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what's new...
11-24-09: I put together a page that has the packing list I use when preparing to go to the track (for racing!)
11-01-09: 
This was Saturday's 2nd race at the VRG New Jersey Historics at New Jersey Motorsports Park. It was an exciting race with the Datsun 510, but as you will see he was driving a bit over his head. He had a lot more straightaway speed than I, but he had a habit of turning in too early for T1.
The video is on YouTube here:
09-21-09:
This was Sunday's 1st race at the VRG New Jersey Historics at New Jersey Motorsports Park. There was this Datsun 510 guy who I'd been racing all weekend. He had more power and straightaway speed than I, but I was able to carry much more speed through the corners. Anyway, I got a run on him coming out of T1 and got inside of him in T2 and by him before T3. Then, turning in for T4, he tagged me in the left rear. The impact kicked me off the track but I got it under control and was able to get back to the pits. The damage is shown here:
But the video is on YouTube here:
09-20-09:
This was Saturday's 1st race at the VRG New Jersey Historics at New Jersey Motorsports Park. I got a good start and went from 7th on the grid to 4th. Soon however, the 6th place qualifier Volvo Amazon powered by on the straight and I just tried to hang on. I made a small mistake and lost contact a few laps from the end. Then, the 5th place qualifier Lotus 7 went by on the straight like I'd left my engine back in the pits! However, as we were working by a lapped car the Lotus dropped a wheel off and lost control which made for a VERY close call.
The video is on YouTube here:
07-19-09: 
Pictures from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
05-29-09: Pictures from the VSCCA New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix at NJMP.
05-16-09: 130M...
This was Sunday's WET race at the VSCCA Governor's Cup Races at VIR (North Course). There was standing water all over and I just didn't have that much tread on the tires. So, there's lurid slides in turns 3 and 15 on the first lap. I'm bummed that the batteries dies on lap two, there was some really neat footage I missed in the laps to come after I got really honkin!
Or, you can view the low-res YouTube version
05-16-09: Pictures from the VSCCA Governor's Cup Races at VIR.
03-07-09: Pictures from the VSCCA Southern Meet and tour of the Simeone Foundation Museum.
03-04-09: 691M...
This was the last session of the last race of the season. In this video there are appearances by my brother-in-law Jeremy in the Formula S and my Dad in his Lotus 7. Jeremy and I have a nice run together but Dad just drops in to taunt us with all that Coventry Climax power!
12-01-08: Winter Project: AntiSway Bar for SONEAT.
08-05-08: A quick tool modification to make putting together the Sonett engine possible.
07-19-08: Pictures from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
05-18-08: Pictures from the VSCCA Governor's Cup races at VIR.
04-09-08: Pictures of the rust repair I've done SO FAR on my '94 9000 Aero.
01-23-08: Pictures of the damage to the engine from Watkins Glen.
11-27-07: My photos from the VSCCA at Summit Point - Shenandoah, November 3rd - 4th, 2007.
11-27-07: My photos from the FRCCA at Summit Point - Shenandoah, November 3rd - 4th, 2007.
10-20-07: My photos from the VRG at the Glen event (Watkins Glen) October 19th - 20th, 2007.
08-21-07: My (few) photos from the PVGP (Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix over the July 15th - 16th, 2007 weekend.
08-09-07: 76M...
This was the Group 3 (Formula Cars and Sports Racers) race at the 25th annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, 2007.
The car I was driving (Dad's 1964 Quantum Formula SAAB)decided, for no apparent reason, that it didn't want to partake in the race. Rather, it preferred to stay parked on the grid and sit in the shade while all the other racecars ran around hot and bothered.
I, rather strongly, disagreed with it.
With help, I convinced it to start and we got set to go out on track.
Unfortunately we didn't get started in time to join the race before the pace lap was complete. The gridworkers held me at the start until the field had safely passed.
When I finally got started I put in the best (fastest) laps I have ever driven at that track. I caught and passed everyone I qualified ahead of and even one that qualified ahead of me.
In the end, because of my climb through the field from dead last at the start, I was awarded the coveted "Best Drive of the Race" award. This is a great honor.
