Berkeley Sportscars Today

This car belongs to Rich Campbell who is into vintage racing here on the east coast. It is an early "slant-door" model, with a 3 cylinder 492cc Excelsior engine. Apart from some safety related modifications, the car is virtually stock.

Rich reports that it's sometimes hard to keep up with the bigger cars but that doesn't seem to spoil the fun. The VSCCA is a very selective organization with respect to the cars accepted for their events. Generally, the model needs to have raced prior to 1959, so Berkeleys are acceptable.

These pictures were taken at Watkins Glen by racing photographer Bob Harrington and are used with his permission.


Tonya and Keith Turk are seriously involved in land speed events at Bonneville, Maxton NC, and other venues. They're shown here with their LSR Berkeley that runs in several Modified Sports Car classes. Also shown is their 800+ horsepower Camaro, which is currently on loan to Hot Rod magazine for use as a project car. The Berk holds several records at Maxton with the East Coast Timing association, and it's put 4 folks in the ECTA 200mph club. (Photo above by David Freiburger, Hot Rod Magazine).	The car was originally built by Ron Benham of El Monte CA. The Turks, as So-Al Racing, currently use "a Rodeck Aluminum block configured as a 299 ci motor or a 258 ci motor depending on the class that year... Kinsler electronic fuel injection controlled by a Motec computer.... along with a quick data acquisition system and a fancy radiator in water set up ...". (This represents a slight change from the original Excelsior.) Some results: D Gas Modified sports car. 246.555mph - Keith Turk - 2003 C Gas Modified sports car 241.415mph - Tonya Turk - 2004 C Fuel Modified sports car 252.623mph - Ted Wenz - 2005 (Photo above by Keith Turk, also thanks to Keith for responding to my queries)

Charlie Hornbrook at Bonneville in 2004. The car ran at 151 mph in 1995 using a Kawasaki Ninja 1000 engine. The car has a tubular frame with a longer than stock wheelbase and with no suspension system. The umbrella is not used for record attempts.	The current 4 cylinder engine is mounted alongside the driver. The only real Berkeley parts on this car are pieces of the body. Top speed in 2006 was about 140mph. The class record is 163.4, which is probably attainable with a little luck.

Jack White's Berkeley, powered by a 350ci Chevy, pictured here at Bonneville.

	Jamie Pfeifer's yellow B95 along with his S-E 328. Jamie races the B95 extensively on the west coast and we're hoping for an update shortly covering his 16 years of vintage racing.