Vintage cars ready to hit the track at Blackhawk Farms Raceway

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Stateline’s Father’s Day weekend tradition involves speed and a love of vintage cars. It’s the Blackhawk Classic at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit.

The 1.95-mile course at Blackhawk Farms will be busy and noisy. Drivers from all over the country will be here for three days in search of speed and victory. It brings together runners from all over the country.

“This year we have 175 racing teams from 15 states across the country,” said Tom Wilcox, Blackhawk Classic co-chair. “As far away as Oregon on the west coast. We have a great team that comes from Texas. Florida Drivers. Drivers from Delaware, Pennsylvania and throughout the Midwest.

And from Scottsdale, Arizona. This is where Chicago native Alec Maranto lives today. What would have made him come from Arizona for this event?

“Believe it or not, my father founded this club about 45 years ago. This has always been my dream as I started working hard and earning money to make the tracks and exploit them like him.

The Vintage Sports Car Driver’s Association is sponsoring this event with Blackhawk Farms. There will be six classes of cars racing this weekend. Everything from pre-WWII to the first generation of Miatas

“So, a 1929 Bentley for example,” Wilcox said. “A car that competed in the 1933 Indianapolis 500 will be racing here. We have the Lola you imagine behind me.

A 1947 MG TC was one of the first arrivals Thursday from Colorado.
Maranto will drive this Formula 2 car.

“It’s 900 pounds and 400 horsepower,” Maranto said.

The competitors certainly have fun in this event, but they are also very serious competitors.

“Yes, a lot of us business owners are very competitive,” Maranto said.

“It’s considered a fast track. There are definitely challenges and so on. You have to take the turns correctly, otherwise you’re on track.

Wilcox says there is a cross-section of men and women who will compete here.

“We have everything from guys who will rent a truck and trailer from Home Depot and haul their classic car to semi haulers for the Country Club if you want, and they’ll service their cars and bring in a half dozen cars . outside, and the drivers arrive, introduce themselves, drive and go home.

There will be races Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are ten dollars for adults for the entire weekend. You can find more information at www.blackhawkfarms.com and www.vscda.org