September 30th through October 2nd found CSRG hosting their 19th Charity Challenge on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California (We older guys refer to the track as Sears Point). This 19th Charity Challenge featured a strong field of over 200 cars divided into 9 groups. Formula cars, prototype and production sports cars, and IMSA cars were all featured. Of the nine run groups of particular interest were Group 3 which was focused on the MG Reunion for MG-powered cars up to 1980 and Group 9 which was for the John Morton Cup for Under 2 Liter and 2.5 Challenge Trans-Am cars.
The 2022 CSRG Charity Challenge had a host of interesting and notable entries. Group 1 included the 1959 MGA Twin Cam driven by Steve Kupferman and the 1959 BMC Huffaker Formula Jr. Mk.1. Group 2 included Tyler Hagan’s 1960 Porsche 356 roadster and Karl Krause in his 1965 Turner Mk.111 Special. Group 3 had G. Michael Hayworth’s 1964 MGB and Drew Alcazar’s 1966 Ford Shelby GT350. Group 4 brought Michael Malone’s 1966 Elva Mk.8 and William Taylor’s 1962 Cooper Monaco to the line. Group 5 had John “Chip” Fudge in his 1962 Cooper T59 and Doug Mockett’s Cooper T56 running. Group 6’s Paul Kitchen’s 1969 Lotus 61 and Edward Lauber’s 1969 Titan were on the grid. Group 7 had a selection of F1, F Atlantic, and Can-Am on the track. Bruce Leeson’s McLaren MK.10B and Jonathan Burke’s 1973 Brabham BT40 stood out. Group 8 had Steve Walker’s 1973 BMW 3.5 CSL and John “Chip” Fudge’s 1965 Sunbeam Tiger. Group 9 had John Norman’s 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV and Kevin Tse’s 1968 Datsun 510. Well prepared and quickly driven, all 200-plus entries put on a good show.
Since the first 2004 CSRG Charity Challenge, CSRG has donated $1.15 million to the Sonoma Chapter of the Speedway Children Charities. In the gallery below, if I missed your favorite car or driver, drop me a line, and I’ll let you know what images of that car/driver I have. Dennis Gray can be reached at [email protected]