I thank the race organizers and the city of Pittsburgh for continuing to have and support this one of a kind event. Those 8 furious and treacherous laps around Schenley Park are the highlight of my year.
Or, you can view the low-res YouTube version
05-30-07: Update to my project page for SONEAT (Dad's '68 Sonett) and the (Dad's) Quantum Formula S.
We done gone and blowed SONEAT up.
05-21-07: 42M...
Over the winter, Dad bought a 1959 Lotus 7. At this year's VSCCA race at VIR I got to drive it for the first time!
Or, you can view the low-res YouTube version
05-10-07: The photos of the VSCCA race at VIR over the May 5th - 6th, 2007 weekend.
Also, the Mid-Atlantic Alfa Romeo Owner's Club driving school too.
04-21-07: The photos of the VSCCA race at Pocono International Raceway on April 14th.
04-20-07: Announcing: http://photos.at-speed.com!
12-03-06: 90M...
This is a collection of three clips from my weekend at VIR this past April. First, there is the power of the Birdcage, then I have to do a double-take as I pass a Ferrari Tour De France and finally some highlights from my race with the Ferrari Dino.
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
Or, you can view the low-res YouTube version
11-01-06: I've gallery-ized my Dad's photo scrapbook for the restoration of his 1964 Quantum Formula S. Check it out.
10-12-06: I put together a page that has a calculator to tell you how much two-stroke oil to add to the fuel when filling the tank on your stroker motor. I also included a quick reference table. The calculator allows you to use any ratio you desire whereas the quick reference table includes the ratios; 17:1 (6%), 20:1 (5%), 25:1 (4%), 32:1 (3%) and 50:1 (2%). If you think there's any practical reason to add other higher or lower ratios, please let me know.
10-06-06: Race report for the VRG Fall Celebration at Summit Point, Shenandoah course.
10-03-06: Photos from the VRG Shenandoah Fall Celebration at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia.
09-11-06: 
Annalisa's 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero
07-27-06: 85M...
This is my race in the Formula S. It was the hardest race I've run yet... The car was handling absolutely frighteningly awful. Just going straight took concentration! Still, I managed to make it clean and pick up a spot or two by the end.
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
Or, you can view the low-res YouTube version
07-27-06: 85M...
This is the helmetcamera footage from the top of my Dad's helmet. It comes from his race in the Sonett at the PVGP a couple weeks ago. He led for a while and then finished a strong second!
View the low-res YouTube version of the video...
07-19-06: Photos from the PVGP races at Schenely Park.
07-19-06: Photos from the PVGP Historics at BeaveRun.
05-25-06: Photos from the NHIS Vintage Celebration & VRG Drivers School.
05-10-06: Photos from the VSCCA Governor's Cup races at VIR.
03-30-06: Photos from the VRG Spring Tech and Tour.
03-15-06: Race report for the VRG event at Summit Point, Shenandoah course.
10-05-05: 54M...
My helmetcamera footage from the VRG Fall Celebration event at Summit Point, Shenandoah course on the 1st and 2nd of October. As a new course to everyone in the club, it was a joyous challenge.
10-03-05: VRG Summit Point, Shenandoah. This was the first VRG event at the new Shenandoah course. Very challenging, very fun. Love that Karussel!
09-01-05: 7M...
This is the helmetcam movie that Alfred Hitchkock would have made! It was my qualifying session at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and it got a bit gory...
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
Or, you can view the low-res YouTube version...
07-24-05: VSCCA Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. My sister Miranda took my camera and shot almost all of these pictures. She did an excellent job and I thank her. You might notice a certain "bias" towards pictures of cars with drivers she knows... But there are other folks that snuck in here and there.
06-22-05: 30M...
This is the helmetcam video from my races in the '68 SAAB Sonett at the PVGP Historics at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex.
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
07-09-05: VRG PVGP Historics at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, PA. The Sonett and the Porsche finally make some laps!
06-22-05: 48.9M...
This is the latter half of my race on Sunday at VIR (north course). I was driving Dad's Quantum One SAAB. *Note: Hogpen is my favorite corner!
03-23-05: SAABSA! You'll only see this here. (At least until someone snags them off my site, but rest assured... I'll get 'em.)
