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Reading
Masters Historic Season Finale at Sonoma Raceway
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Dennis Gray
Gregory Thornton, Gregory, 1982 Lotus 91/5, in turn ten Friday afternoon. Photo © Dennis Gray
Events

Masters Historic Season Finale at Sonoma Raceway

 Rex McAfee

The 2021 season finale for Masters Historic Racing USA concluded on the weekend of Oct 17 at Sonoma Raceway CA. After two days of warm, sunny weather, a fast-moving storm front with predictions of rain made its appearance on Sunday prompting the question, “Is it time to bring out the rain tires?”  An “on and off again” cloudy sky prevailed leaving it all up to the drivers to enjoy their last day of racing. Somewhat of a last-minute event held in conjunction with the Yokohama Driver’s Cup USA, the Masters Historic Racing run groups were all on the smaller side, yet there was still plenty of excitement to be had.

1974 March 741Griot, Richard, 1974 March 741, exits turn 4. Photo © Rex McAfee

Wasting no time in reviewing the F1 “Top Guns”, UK’s Greg Thornton and American Cal Meeker came into the weekend battling for the season title. While Thornton had the advantage with 84 points over Meeker’s 71, we all know racing can be a cruel sport; anything was possible. Powered by Cosworth DFV V8s that make a beautiful concerto at 10,000 RPM, Thornton qualified his 1982 Lotus 91/5 “John Player Special” at a brisk 1:29.573 on Friday over the 11-turn road course. The TAG livery Tyrrell 010 of Eathan Shippert followed closely behind at 1:29.842 with Meeker rounding out the top three at 1:31.630. But would qualifying be replicated when the green flag dropped?

1976 Shadow DN5Nicholas Colyvas, 1976 Shadow DN5, new sticker tires for Friday’s practice. Photo © Dennis Gray

Race 1 on Saturday resulted in Thornton almost matching his qualifying time and dominating the 14-lap race. This would clinch the title for Greg taking the pressure off for Sunday’s Race 2. Rival Cal Meeker took 2nd followed by Bud Moeller drivinghis 1982 Williams FW08/01. Plagued by mechanical issues in Saturday’s race, the ex-Mario Andretti 1976 Lotus 77 “John Player Special” of Chris Locke found redemption under the much cooler skies of Sunday. With Thornton on “cruise control” up front, Locke put on a beautiful display of controlled power slides and almost caught the “younger cousin” Lotus by the last lap making for a beautiful one-two finish of “Black and Gold”.

1974 Chevron B27Todd Willing in his 1974 Chevron B27, makes time towards turn 3. Photo © Rex McAfee

The Masters Formula Atlantic Plus groupwas just as exciting with 15 entries and a wide range of machinery. From the 1972 March 722 of Joseph Hopkins to the more modern Ralt RT31-VW of Dave Zulinden, watching these nimble racers go through corners head-to-nose is a thrill all unto its own. But make no mistake, the year of a race car doesn’t necessarily determine its fate, as hot-shoe Danny Baker proved in his 1979 Ralt RT1 ALL WEEKEND LONG.  This was Danny’s first time running with the Masters Atlantic Plus group, and likely just the first of many as he brought home 1st place trophies on both Saturday and Sunday. Less than 3 seconds off the pace of Thornton’s Formula One laps, you could say Danny’s performance was nothing short of epic. Steve Cook piloting an early 1974 Chevron B27 should also be commended for placing 2nd on both Saturday and Sunday.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7RMueller, Tom, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R, earning 3rd overall on Saturday. Photo © Rex McAfee

Lastly, we visit the Masters Endurance Legends USA series, now in its third year. Entries include GT sports cars and prototypes from 1982 to 2016. The array of sub classes is a bit dizzying but broadly speaking, there are the Prototypes, both American (IMSA) and European (LMP) based, as well as GT1, GT2 and GT3 production-based racers. Pit stops are mandatory with minimum time restrictions as I will revisit in a moment. This weekend introduced a new face on the Master’s calendar, Charles Perisco who drove a beautiful 2016 Ginetta G57 prototype to first place in both 40-minute races. All weekend long I had a soft spot for the V8 rumbles coming from Tom Mueller’s 2014 factory Corvette C7R which to no surprise, also took first in the GT1-3 class on both days, and would have taken second overall (quite a feat) on Sunday if it wasn’t for a pit stop infraction (too short of stop).

