VHRR Juniors Programme

The VHRR Juniors Program is exactly as the name implies—a FREE program designed for anyone under the age of 21 who is interested in motorsport, and wants to experience driving on a race track during a racing event. It provides an opportunity to compete with other drivers, learn essential racing rules (such as the meaning of different coloured flags), and most importantly, discover how much fun motorsport can be.

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The VHRR (Victorian Historic Racing Register) is a racing club formed in 1976, that supports and organizes historic racing events for cars that are no longer at the peak of their performance, giving them a second chance to race on the track.

 

Unlike many modern racing categories, historic racing is not about rubbing panels or pushing competitors off the track to win. Instead, it emphasizes playing by the rules and treating both the cars and fellow competitors with respect. That doesn’t mean there’s no competition—far from it. The racing is still intense, but it’s conducted in a fair and respectful manner.

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This makes the VHRR Juniors Program a safer and more welcoming environment for young drivers to learn their craft and get involved in the sport.

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​​Why Historic Motorsport? 

 

The historic motorsport community is very close knit. Other drivers and teams are always very encouraging and accepting of one and other, and it's more about camaraderie than it is about competition. That's what makes historic motorsport great. 

 

This camaraderie and acceptance is no more evident than with older drivers passing down their knowledge, experience (and sometimes their cars) to junior drivers.

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Categories and Cars

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There are many different categories that you can compete in at historic motorsport events depending on your car, level of experience and license. The ideal event to get started in as a junior is what we call "Regularity".

 

Regularity is all about consistency—it’s not about being the fastest car on the track but about achieving consistent lap times. You nominate a lap time you think you can achieve, and your goal is to stick as closely as possible to that time on every lap. You’ll be penalised for going faster or slower than your nominated time. Like in a car rally, the winner is the driver with the fewest penalties.

 

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Another great part of regularity is that you share the race track with many different cars from many different classes all on track at the same time. ​​​Sounds easy? Give it a try and see!

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What Do I Need to Get Started?​​

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You can use a regular road car to compete in Regularity. The car must be safe, meaning it should be in roadworthy condition. The same basic rules apply as they do for a car club track day.​ If you’re lucky enough to have access to a racing car, you can also use it to compete in Regularity.

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Your car will alos need tp pass scrutenering, to esnrue it is suiatbel for the race track. This inform

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You will also need a Speed License from Motorsport Australia of which a "Junior Version" is available for drivers aged 14 to 17. ​

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The basic safety requirements include a racing helmet, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, and closed-toe shoes.

 

As you can see, you don’t need a sophisticated race car or thousands of dollars in safety gear to get started in motor racing. It’s an affordable and easy way to try the sport and see if it’s right for you.​​​​

 

Historic Race Car Owners​​

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For those who own a historic racing car that’s now sitting in a shed gathering dust or cobwebs, wouldn’t it be better to see it back on the track in a Regularity event? Regularity gives your car a chance to stretch its legs, allows fans to see and hear it in action, and doesn’t require it to be driven at full throttle.

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If you’re concerned that your eyesight isn’t what it used to be or that your reflexes have slowed down, consider allowing a respectful Junior driver to take the wheel in Regularity. Your first thought might be, “Out of the question,” or “It’s too precious,” or “It’s too valuable.” We understand. But think about this: when was the last time you saw a car damaged in a Regularity event? While mechanical breakdowns can happen, the risk of a crash is extremely, extremely low.

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It’s incredibly rewarding to introduce the next generation to classic racing cars and avoid turning these beautiful machines into static museum pieces. We understand this is a big step, but it can be a win-win for both you and the Junior driver.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact our Junior Ambassador.​​