03-02-05: The SPG turns 300,000!
02-27-05: Wilson's wonderland weekend... The field running went on without me... As did my car!
02-26-05: Progress pics on the conversion of SONEAT (Dad's 1968 Sonett) into a vintage racer.
02-13-05: For reference, I scanned an original sales brochure for a Quantum Formula "S". The "S" stands for SAAB.
02-06-05: New SS exhaust from Group 9 Performance for the Aero.
02-05-05: VSCCA MId winter meeting at BJ MacDonald's shop, Classic Competition Specialties. Plus photos from the private museum nearby.
02-01-05: For reference: Pictures of three SAAB intake manifolds fitted with Solex PII 44 carbs.
01-25-05: Pictures of the 1 liter "mixer" motor I am trying to build for the Forumla SAAB Quantum.
01-16-05: More pictures from the VSCCA Fall Finale at Lime Rock added to the gallery. My Uncle Steve sent me the CD with the rest of his shots on it. Thanks Uncle Steve!
01-07-05: 40.1M...
This is my entire race on Saturday afternoon... Shortened as it was by blowing up the engine! I was driving Dad's Formula SAAB.
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
12-20-04: Introducing... Vintage SAAB club of North America! The VSCNA gets a new web-face... From me. The club held a competition to design their new website and I won! Yay for me. ;)
There's a plethora of excellent reference stuff, photos, how-to's and supplier links on the site plus lists of even more stuff that can be accessed if you are a member.
12-18-04: With help from Martin Hilvers I created a page that has a list of the various final drive ratios for vintage SAABs and a calculator that will let you figure out road speed from the engine RPMs.
12-14-04: The pictures from the VSCCA Turkey Bowl are posted. There will be more (color) later, but only after I get around to shooting the rest of the roll of film.
12-05-04: The pictures of the broken Formula S motor are up! I'll add some explanation of the pictures soon.
09-25-04: These are the pictures from the VSCCA Fall Finale at Lime Rock. There are quite a few photos of motor parts in this gallery. Yes, as you know if you watched the Miller video posted earlier, I blew up the motor. Damn but... it is impressive. Thanks to my Uncle Steve for some of the photos. I will post more of his later after I receive the CD with the rest of the shots on it.
10-09-04: 28.2M...
This is my entire race on Friday morning... Shortened as it was by blowing up the engine! I was driving Jake Jacobson's 1930 Miller Ford dirt track sprint car.
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
10-08-04: 28.7M...
This is the entire "all comers" race on Saturday. I was driving Dad's '59 Quantum SAAB One. The white car I dice with is a Speedwell Sprite.
Note: You will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video. Windows Media Player might download it automatically, but if it doesn't you can download it here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
07-29-04: 23.7M...
This is the first lap of the feature race on Sunday... with the dramatic second time through (and I do mean "through") the chicane.
Note: As always, you will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video.
07-29-04: 11.6M...
Me, in Dad's 1964 Quantum Formula Saab on my final flying qualifying lap at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix on Saturday. Rain!
Note: As always, you will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video.
07-27-04: 24.1M...
Me, in Dad's 1964 Quantum Formula Saab on my final morning warmup lap at the PVGP on Sunday. It was the only dry session we had and even it wasn't totally dry.
Note: As always, you will need to have the Xvid codec installed to view this video.
06-15-04: Assembly Instructions for the Quantum Formula S kit. These are the original instructions provided to kit purchasers.
04-20-04: These are the pictures from the VSCCA event at Pocono Raceway this past weekend. Note that some are not of the usual quality I post... those were shot with my camcorder. Sorry for the low quality. They are NOT suitable for printing. It was an experiment. Now I know.
04-19-04: I forgot I had these pictures... but here are the shots from the VSCCA Southern Tech Session at David George's shop on March 20th.
04-10-04: Just back from the first VSCCA track event of the 2004 season at Lime Rock Park, CT. I didn't have a car to drive this day so I was able to take a lot of photographs.
04-04-04: Updated the "Quantum One/Two"" project log page with the progress photos from this weekend. Looks a bit better, but still a long way from finished.
