Report and photos by Dennis Gray
The Coronado Speed Festival 2012 was held September 21-23 at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California, nearby the city of San Diego.
Sanctioned and organized by HMSA, the 15th annual Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival saw a field of more than 200 historic racing cars take to the 1.7-mile course constructed in mere days on the runways and taxiways of the military base.The track is laid out with orange cones and water barrels, with a number of asphalt to cement transitions that made traction an issue for several drivers. Check out the backgrounds of many of the images and you will see Navy aircraft, sailboats on the bay, San Diego across the channel and other sights not normally associated with race tracks.
Participants in the 2012 edition of the “Race at the Base” were grouped into nine different race classes, each divided according to make, age and horsepower. The following race groups were seen on the track: 1952 – 1959 Sports Racing and Production cars; 1962 – 1972 Sports Racing and Formula Cars under 2000cc; 1969 – 1980 Sports Racing and Formula Cars; 1953 – 1966 Production cars under 2000cc; 1959 – 1966 Production cars – Disc Brake; 1962 – 1966 Productions cars over 2500cc; 1965 – 1988 FIA Manufacturer Championship Cars; Historic NASCAR; and 1966 – 1972 Historic Trans-Am. While the practice laps had the cars spread out and not maintaining contact, once the green flag dropped, the races were close with lots of passing.
Notable entries at the 2012 Fleet Week historic races included 1966 McLaren M1B of Jerry Entin; 1953 Kurtis 500S of Tom Claridge; Steve Schmidt’s 1965 Mini Marcos; Ranson Webster’s 1973 Porsche 911 RSR 2.8 and Abarth Porsche; 1968 Lola T70 Mk IIIB of Steve Hilton; Lorne Leibel’s 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona; Pete Whitehead’s 1964 Iso Rivolta; Fiat Abarth 210 Berlino Corso of Ed Roll; Bob Engberg’s 1957 Elva Mk. IIB; John Goodman’s 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 and 1972 Sparling Ferrari 312 Special; Alan Frick in Alfa Romeo TZ; and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwings of Steve Marx and Alex Curtis.
The 2012 Coronado Speed Festival also featured the Military Pit Crew Challenge, which saw 13 teams comprised of Navy and Marine personnel face off in a timed race to enact a simulated NASCAR pit stop.
“This competition embodies the spirit and skills that characterizes these U.S. Navy personnel – hard work, skill, speed, and teamwork,” said Captain Chris Sund, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station North Island. “They practiced for only a short time and were able to accomplish their mission in about 35 seconds.”
The Pit Crew Challenge featured a customized NASCAR on display commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Navy SEALs, first commissioned in San Diego in 1962. Other events celebrating this milestone at Speed Festival were the spectacular flyovers and a jump by the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, during the lunchtime activities, and the event’s Co-Grand Marshal, Rear Admiral Cathal “Irish” Flynn, one of the most honored SEALs in history and a member of the original SEAL Team One.
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 – Photo Gallery
(click image for larger picture and description)
[nggallery id=487 images=15]
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 – Sunday Race Results
Group One – 1952-1959 Sports and Production with Drum Brakes
1. Thor Johnson, 1959 Lotus 17
2. John Goodman, 1958 Devin SS
3. Robert Engberg, 1957 Elva Mk IIB
4. Tom Claridge, 1953 Kurtis 500S
5. Bruce Miller, 1958 Lotus Eleven
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group One – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Two – 1962-1972 Sports Racing and Formula Cars under 2000c
1. John Delane, 1966 Brabham BT18
2. Dan Cowdrey, 1970 Titan Mk 6
3. Mike Thurlow, 1969 Brabham BT29
4. Tom Malloy, 1966 Brabham BT18
5. Steve Schmidt, 1963 Lotus 23B
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Two – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Three – 1969-1980 Sports Racing and Formula Cars
1. Chris Farrell, 1979 Ralt
2. Mike Thurlow, 1973 Lola T294
3. R. Gray Gregory, 1974 Chevron B26
4. Frank Eckert, 1980 March
5. Philippe Reyns, 1971 Lola T212
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Three – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Four – 1953-1969 Production Cars under 2000c
1. Tom Brecht, 1969 BMW 2002
2. Ned Bacon, 1961 Porsche 356B
3. Alan Frick, 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ
4. Tim Brecht, 1960 Austin Mini Cooper S
5. Jerry Barker, 1963 Triumph Herald
