Live streaming video coverage of the races on WPIB.Com!
* All times approximate and subject to change
* See more at www.pibroadrace.com