Racers Against Cancer Events (R.A.C.E.) Continues the Fight
Southern California has a uniquely paradoxical automotive scene. It’s the hub for import/foreign automotive OEM and enthusiast industries, has originated several waves of car culture, boasts some of the best coastal freeways and twisty mountain two-lanes and has no shortage of racetracks within its boundaries. You could probably even arrange to buy that replacement two-barrel carb for your ‘78 Prelude (or whatever) at midnight on a Tuesday, thanks to L.A.’s Craigslist site. Yet, we’ve got draconian CARB/smog legislation, the lowest-octane gasoline in the country, the highest car theft rate in the world, terrible traffic, even worse pavement, lots of housing with no garages and parking is scarce. Automotive enthusiast though we may be, after a week of dealing with all that, it takes a pretty special event to get us in our cars and out to a place where we have to pay money to drive some more. But recently, just such an event took place (despite intermittent rain—something else we detest). After a big turnout and charitable contribution at its inaugural event last year, and worthy sequal performance this time around, R.A.C.E. (aka Racers Against Cancer Events) is fast becoming known as something not to be missed by enthusiasts. One part open track day (with self-tech and classes for nearly anything track-worthy) and one part show/meet, with 100% of proceeds donated to cancer charities, this year’s event brought out a better mix of machines than we’ve seen at any one event in recent memory. Topping the unicorn/performance list was the Stillen IMSA Z32 Nissan 300ZX, piloted around the Auto Club Speedway infield in all its fire-spewing glory by the one and only Steve Millen—something that doesn’t happen as often as we’d all like. Following suit was the company’s R35 Nissan GT-R, affiliated R33 Skyline GT-R and one surprisingly fast vintage Datsun Roadster.
Cusco USA’s Mitsubishi EVO X, Z06 Chevrolet Corvette and Scion FR-S time-attack cars set a fast pace to follow, but one the likes of Massimo Power’s EVO VIII, Forged Autosport’s rally-themed Subaru WRX STI and Lucky 7 Racing’s 20B three-rotor-powered FD3S Mazda RX-7 chased down in style.
The Honda camp was well represented by a handful of DC Integras, 4th/5th/6th/8th-and 9th-gen Honda Civics (sorry, 7th-gen fans … all three of you) and several S2000s.
Even a few oddballs laid down impressive times, with the random Mini Cooper, Fiat Abarth, Toyota Matrix and always-underrated Mazdaspeed3 rounding out run groups.
Thanks to cooperation with Eight-Six Party Brigade, one of the largest run groups was comprised almost entirely of AE86 Toyota Corollas, with some first-gen MR-2s and even a quick TE72 wagon.
And in a class of its own was T Sportline’s pink-wrapped and autographed #BreastCar Tesla Model S. Impressively (to be expected?), this thing ran all day long, posting fast lap times in near silence, without a hiccup.
Finally, what would a Southern California enthusiast event be without a show/meet/vendor area? See more of it in the gallery below, and to keep tabs on similar events in the future, “like” founders Team Topak Racing’s official Facebook page.