2009 Riley & ScottOctavio Rincon, 2009 Riley & Scott leads the Corvette into the setting sun Saturday. Photo © Dennis Gray

Wrap up: When you can see an ex-Mario Andretti Lotus F1 sliding around the crest of turn 2, or a factory Le Mans Corvette roaring out of pit lane, what’s not to like! Sharing my enthusiasm for the weekend was Masters Historic Racing’s U.S. Event and Series Manager, Anja Kempermann, who took a few moments to comment on the weekend “So far, the drivers really seem to be enjoying the relaxed atmosphere which is less hectic and stressful than the bigger events. It gives us more time to speak to several drivers which is great…everyone is enjoying it.” I couldn’t agree more!

Please enjoy the photo gallery below and see mastershistoricracing.com for more details.

2021 Masters Historic Racing Photo Gallery

Dennis Gray
Ron Maydon, 1977 LEC CRP1, leads Nicholas Colyvas, 1976 Shadow DN5, up the hill into turn three. Photo © Dennis Gray
REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Jewell, Marcus, 2016 Ginetta LMP3, crests the hill on his way to turn 6. Photo © Rex McAfee
Chris Bender, 1976 March 76B,  leading through turn ten. Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Chris Bender, 1976 March 76B, leading through turn ten. Photo © Dennis Gray
Beggs, Loren, 2004 Porsche 996 RSR.   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Beggs, Loren, 2004 Porsche 996 RSR. Photo © Rex McAfee
Dennis Gray
Gregory Thornton, Gregory, 1982 Lotus 91/5, in turn ten Friday afternoon. Photo © Dennis Gray
Edward Hugo,  2008 Dodge Viper.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Edward Hugo, 2008 Dodge Viper. Photo © Dennis Gray
Jewell, Marcus, 2016 Ginetta LMP3, navigates turn 6.   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Jewell, Marcus, 2016 Ginetta LMP3, navigates turn 6. Photo © Rex McAfee
Charles Persico, 2016 Ginetta G57.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Charles Persico, 2016 Ginetta G57. Photo © Dennis Gray
Nicholas Colyvas, 1976 Shadow DN5,  between two and three. Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Nicholas Colyvas, 1976 Shadow DN5, between two and three. Photo © Dennis Gray
REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Leeson, Bruce, 2012 Audi R8 LMS, eanred a 2nd in GT3-3 on Sunday. Photo © Rex McAfee
Dalmo de Vasconcelos, 1986 Ralt RT4,   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Dalmo de Vasconcelos, 1986 Ralt RT4, Photo © Dennis Gray
Bruce Leeson, 2012 Audi R8 LMS.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Bruce Leeson, 2012 Audi R8 LMS. Photo © Dennis Gray
REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Doug Baron in his blue 2000 Porsche 996 GT3 RS leads Christopher Frank #93 . Photo © Rex McAfee
Dennis Gray
Paet Hidalgo, 1974 March 742, in close company with Joseph Hopkins, 1972 March 722, Photo © Dennis Gray
Tom Mueller, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Tom Mueller, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R. Photo © Dennis Gray
Shippert, Ethan, 1977 Chevron B39, navigates turn 10.  Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Shippert, Ethan, 1977 Chevron B39, navigates turn 10. Photo © Rex McAfee
Todd Willing, 1974 Chevron B27,  exits turn ten Sunday.  Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Todd Willing, 1974 Chevron B27, exits turn ten Sunday. Photo © Dennis Gray
Bruce Leeson, 2012 Audi R8 LMS.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Bruce Leeson, 2012 Audi R8 LMS. Photo © Dennis Gray
Marcus Jewell, 2016 Ginetta LMP3.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Marcus Jewell, 2016 Ginetta LMP3. Photo © Dennis Gray
Rincon, Octavio, 2009 Riley & Scott, enters turn 6.  Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Rincon, Octavio, 2009 Riley & Scott, enters turn 6. Photo © Rex McAfee
Christopher Frank makes time in his 2000 Porsche GT3R.   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Christopher Frank makes time in his 2000 Porsche GT3R. Photo © Rex McAfee
REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Bender, Chris, 1976 March 76B, earned 2nd in class on Saturday. Photo © Rex McAfee
Nick Griot, 1978 Ralt RT1, exiting turn two Saturday. Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Nick Griot, 1978 Ralt RT1, exiting turn two Saturday. Photo © Dennis Gray
Dennis Gray
Octavio Rincon, 2009 Riley & Scott leads the Corvette into the setting sun Saturday. Photo © Dennis Gray
Geir Ramleth, 1982 Ralt RT4,   into turn ten. Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Geir Ramleth, 1982 Ralt RT4, into turn ten. Photo © Dennis Gray
1987 Ralt RT31-VW
Dave Zurlinden ©Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
1987 Ralt RT31-VW Dave Zurlinden ©Dennis Gray
Leeson, Bruce, 2012 Audi R8 LMS, exits turn 2.  Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Leeson, Bruce, 2012 Audi R8 LMS, exits turn 2. Photo © Rex McAfee
Dwight Matheson, 1976 March 76B,   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Dwight Matheson, 1976 March 76B, Photo © Dennis Gray
Dennis Gray
Gregory Thornton, 1982 Lotus 91/5, leads Bud Moeller, 1982 Williams FW08, Photo © Dennis Gray
Dennis Gray
Dalmo de Vasconcelos, 1986 Ralt RT4, between three and four over the top of Sears Point. Photo © Dennis Gray
Bender, Chris, 1976 March 76B,   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Bender, Chris, 1976 March 76B, Photo © Rex McAfee
Ed Swart, 1978 Chevron B45,   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Ed Swart, 1978 Chevron B45, Photo © Dennis Gray
Ramleth, Geir, 1982 Ralt RT4,   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Ramleth, Geir, 1982 Ralt RT4, Photo © Rex McAfee
Tom Mueller,  2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R. Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Tom Mueller, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R. Photo © Dennis Gray
Chris Locke, 1976 Lotus 77,   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Chris Locke, 1976 Lotus 77, Photo © Dennis Gray
Richard Griot,  1974 March 741,   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Richard Griot, 1974 March 741, Photo © Dennis Gray
Dennis Gray
Marcus Jewell, 2016 Ginetta LMP3. leads out of turn one up the hill towards turn two Saturday. Photo © Dennis Gray
Rincon, Octavio, 2009 Riley & Scott .   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Rincon, Octavio, 2009 Riley & Scott . Photo © Rex McAfee
Bud Moeller, 1982 Williams FW08,   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Bud Moeller, 1982 Williams FW08, Photo © Dennis Gray
REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Meeker, Cal, 1987 Spice GTP finished 1st in Proto Historic class on Saturday.. Photo © Rex McAfee
Alexander Marmureanu, 2010 Porsche 997GT3R.   Photo © Dennis Gray Dennis Gray
Alexander Marmureanu, 2010 Porsche 997GT3R. Photo © Dennis Gray
Dennis Gray
Frank, Christopher, 2000 Porsche GT3R. Late saturday afternoon up the hill towards turn two. Photo © Dennis Gray
REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Matheson, Dwight, 1976 March 76B, took 3rd in class on Saturday. Photo © Rex McAfee
Mueller, Tom, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R crests turn 2.   Photo © Rex McAfee REX MCAFEE rexmcafee@gmail.com
Mueller, Tom, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7R crests turn 2. Photo © Rex McAfee
Dennis Gray
Nicholas Colyvas, 1976 Shadow DN5, new sticker tires for Friday\’s practice. Photo © Dennis Gray
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Rex McAfee
Published photographer and writer for several Porsche and Ferrari magazines. I currently reside in Southern California and I am very grateful for all of the opportunities the local car culture presents me with. Currently the editor of the 356 Club of Southern California. Sharing the car's history through the club's magazine is a true privilege.
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