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Four – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Five – 1959-1973 Production Cars with Disc Brakes
1. Tim Brecht, 1969 BMW 2002 T/A
2. Craig Hauenstein, 1968 BMW 2002
3. Jon Norman, 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
4. Terry Forland, 1968 BMW 2002
5. Anthony Rimicci, 1968 Alfa Romeo GTV
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Five – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Six – 1962-1966 Production Cars over 2500cc
1. Jeff Kline, 1964 Ginetta G4
2. John Goodman, 1964 Shelby Cobra 289
3. John Morton, 1964 Sunbeam Tiger
4. Jim Halsey, 1965 Ford Shelby GT350
5. Donn Vickrey, 1966 Ford Shelby GT350
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Six – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Seven – 1965-1988 FIA Manufacturer Championship Cars
1. Ken Davis, 1985 Mercury Capri
2. Howard Matloff, 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass IMSA
3. John Goodman, 1972 Ferrari 312 Sparling Special
4. Gordon Johnson, 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass
5. Steve Hilton, 1968 Lola T70 Mk IIIB Spyder
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Seven – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Eight – Historic NASCAR
1. Mike McGovern, 1994 Ford Thunderbird
2. Tom Klauer, 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
3. Wes McNay, 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix
4. Robert Lavinia, 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix
5. Dan Verstuyft, 2001 Ford Taurus
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Eight – Complete Sunday Race Results
Group Nine – 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am
1. Bruce Canepa, 1970 AMC Javelin
2. Tom Cantrell, 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
3. J Bittle, 1968 Ford Mustang
4. Jim Hague, 1971 AMC Javelin
5. Ken Adams, 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 Group Nine – Complete Sunday Race Results
Coronado Speed Festival 2012 – Special Awards
Group 1 – Bob Engberg – Elva Mk IIB
Honorable mention – Peter Smith – 1958 Bug Eye Sprite
Group 2 – Don Anderson – 1964 Bobsy SR3
Honorable mention – Reg Howell – 1967 Porsche 910
Group 3 – Dan Marvin – 1976 March 76B
Group 4 – Steve Schmidt – 1965 Mini Marcos
Honorable mention – Jim Alder – 1952 Jaguar XK 120
Group 5 – Wayne McAtee – Datsun 510
Honorable mention – Victor and Michael Avila
Group 6 – Pete Whitehead – 1964 ISO Rivolta
Honorable mention – Mark Cane – 1966 Ford Shelby GT350
Group 7 – Steve Hilton – 1968 Lola T70 Mk IIIB
Group 8 – Dan Verstyuft – 2001 Ford Taurus
Group 9 – Tony Hart – 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Honorable mention – Tomy Drissi, Kenny Epsman
Briggs Cunningham Award – Tom Claridge – 1953 Kurtis 500S
President’s Award – Jerry Entin – 1966 McLaren Mk 2
Admirals Trophy – Michael Martin – 1970 Ford Boss 302 Mustang
Rookie Award – Chad Manista – 1970 Ford Mustang
[Source: Coronado Speed Festival; photo: Dennis Gray]
picture #62, is that one of Gilles cars from Canada before he jumped to F1?
Thank you Dennis for the great photographs, good to see photos of cars we never see in Europe/Scandinavia, cars like 55- 58 Corvettes, 1970 AMC Javelin, and homegrown all American sports racing cars like the Kurtis 500S, Devlin SS Chevrolet, plus more. In photo number 3 car # 1c, just what is that?, and do I spot a Cooper Climax T39 car # 93 in the background?, did it race? cheers Graham.
Hi Graham – I believe photo #3 the car #1C is the Townsend Typhoon Mk IV. Here’s an article on the race car:
https://sportscardigest.com/townsend-typhoon-mk-iv-restoring-an-american-special/
Graham.
Sunday night’s award dinner was held on the USS Macon Island LHD 8. I was privileged to sit at the same table as Owen Gibson, Frank Townsend, and the original driver who I think was Pete Voevodsky. Three great guys. Cris Vandargriff and the HMSA staff work hard on pulling these types of cars out of the woods. Its great to see and hear them run again. Look back at some of Sportscardigest past coverage of the Monterey Historics to see images of the Townsend Mk.2 Purple People Eater. That’s a strange car. Dennis Gray
Bill.
That is a car driven ‘in the day’ by Gilles. You can see a story on the car by going to this link:
http://www.alfapartscatalog.com/ALFA_PARTS/2010-07_Profile-March.pdf
Thanks for the comments. Dennis Gray
Number 93 is the Jim Brown’s 1955, Cooper T-39 with a Coventry Climax 1220cc engine. Jim’s best time was a 1:28.163 and he finished 11th out of 29 cars in group 1. The first place Group 1 car was a 1959, Lotus 17 with a 1460cc Coventry and a best lap of 1:21.059. Dennis Gray
Great stuff Dennis!