Report and photos by Victor Varela
The Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California, played host once again to the thundering symphony of vintage race cars at the 2013 Coronado Speed Festival on September 21-22. Over 200 historic race cars participated in this year’s event, including several Porsche 911s in celebration of the car’s 50th anniversary.
Entering its 16th year, the annual “Race at the Base” hosted vintage race cars from around the country on a temporary 1.7 mile course that is constructed each year on the Naval Air Station’s runways and taxiways. Race fans were treated to a weekend of vintage racing with the various race classes that participated, as well as an open paddock where the cars and drivers prepared for their time on the track. With the numerous vendors, food stands, car club corrals and several military vehicles and aircraft on display, car fans along with their families and friends, had a lot to see, eat and experience throughout the warm and sunny Southern California race weekend.
With this year marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 911, the 2013 Coronado Speed Festival celebrated this milestone with a large contingent of 911s in the car corral as well as several 911s racing throughout the weekend. Among the 911s racing at Coronado were Jim Bouzaglou’s 1973 Porsche Carrera RSR, Erich Joiner’s 1972 Porsche Carrera RSR, Ed Matsuishi’s 1965 Porsche 911, Matt Parson’s 1969 Porsche 911, Erich Wilms’ 1967 Porsche 911S and Patrick Paternie’s 1968 Porsche 911.
Other notable and interesting entrants at the Fleet Week event included John Goodman’s 1972 Ferrari 312P Sparling Special, 1958 Devin SS and 1964 Shelby Cobra, Alex Curtis’ 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, Erich Joiner’s 1977 Chevron B36 and 1964 Shelby Cobra, Steve Thein’s 1967 Porsche 910, Wes Abendroth’s 1965 Fiberfab Special, Ned Spieker’s 1957 Maserati 200 Si, Bill Lyon’s 1960 Porsche RS 60, Al Arciero’s 1957 Lister Knobbly, Tom Malloy’s 1969 Lola T70, Steve Hilton’s 1968 Lola T70 Mk3, Robert Ryan’s 1968 McLaren M6B, Steve Schuler’s 1991 Roush Ford Mustang and Lance Smith’s 1968 Ford Torino.
Racing great Tony Adamowicz served as Honorary Grand Marshal for this year’s Speed Festival. Highlights of Adamowicz’s career include winning the 1968 Trans-Am Championship in the Milestone Racing Porsche 911 and the 1969 Formula 5000 championship in his Gurney Eagle F5000.
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Victor Varela documented the 2013 Coronado Speed Festival. We split up Victor’s pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and race results can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Victor, visit VictorVarela.com.
Coronado Speed Festival 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery
