Mark Brown has spent a lifetime at the track.
As a child, the 麻豆社国产resident experienced the rush firsthand in his native England. His father, a former auto racer, stayed involved in the racing community after having a family and the seed for the love of the sport was planted for Brown.
My father used to race back in the 1950s but gave it up when he had kids, he said. He became a family man but would still help out marshalling and around the track.
As Brown grew older, he tagged along with his father to races, helping out with timekeeping and developed a passion for being around some of the magnificent cars from past eras.
I really saw all sorts of cars racing back then, he said. Vintage racing is really big out there [England] and its got a little more history than here.
Brown continued to follow the sport as he got older and then made an important purchase his beloved Lotus Seven.
Lotus is a really well known and respected car in England, he explained. Its really an iconic car that everyone kind of dreams of owning one day.
After making the purchase, he began the long and tedious task of making the car race ready.
I started work on my Lotus Seven in the late 80s-early 90s, he said. It probably took six or seven years of upgrading to get it into racing shape.
It was through Browns father that the car was completed. He would come back home on the weekend, or when he had spare time to work on the car, which was housed in his dads garage.
My father was always very supportive of the hobby, he said. He helped me find my great car and always gave me plenty of room to work on it.
Brown worked on the car meticulously for the next six to seven years, saying he learned a lot about automobile engineering and design. He noted that the frame restoration, in particular, was tedious but ultimately rewarding.
Brown began racing in England in the mid-90s and fell in love with being behind the wheel during a race.
Its really about challenging yourself, he said, when asked about what he likes about racing. Its a bit of an adrenaline rush and its really a high octane sport. But everybody is friends usually on and off the track. Its way more dangerous just driving on the road.
It can be a big commitment and can cost a bit of money, but its a lot of fun. Racing is about driving to the limits and seeing what you can do in that pressure situation.
Brown, who now works as a community forester in North Vancouver, moved to Vancouver in 1999 but relocated to 麻豆社国产shortly thereafter.
I landed in Vancouver but didnt like it much, he said. It wasnt my kind of place. Im not used to living in the city and 麻豆社国产was just my kind of town. Its full of friendly people and my wife and I rented initially and then bought a house out here after a couple of years.
While the circuit he participates in is known as Vintage Racing Club of British Columbia (VRCBC), dont be fooled the cars are fast. Brown said they can reach speeds of up to 130 miles per hour on straightaways and the drivers are experienced and skilled.
The VRCBC was established in 1976 and has grown into a cornerstone of the racing community in British Columbia. Members raced at the legendary Westwood track until 1990 when the group moved its headquarters to Mission. The group holds races at the Mission Raceway from April to October and its been a strong start to the season for Brown.
The seasons gone really well so far, said Brown, who was crowned circuit champion last year. The car seems to be performing well and theres been a lot of close races.
Brown finished third at the April Flowers weekend on April 17 and followed that with a second-place finish at the May 15 race. Next up will be the biggest event of the year for the VRCBC the two-day British Columbia Historic Motor Races event, which takes place on June 11 and 12.
Races typically have anywhere from six to a dozen competitors and last around 20 minutes. Drivers have qualifying laps earlier in the day to determine positioning for the big race and then its pedal to the metal for the title.
Brown encouraged those interested to make the trek out to Mission to come check the races out.
Were all really friendly and we invite anyone to come look at the cars and get involved if they like, he said. Drivers are always looking for volunteers for their crews and its a great way to get up close to the action.
He said his wife Sarah will soon be entering the racing fray, as the duo is working on putting together a car that will enable her to compete in the VRCBC in the near future.
Above all, Brown said racing is meant to be fun and that it can be a good escape for anyone.
We always like to emphasize not to drive crazy on the road, he added. Keep the speeding for the track.
For more information on the VRCBC, visit www.vrcbc.ca.