03-10-04: Updated "turn-in" (my project cars page) with the SPG, Aero, Lambretta scooter, and BMW motorcycle.
01-25-04: Photos from the VSCCA Fall Finale at Lime Rock in 1990.
01-19-04: Photos from the VSCCA Philadelphia Vintage Grand Prix CARSHOW in Fairmount Park Philadelphia in 1990.
Photos from the VSCCA Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Shenley Park, Pittsburgh in 1990.
Photos from the VSCCA Spring Sprints at Lime Rock in 1990.
Photos from the National Saab Owners Convention in Sturbridge, MA in 1990.
11-10-03: Photos from the VSCCA Turkey Bowl at Summit Point Raceway.
10-22-03: Posted pictures of the '03 winter snowstorm damage to the BMW H-Mod Special. It aint pretty.
Soon after
A bit later (May)
After a while (June)
10-14-03: Rediscovered photos of John "Jake" Jacobson's Lotus 23 with the SAAB V4 engine installed!
10-11-03: There are two new SAABs in
the Vapaa family today!
One is mine and one is my dad's. Mine is obvious... I picked up a 1990 SPG today
and am quite pleased. Check out that odo!
But, how many of you know what that forlorn vehicle my dad brought home is?
10-07-03: The only picture I have of the Ice Racer Special from back when it was new.
10-06-03: New pictures of the '59 SAAB Ice Racer Special as it currently sits... a mess. But I am hopeful to start work on it soon.
10-05-03: Some pictures of UD-SAE car #51 Mark II/III as it made the trip to Ian's place via a stop at my house.
09-30-03: My pics from the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Indianapolis this past weekend.
09-20-03: Well, here's the problem with the Quantum. It cooked a connecting rod bearing carrier. Bad. See the Quantum page and follow the link from there to the pictures.
09-10-03: Pics from the National Saab Owner's Convention, 20003. Hershey, PA.
08-07-03: Added a project log section for the 1964 Quantum SAAB Formula "S" to the turn-in page, to go along with the '74 Sonett III and '68 Sonett "Spyder."
08-01-03: Pictures from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. I hope to have more soon but will have to beg them off Mike first. I was too busy driving to take many pictures.
07-30-03: Race report for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
07-17-03: New Tech-Article on how to install air helper spings in your Saab 9000.
05-29-03: Photos from the VSCCA event at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) on May 3rd and 4th. Photos courtesy of my friend Jeff Underwood and my sister Miranda Freeman.
05-23-03: My instructions on how to install a Pertronix Ignitor in a V4 distributor. See it here.
05-11-03: Added pics from the VSCCA event at Pocono in 1996.
05-01-03: Added scans of my 35mm shots of the VSCCA Spring Sprints at Lime Rock Park.
04-28-03: Pictures from the 1992 VSCCA Fall Finale at Lime Rock Park.
04-28-03: Which ARP flywheel bolts should you use for the Saab V4? I listed the specs and part number for the correct ones on my 1968 SAAB Sonett V4 "Spyder" page.
04-24-03: Posted scans from the VSCCA event at Pocono in 1993.
04-23-03: Posted scans of my pictures from the 1997 National SAAB owners convention track day at NHIS.
04-20-03: Pictures from the VSCCA Spring Sprints at Lime Rock Park and Pocono.
04-20-03: What does a Weber 40 DFI look like? THIS.
03-22-03: Wrenching on the Daimler SP 250, the Porsche 356 Coupe, and the Morgan +4 at the Old Spokes Home (Jake's).
02-28-03: Added a gallery for the VSCCA Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in 1995 and added more pictures to the Philadelphia VGP of that year.
02-20-03: I'm trying to scan all the pictures I've taken at the VSCCA races over the years... but it is a big project. Here's a start... some of my pictures from the 1995 (I think) VSCCA Philadelphia Vintage Grand Prix.
02-09-03: I've uploaded the pictures of the solution to the carburetor levelling project.
02-06-03: The Vintage SAAB Racing Group (VSRG) is gaining a web presence. http://www.vintagesaab.com/vsrg
02-06-03: I uploaded some pictures of the 1959 SAAB IceRacer that will someday be restored. Who knows when?
