Sonoma Historic Festival 2012 – Report and Photos

Report and photos by Dennis Gray

The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 was held the weekend of June 1-3, at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California. Under sunny and warm conditions, a field of more than 340 historic cars competed in 15 groups of racing on the challenging 12-turn, 2.52 mile road course.

“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. “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.”

The theme for the 2012 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 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 duties at Sonoma 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 and Production) 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 Le Mans.

Pollack also presented the Sonoma Historic Cup, “The Phil Hill Trophy,” to Brian Blain of Visalia, California, who drove a 1911 National to eighth place in the Pre-1941 Sports and Touring Cars racing class. The award is annually given for best overall presentation and performance.

Notable entries at the third annual Sonoma Historics included the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Zagato and 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 MM of Tom Price; Peter Giddings’ 1931 Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3; 1927 Bugatti T-35B of Bill Lyon; Porsche Abarths of Ranson Webster and Bill Lyon; 1957 Maserati 250 F and 1953 Siata 208CS of Jeffrey O’Neill; Chris MacAllister’s 1971 McLaren M8F and 1966 Ford GT-40; among others.

Competitive, close quarters racing was provided by several race groups, including the booming Trans-Am class that saw Chad Raynal’s 1969 Chevrolet Z/28 nip the 1972 AMC Javelin of Jim Hague by a mere 0.105 seconds at the finish line. Another tight finish came in the Pre-1941 Sports and Touring Cars where the 1934 MG NE of Pete Thelander eclipsed Dick Jeffery’s 1937 Triumph 9 Monoposto by 0.222 seconds. Yet, the 1956-1963 Formula Cars provided the real photo finish, with Danny Baker’s 1963 Lotus 27 FJ topped the 1963 Lola MK5A of Art Hebert by a oh-so-close 0.068 seconds.

Additional race group winners at the 2012 running of the Sonoma Historics included 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), 1972 McLaren M8-FP (Wade Carter), among others.

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Race Results

Group 1 – Pre-1941 Sports and Touring Cars
1. Pete Thelander, 1934 MG NE (2:39.234 fastest lap)
2. Dick Jeffery, 1937 Triumph 9 Monoposto
3. Noel Park, 1917 Chevrolet 490 Speedster
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 1 Race Results

Group 2 – 1956-1963 Formula Cars
1. Denny Baker, 1963 Lotus 27 Formula Junior
2. Art Hebert, 1963 Lola MK5A (1:47.578 fastest lap)
3. Jimmy Domingos, 1962 Cooper T-59 Formula Junior
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 2 Race Results

Group 3 – 1956-1963 Sports Racing Cars
1. Jeff Abramson, 1966 Lotus 23C
2. Mike Blackie, 1964 Genie MK 10
3. John Harden, 1963 Genie MK 8
A.C. D’Augustine, 1965 Genie Mk 10B (1:48.310 fastest lap)
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 3 Race Results

Group 4 – 1963-1973 Grand National Stock
1. Jim Hague, 1972 Ford Gran Torino (1:56.928 fastest lap)
2. Randy Peterson, 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo
3. Ron Myska, 1969 Ford Talladega
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 4 Race Results

Group 5 – 1955-1962 Production and GT Cars
1. Jeff Abramson, 1959 Morgan +4 (1:59.630 fastest lap)
2. Leonard Turnbeaugh, 1958 Porsche 356A
3. Brian Howlett, 1961 Morgan +4
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 5 Race Results

Group 6 – 1962-1966 Production and GT Cars over 2000cc
1. John McKenna, 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 (1:51.210 fastest lap)
2. Terry Gough, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette
3. Tom Fry, 1966 Shelby GT350
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 6 Race Results

Group 7 – 1982-1991 Historic IMSA GTO and SCCA
1. Peter Baljet, 1990 Chevrolet Beretta (1:38.411 fastest lap)
2. Ross Thompson, 1985 Ford Thunderbird
3. John Watkins, 1983 Huffaker Pontiac Firebird
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 7 Race Results

Group 8 – 1925-1941 Racing Cars
1. Paddins Dowling, 1939 Maserati 4CL
2. Peter Giddings, 1931 Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3
3. Tom Price, 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 MM
Peter Greenfield, 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35 (2:04.066 fastest lap)
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 8 Race Results

Group 9 – 1946-1955 Sports Racing and Production
1. Robert Manson, 1952 Manning Special
2. Tom Claridge, 1953 Kurtis
3. John Buddenbaum, 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special
Don Pepperdene, 1949 Baldwin Special (2:00.622 fastest lap)
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 9 Race Results

Group 10 – 1955-1960 Sports Racing Cars
1. Edward Nigro, 1960 Lola MK I (1:56.709 fastest lap)
2. David Swig, 1957 Monsterati Special
3. Chris Orosco, 1959 Lola MK I
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 10 Race Results

Group 11 – 1962-1966 Production and GT Cars under 2000cc
1. Ray Thompson, 1964 Ginetta G4 (1:54.033 fastest lap)
2. Dalmo de Vasconcelos, 1965 Lotus Elan
3. Robert Forbes, 1964 Ginetta G4R
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 11 Race Results

Group 12 – 1973-1979 IMSA GT and FIA Cars
1. Ranson Webster, 1976 Porsche 935 K3
2. Bradley Harris, 1975 Porsche 911 3.0 RSR
3. Ned Bacon, 1975 Porsche 911 3.0 RSR
Tommy Thompson, 1973 Chevrolet Corvette (1:41.997 fastest lap)
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 12 Race Results

Group 13 – 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars
1. Wade Carter, 1972 McLaren M8-FP (1:36.543 fastest lap)
2. Steve Cook, 1968 McLaren M6B
3. Chris MacAllister, 1971 McLaren M8F
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 13 Race Results

Group 14 – 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars
1. Chad Raynal, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (1:54.062 fastest lap)
2. Jim Hague, 1972 AMC Javelin
3. Forrest Straight, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 14 Race Results

Group 15 – 1971-1982 FIA Sports Racing
1. Keith Frieser, 1972 Lola T290 (1:34.931 fastest lap)
2. Todd Smathers, 1973 Lola T282
3. Randall Smith, 1971 Chevron B-19
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Group 15 Race Results

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2012 – Additional Awards

The Sonoma Historic Cup – “The Phil Hill Trophy”
Presented for Best Presentation and Performance Overall
Brian Blain, Visalia, California, 1911 National

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

The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Post 1940 Category
Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Steve Schuler, Capistrano Beach, California, 1991 Mustang

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

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[Source: Sonoma Historics; Dennis Gray]