About Us

What is SOVREN?

Society of Vintage Racing ENthusiasts (SOVREN) is an organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and competition of vintage production and purpose-built sports cars on Pacific Northwest road racing circuits. SOVREN defines vintage cars as production cars 25 years or older and certain purpose-built race and replica cars of interest. These cars are prepared in accordance with the rules and classes defined in the Membership Handbook. Rules and Classes defined by other member clubs of the VMC may also be used in preparing and racing cars with SOVREN. Vintage racing is an amateur sport where competition is meant to be friendly, fun, fast, and safe.

As a member of the VMC (Vintage Motorsports Council), a national group composed of the many different clubs and groups that promote vintage racing throughout the U.S. and Canada, we share the goal to promote the preservation of these cars in a vintage racing format which emphasizes driver safety and etiquette. To carry out this goal SOVREN offers no prizes or recognition of finishing place. Our season championship is based upon participation rather than finishing order. The goal is to reward those drivers who participate in our events with a well-prepared car and with an attitude towards racing that will enable them to complete all the racing laps at each event.

See the Join SOVREN page for information about becoming a member. Note that ownership of a vintage race car is not a requirement.

What is Vintage Racing?

Vintage racing is about having fun, enjoying the company of other enthusiasts, and respecting the heritage of vintage race cars. Vintage racing is not “real” racing when compared to professional racing. The livelihood of drivers and car companies do not depend on the outcome of a vintage race. Vintage race cars are not disposable tools like modern race cars – they are instead an important part of our automotive heritage.

Vintage racing is a state of mind that understands the only good reason for vintage racing is fun. SOVREN is a group of car enthusiasts who get together to display, exercise, and compete with historical race cars rather than let them collect dust in garages. The idea is to have fun with your car and not ruin others’ fun while doing it.

What types of cars race in SOVREN?

Any car that fits the rules below is welcome to race with SOVREN. Having a “racing car” background is not a requirement; any car set up for the street that fits the rules of eligibility may be made safe to race and join with us on the track. The general racing categories are:

  • Pre-War: Automobiles produced on or before Dec. 31, 1940.
  • Vintage: Automobiles produced after 12/31/40 and on or before 12/31/62.
  • Historic: Automobiles produced after 12/31/62 and are 25 years or older from the current year.
  • Formula: As allowed by the Monoposto Register rules: through 1963 for Formula Jr., pre-1976 Formula V as long as they meet the pre-1969 rules, pre-1970 for Formula B, Formula C, and Formula II, pre-1973 for Formula Ford, 1973 thru 1981 for Club Ford, and thru 1966 for Formula 1. We also support a Club Formula Vee specification.
  • Purpose-Built/Exhibition: SOVREN offers this class for significant racing automobiles including selected replica and tribute cars that do not fit into the above categories but are deemed suitable to race with vintage cars. Cars from this class may be slotted into other groups; for example, Factory Five Cobra replicas run with the Big Bore Historic group.

Visit the Race page and the Rules page for more information.

What are the club activities?

Race events

SOVREN racers enjoy a full schedule of events each year. We offer five races each season that are exclusive to SOVREN: Spring Sprints, Spokane Festival of Speed, Pacific Northwest Historics, Columbia River Classic, and Fall Finale. In addition to these events, we offer our SOVREN Racers a chance to gain additional points for the annual championship at two SVRA events. We also offer points for the British Columbia Historic Motor Races and the Mary Hill Loops Hillclimb. We also support (non-points) the Pacific Raceways Invitational event in October each year. See the Schedule page for a complete list of races, dates, and venues.

Racers must hold a competition license, whether issued by SOVREN or another racing organization such as SCCA, ICSCC, FIA, or a VMC club. We are thrilled to add racers to the vintage ranks, and offer a Novice/Driver Orientation program to ensure that new drivers to SOVREN are properly prepared to compete in vintage motor racing and to expose them to the “vintage spirit”. See the Race page for a guide to next steps if you want to race with SOVREN.

Spectators are welcome at all our races. See the Experience page for a look at our family-friendly and exciting events.

Motorsports is more than just driving, and there are many ways to get involved. While much of the attention at a road racing event may be on the action on the racetrack, at each event there are dozens of SOVREN volunteers. No aspect of our road racing program happens without the hard work of the Officials. Volunteers who operate in registration, the control tower, technical inspection and on the corners, starters, grid workers and emergency services are crucial to the successful organization and execution of events – making them just as much a part of SOVREN as those who strap into the cars. If you’re thinking about being a part of the SOVREN family by joining the action trackside, visit the Volunteer page for more information.

Meetings

SOVREN holds four membership meetings per year beginning in January with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by three quarterly meetings. The general purpose of these meetings is to keep the membership apprised of the state of the club, both financially and bodily. The AGM recaps the previous and upcoming season. Awards are presented in January for the season overall driving championship in each class, as well as six special awards.

The Executive Board meets the first Tuesday of each month except January and July. These meetings, with so many of our Executive board living all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond, are virtual but still include a social hour. All SOVREN members are welcome.

History of SOVREN

In 1985, Seattle Porsche enthusiast Dick Mattei decided that there was a need for a vintage racing organization in the Pacific Northwest. Approximately 100 enthusiasts were recruited at a meeting in 1986, and 15 of them became the charter members of SOVREN, an acronym coined by Mattei.

The club originally was organized to include both racing and touring; however, it soon became evident that the members’ main interest was in wheel to wheel competition.

In 1989, SOVREN, in conjunction with the Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts, held their first Pacific Northwest Historics at Seattle International Raceway. Approximately 59 cars participated, and tradition was established. In the years since, the number and quality of cars and the fun for participants and spectators has increased significantly. In 1990, the Historics became a fund raiser for Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle and 68 cars participated and $7500 was raised. Between 1990 and 2024 SOVREN worked hand in hand with the charity and the Historics raised millions of dollars, most of which went directly towards uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital.