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2013 Sonoma Historics Celebrates Corvette

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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Celebrates  Corvette's 60 Years at Sonoma Raceway Fast cars, fine food and wine highlight May 18-19 weekend Paul Reinhart is honored guest, popular racing seminar scheduled for second year  SONOMA, Calif. (April 27, 2021) - The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival returns to Sonoma Raceway on May 18-19 for the fourth straight year unde...

25-Jul-2012

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Fabulous weather, Fine Cars, Wine and Food Highlight 2012 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival SONOMA, Calif. (June 3, 2021) - Under sunny and warm conditions at the third annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at the Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., more than 340 historic cars took the checkered flag in 15 ...

4-Jun-2012

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2013 Sonoma Historics Fact Sheet

Celebration of Historic Racing, Wine Country Lifestyle at Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival   WHAT:                         Sonoma Raceway will come alive with memorable racecars from Corvette, Ferrari, Lotus, Austin Healey and Bugatti, among others, at the 27th annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. In all, more than 400 historic racecars will grace the twisting road course during ...

3-Jun-2012

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Legendary California Drivers

LEGENDARY CALIFORNIA DRIVERS FEATURED IN SEMINAR AT 2012 SONOMA HISTORIC MOTORSPORTS FESTIVAL SONOMA, Calif. (May 27, 2021) - Five legendary California race-car drivers will be part of a seminar discussing the birth of the popularity of sports-car racing in California and the United States during the third annual Sonoma ...

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2013 Sonoma Historics Celebrates Corvette
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Celebrates 

Corvette's 60 Years at Sonoma Raceway

Fast cars, fine food and wine highlight May 18-19 weekend

Paul Reinhart is honored guest, popular racing seminar scheduled for second year 

SONOMA, Calif. (April 27, 2021) - The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival returns to Sonoma Raceway on May 18-19 for the fourth straight year under that title. The program for the 27th annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd. in Sonoma will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the popular Corvette, created by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors in 1953.

"Corvette will be the center of attention as we salute those who have established the marque's place in motorsports history," said Steve Earle, president of General Racing, Ltd., who has organized premier historic car events for four decades. "From its introduction in 1953 and the bold first steps into the road-racing world at the 12 Hours of Sebring (Fla.) in 1956, to the 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) and hundreds of SCCA events across the country, the Corvette has remained 'America's sports car.'"

Among the 400 vintage and historic race cars in 15 race groups expected to take to the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in the heart of Northern California's wine country will be 32 significant racing Corvettes covering four decades of the iconic brand's racing successes. Designed by Harley Earl and introduced as a concept show car at the New York Auto Show, the six-generation Corvette was named after the type of small, maneuverable warship called a corvette.

Among the Corvettes representing the brand at the Festival will be Paul Reinhart's 1957 Corvette; Vic Edelbrock's 1963 Corvette Sting Ray (the Sting Ray debuted in 1963); Edward Hugo's 1966 Corvette 427, Randy Peterson's 1969 Corvette L88, Larry Bowman's 1963 Grand Sport Corvette, as well as an array of other collector Corvettes from the '50s through the '80s. 

The Festival's honored guest will be Paul Reinhart, who raced Corvettes in the early days, competing against Carroll Shelby's Cobras with his Sting Ray coupe. He began racing Corvettes in Northern California in the late '50s and in 1962 was crowned Pacific Coast SCCA B-Production champion. Reinhart restored and continues to race his Union Oil 76 1957 Corvette in vintage events.

"We tip our hats to Paul Reinhart," said Earle, whose 1959 racing Corvette is also entered in the event. "He was a hero of the day in California as he mercilessly harassed the Cobras, introduced in 1962, with his Sting Ray coupe. The Fifties and Sixties in California were magical years, as Corvettes dominated in SCCA racing, and Chevrolet encouraged amateur and professional racers around the country to compete in its product by providing everything they needed at the local Chevrolet dealer."

The second annual racing seminar will be held at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday, May 18. A panel of Corvette racers, historians and team managers will discuss Corvette's history from the early '50s up to the car's modern-day triumphs at the 24 Hours of LeMans and the American LeMans Series. Expected to participate in the seminar are current-day Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan, former Corvette Racing p.r. representative Rick Voegelin, Corvette racers Paul Reinhart, Bill Pollack, Tony DeLorenzo and Dick Guldstrand, among others. A detailed release will be issued in the next week.

The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival will also feature the popular Wine Country Pavilion, with samples of fine food and wine from the Sonoma and Napa valleys. Fans will also enjoy car club displays and an open garage area to get an up-close look at the historic machines. For more information, visit http://www.racesonoma.com/historics href="http://www.racesonoma.com/historics">www.racesonoma.com/historics or http://www.generalracing.com/ href="http://www.generalracing.com/">www.generalracing.com. 

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance held at the Marin Civic Center, just 15 miles from Sonoma Raceway, will feature vintage automobiles owned by Hollywood Legends, including Jean Harlow's 1932 Packard Phaeton. The Concours will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini and will also feature vintage Italian motorcycles, Woodie station wagons and a vintage camper and trailer display. For more information on the Concours on Sunday, May 19, please visit http://www.marinsonomaconcours.org/ href="http://www.marinsonomaconcours.org/">www.marinsonomaconcours.org.

To celebrate the inaugural year of this partnership, the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival and the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance have created the Wine Country Classics Flex Pass, which allows attendees to attend both events for just $45. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy the power of historic racing machines on track, plus the incomparable beauty of some of the finest vintage automobiles in the country.

For more information on these events or to purchase your Wine Country Classics Flex Pass, visit http://www.racesonoma.com/historics href="http://www.racesonoma.com/historics">www.racesonoma.com/historics or call 800-870-RACE (7223).

 
Weekend wrap-up
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Fabulous weather, Fine Cars, Wine and Food Highlight 2012 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival


SONOMA, Calif. (June 3, 2021) - Under sunny and warm conditions at the third annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at the Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., more than 340 historic cars took the checkered flag in 15 groups of racing. Cars ranging from a 1911 National to a cadre of Can-Am cars from the 1960s and ‘70s, as well as the always-nostalgic Trans-Am cars of the same era, treated a strong, enthusiastic crowd to nose-to-tail, door-to-door competition at the 26th annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd. in Sonoma.

This year’s theme was “Moments in Time: a Celebration of the History of Motorsports” and honored event Grand Marshal Bill Pollack, winner of the main event of the 1952 Golden Gate Park Road Races driving a Cadillac-Allard J2. Pollack’s G.M. duties included signing copies of his book, “Red Wheels and White Sidewalls: Confessions of an Allard Racer,” riding in a historic-car parade to the Sonoma Plaza from the track, waving the checkered flag for Group 9 (1946-1955 Sports Racing & Prod) in which the 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special and 1949 Baldwin Special competed – cars that also raced in the Golden Gate Park Road Races. He also took part in a racing seminar discussing the early days of racing in California, and rode in Bruce McCaw’s 1952 Mercedes-Benz W194, the only Mercedes-Benz to date to win overall in the 24 Hours of LeMans.

Pollack was also on hand to present the Sonoma Historic Cup, “The Phil Hill Trophy,” to Brian Blain of Visalia, Calif., who drove a 1911 National to eighth place in Group 1 (Pre-1941 Sports & Touring Cars).

Group winners included a 1934 MG NE (Pete Thelander), a 1972 Ford Gran Torino (Jim Hague), a 1963 Cobra 289 (John McKenna), a 1939 Maserati 4CL (Paddins Dowling), a 1952 Manning Special (Robert Manson), among others.

More than 1000 people per day visited the Wine Country Pavilion in the paddock area, enjoying wines, and local fare from Victor Scargle, executive chef at Lucy Restaurant & Bar at Bardessono in Yountville, Calif.

“We had great weather, safe conditions and everyone had a good time, and that is always our goal,” said Steve Earle, president of General Racing, Ltd., who has organized premier historic car events for four decades. “We are adding new elements to the event each year, as we get familiar with our new home here at the Raceway in Sonoma. This is such an ideal area for car enthusiasts.”

Complete official results will be posted on www.generalracing.com.

Race Winners Today:
Group 1 – Pre-1941 Sports & Touring Cars – Pete Thelander, 1934 MG NE
Group 2 – 1956-1963 Formula Cars – Denny Baker, 1963 Lotus 27 F-Jr.
Group 3 – 1956-1963 Porsche Raleigh NC
Group 4 – 1963-1973 Grand National Stock – Jim Hague, 1972 Ford Gran Torino
Group 5 – 1955-1962 Production/GT Cars – Jeff Abramson, 1959 Morgan +4
Group 6 – 1962-1966 Prod/GT Cars 2000cc – John McKenna, 1963 Cobra 289
Group 7 – 1982-1991 Hist. IMSA GTO/SCCA – Peter Baljet, 1990 Chevy Beretta
Group 8 – 1925-1941 Racing Cars – Paddins Dowling, 1939 Maserati 4CL
Group 9 – 1946-1955 Sports Racing & Prod – Robert Manson, 1952 Manning Spl.
Group 10 – 1955-1960 Sports Racing Cars – Edward Nigro, 1960 Lola MK1
Group 11 – 1962-1966 Prod/GT Cars 2000cc – Ray Thompson, 1964 Ginetta G-4
Group 12 – 1973-1979 IMSA GT & FIA Cars – Ranson Webster, 1976 Porsche 935 K3
Group 13 – 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars – Wade Carter, 1972 McLaren M8-FP
Group 14 – 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars – Chad Raynal, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Group 15 – 1971-1982 FIA Sports Racing – Keith Frieser, 1972 Lola 290

2012 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Awards
The Sonoma Historic Cup - “The Phil Hill Trophy”
Presented for Best Presentation and Performance Overall
Winner: Brian Blain, Visalia, Calif., 1911 National

The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Pre-1940 Category
Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Winner: Ed Archer, Hayward, Calif., 1915 Ford T

The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Post 1940 Category
Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Winner: Steve Schuler, Capistrano Beach, Calif., 1991 Mustang

The Sonoma Historic Award
Presented for Presentation and Performance in Race Group
Group 1 – Pete Thelander, Westminster, Calif., 1934 MG NE
Group 2 – Jimmy Domingos, Carmel, Calif., 1962 Cooper T-59 F-Jr.
Group 3 – Mike Blackie, Prescott, Ariz., 1964 Genie MK 10
Group 4 – Ron Myska, Benicia, Calif., 1969 Ford Talladega
Group 5 – Bill Lyon, Newport Beach, Calif., 1961 Porsche Abarth
Group 6 – Kristopher Matheson, Meadow Vista, Calif., 1966 Shelby GT 350
Group 7 – John McKenna, Auburn, Wash., 1985 Mercury Capri
Group 8 – Joe Harding, Vista, Calif., 1939 Lagonda V12
Group 9 – Don Martine, Pacific Grove, Calif., 1950 MG TD Von Neumann
Group 10 – Bruce Miller, Alamo, Calif., 1958 Lotus 11 LeMans
Group 11 – Dalmo de Vasconcelos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 1965 Lotus Elan
Group 12 -  Ned Bacon, Minden, Nev., 1975 Porsche RSR
Group 13 - Wade Carter,  Woodinville, Wash.,1972 McLaren M8-FP
Group 14 – Mike Eddy, Torrance, Calif., 1969 Mustang Boss 302
Group 15 – Todd Smathers, Pleasanton, Calif., 1973 Lola T-282

 

 
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