02-06-03: I uploaded some pictures of the SAAB 96 V4 IMSA Baby Grand racer that will be the next restoration project my dad undertakes.
02-06-03: I've started to flesh out the project log on the '68 Saab Sonett "Spyder" on the turn-in page. First in the updates is a description of the carburetor levelling project that cured the stalling under heavy braking problem.
12-24-02: My digi-pics from the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Indianapolis in September.
12-12-02: My digi-pics from the VSCCA race at VIR in May.
09-07-02: My digi-pics from the Grand-Am race at VIR last weekend! More to come when I get my 35mm film developed and scanned.
08-26-02: Some more of my sculpture works have been added to the "Air" page.
08-16-02: I've added a small section to the "Air" page for my sculpture works. Currently there is only the most recent completed piece uploaded... but check that out anyway.
08-14-02: I didn't take very many pictures at the RallyCross back in April. It was raining and I didn't feel like getting my camera wet. But during the rare moments when it wasn't raining I snapped a few shots. See them here.
08-13-02: Pictures from the Radford autox last Sunday are posted!
Also, I forgot to post the gallery from the Radford event back in May! I've remedied that omission here.
08-03-02: Uploaded a picture gallery from the National SCCA races at VIR on Saturday here.
07-27-02: Now HERE is an interesting gallery! It contains my scans from John "Jake" Jacobson's Sports Car Service, Inc. (the famous SAAB shop) scrapbook! Lots of pictures of old SAAB race cars including Jake's 2 stroke and V4 powered specials! Check it out here.
07-27-02: I've uploaded two galleries of pics. One gallery is old shots from my Dad's scrapbook for SONEAT, the '68 SAAB Sonett "Spyder." See it here.
The other gallery is all new pics from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand prix last weekend. Some shots are digital (from my Nikon 990) and some are scanned 35mm. I even threw in some fun black and white shots! Check it out here.
06-05-02: Jeff and I have been working on making a welded in roll bar for Matt's Miata. It will eventually become part of a roll cage so Matt can race in SpecMiata. See the progress pics here.
05-20-02: Pictures from the Radford autox are posted! Click here.
04-10-02: Added a small gallery of photos from the SCCA races at VIR on the 17th of March, 2002. Click here.
04-03-02: I've added a page for my pen and paintbrush type artwork. Click here.
03-25-02: Pictures from the Staunton autox are posted! Click here.
03-13-02: Hey! My friend painted my helmet! SEE?!
02-15-02: Buckets of pictures added to the photo gallery!
02-13-02: Pictures from the Southeast Division SCCA races at VIR, Oct. 20, 2001. Click here.
02-02-02: Lots of new stuff!
I've updated the Vintage Racing photo galleries!
I've updated the Autox galleries!
I've released version 2.0 of Vapaa-Freeman Racing
Online!
01-14-02: Yesterday's Victory Lane Karting event's pictures are now online! Click here.
01-04-02: We have wwweather! See the bottom of this column.
12-18-01: Pics of my most recent engine component destructive testing episode. Click here.
12-10-01: Posted pictures from the Salem, VA autocross of 12-09-01. Click here.
12-03-01: Posted in-car videos of my first "wild ass" run and my third "way it is supposed to be done" run at the Staunton, VA autocross of 11-11-01. Run #1 and Run #2
11-13-01: Posted pictures from the Staunton,
VA autocross of 11-11-01. Click Here
Elsewhere there's also a picture of me losing it completely in the Sonett here
(I'm pointing 180 from the correct direction and travelling FAST to the left, which is
very wrong since the cone on the right was supposed to be my apex cone.) Here's
me catching a big slide in the #9 CSP Honda CRX I co-drove on the day.
10-26-01: Purchased new project car. 1974 Saab Sonett
10-17-01: Posted tech article on doing a "shadetree" front-end "race" alignment with homemade tools. Aligning SONEAT
10-14-01: I secured my first SCCA FTD (Fast
Time of Day) at the Blue Ridge Region SCCA "Great
Pumpkin Autocross" in Salem, VA... and I did it in the RAIN! Whoo-hoo!
Pictures: Click
here