Our second driving event of the season took us along the back roads of northern Illinois to the 22nd annual VSCDA Blackhawk Vintage Classic at beautiful Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit.  Eleven cars met up at a park in West Dundee and followed Jeff and Wally to the track, a delightful drive on uncrowded roads under a cloudless sky.  These country drives are where a 356 is in its element and driving it is pure joy.

Blackhawk is a small track where everything is inside the circuit.  The ambiance is informal and, given that there are cars racing by at close quarters everywhere you go, surprisingly relaxed.   From an observation deck upstairs from the dining area, you can see the entire circuit.  There is no division of the space between paddock and spectator parking; the spot you choose is likely to be one where you can watch the race cars zip by fifty feet in front of you and, in a moment of quiet after the pack haa moved on, srike up a conversation with your neighbor as he unloads his car from its trailer.

The group asssembles at the meeting point in West Dundee.

photo by Wally Wright

Before setting out, club president Bill Van Nortwick buys a sun-flap hat.  That makes it official:   A fashion trend has begun.

photo by Wally Wright

Off to the races.

photo by Wally Wright

A view from the observation deck.  The paved section to the left of the silo is where the cars line up to enter the track.  The main straightaway runs across the top of the picture.

photo by Wally Wright

There were no 356s racing that day, but there was no shortage of pretty cars.

photo by Jim Hinde

Our tour guide, the man who almost never smiles.

photo by Jim Hinde

Al admires the interior of a 1951 Nash convertible.

photo by Wally Wright

Club member Lou Natenshon had his MG there to race, equipped for this year with a flat-head V8 engine.

photo by Wally Wright

If you have ever had hip replacement surgery, the gearshift lever in this Lotus will look familiar.

photo by Jim Hinde

As a certain Texas governor might say, Oops.

photo by Wally Wright

Camera shy?

photo by Jim Hinde

We're leaving now, but we'll be back!

photo by Wally Wright