The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 was held May 16-18 at Sonoma Raceway Sears Point in Sonoma, California. Sunny and warm weather greeted the nearly 350 vintage and historic cars that competed in 14 groups on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in Northern California’s wine country. This year’s Historics celebrated the Can-Am Series, which ran from 1966 to 1974, with a focus on the unique Shadow race cars that competed from 1970-1974.
From a 1929 Lagonda, a 1911 National 40, to a cadre of booming McLaren Can-Am cars from the ’60s and ‘70s, and the fan-favorite Trans-Am cars of the same era, an enthusiastic crowd was treated to close competition among many classic race cars from the last 100 years.
Other notable entrants included the 1970 Gulf Porsche 917K; 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France; 1953 Jaguar C-Type; 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C-35; 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage; 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight; 1974 BMW 3.5 CSL; 1976 Porsche 935 K3; 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 FIA; 1928 Bugatti 35B; 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 MM and 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.
The featured race at the 4th annual Sonoma Historics – 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars – was won by Spencer Trenery in a black 1970 McLaren M8C, followed by the 1972 McLaren M8F of Rick Knoop and the 1968 McLaren M6B of Robert Ryan. Fred Cziska’s 1972 Shadow DN2 and Dennis Losher’s 1971 Shadow MKII finished fifth and eighth, respectively.
Dyke Ridgley posted double-header victories, taking the victory in both Group 3 (1946-1955 Sports Racing and Production Cars) with his 1953 Jaguar C-Type and Group 5 (1955-1960 Sports Racing Cars) in his 1960 Maserati Type 61 Birdcage. Additional race winners included a 1970 Porsche 908/3 driven by Cameron Healy, a 1936 ERA R6B, raced by Charles McCabe, a 1962 Lotus 22 Formula Junior piloted by Carl Moore and a 1971 Chevron B-19 driven by Randall Smith.
“The weekend was successful once again,” said Steve Earle, president of General Racing, Ltd. “We are very proud of the quality of our drivers. We had only one minor incident, but otherwise it was a good, clean, fun weekend for all the participants and fans. That’s what it’s supposed to be, and has always been.”
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Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, Senior Photographer Dennis Gray also documented the 2014 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, offering the following images that highlight the quality field at this year’s event. We split up Dennis’ 180 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.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2014 – Race Results
Group 1, Pre-1927 Sports Touring Cars
1. Dick Jeffery, Hillsborough, Calif., 1937 Triumph Special
2. Robert F. Williams, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1952 Siata Diana
3. Ed Archer, Hayward, Calif., 1915 Ford Model T
Group 2, 1925-1941 Racing Cars
1. Charles McCabe, San Francisco, Calif., 1936 ERA R6B
2. Paddins Dowling, Sausalito, Calif., 1939 Maserati 4CL
3. Peter Giddings, Danville, Calif., 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C-35
Group 3, 1946-1955 Sports Racing and Production Cars
1. Dyke Ridgley, Willamette, Ill., 1953 Jaguar C-Type
2. Rob Manson, Barcelona, Spain, 1952 Baldwin-Mercury Special
3. John Buddenbaum, Sunnyvale, Calif., 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special
Group 4, 1956-1963 Formula Jr., F-2, F1 Cars
1. Carl Moore, Alamo, Calif., 1962 Lotus 22 Formula Junior
2. Jeff Abramson, Alamo, Calif., 1960 Cooper Formula One
3. Maurice McCaig, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1961 Cooper T-56 Formula Junior
Group 5, 1955-1960 Sports Racing Cars
1. Dyke Ridgley, Willamette, Ill., 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage
2. Frank Zucchi, Livermore, Calif., 1960 Piranha
3. David Swig, Sausalito, Calif., 1957 Monsterati Special
Group 6 and 13b, 1959-1966 Sports Racing Cars and 1964-1970 FIA Cars
1. Cameron Healy, Portland, Ore., 1970 Porsche 908/3
2. John Goodman, Seattle, Wash., 1972 Ferrari 312P Sparling
3. Michael Reischl, Kent, Wash., 1967 Chevron GT
Group 7, 1955-1962 Production GT Cars
1. Noel Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., 1958 Chevrolet Corvette
2. Brian Howlett, Hacienda Heights, Calif., 1961 Morgan +4
3. Bill H. Lyon, Newport Beach, Calif., 1961 Porsche 356 Abarth
Group 8, 1963-1973 Grand National Stock Cars
1. Ron Myska, Fairfield, Calif., 1969 Ford Talladega
2. Jim Hague, Santa Clara, Calif., 1972 Ford Torino
3. Linda Mountanos, Ukiah, Calif., 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle
Group 9, 1962-1967 Production/GT Cars over 2000cc
1. Jeff Abramson, Alamo, Calif., 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
2. Chris MacAllister, Indianapolis, Ind., 1964 Shelby Cobra 289
3. Don Lee, Portola Valley, Calif., 1965 Shelby Cobra 427
Group 10, 1962-1967 Production Cars under 2000cc
1. Dalmo de Vasconcelos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1965 Lotus Elan
2. Fred Della Noce, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1967 Alfa Romeo GTAm
3. Martin Lauber, Tiburon, Calif., 1967 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT
Group 11, 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars
1. Jim Halsey, Los Angeles, Calif., 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
2. Ken Epsman, Santa Clara, Calif., 1972 AMC Javelin
3. Jim Hague, Santa Clara, Calif., 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Group 12, 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars
1. Spencer Trenery, Emeryville, Calif., 1970 McLaren M8C
2. Rick Knoop, Laguna Beach, Calif., 1972 McLaren M8F
3. Robert Ryan, Avila Beach, Calif., 1968 McLaren M6B
Group 13a, 1970-1979 IMSA GT and 1971-1979 FIA Cars
1. Randall Smith, Petaluma, Calif., 1971 Chevron B-19
2. Alex MacAllister, Indianapolis, Ind., 1971 Chevron B-19
3. Richard Harris, Incline Village, Calif., 1979 Porsche 935 J
Group 14, 1982-1991 Historic IMSA GTO/SCCA Trans-Am Cars
1. Mike Gagen, La Mesa, Calif., 1988 Chevrolet Camaro
2. Ken Epsman, Santa Clara, Calif., 1984 Pontiac Firebird
3. Chris Liebenberg, Boyertown, Penn., 1982 Ford Mustang
The Sonoma Historic Cup – “The Phil Hill Trophy” – Presented for Best Presentation and Performance Overall
Charles McCabe, San Francisco, Calif., 1936 ERA R6B
The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Post-1940 Category – Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Mike Eddy, Gardena, Calif., 1963 Ford Falcon
The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Post 1940 Category – Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Paddins Dowling, Sausalito, Calif., 1939 Maserati 4 CL
The Sonoma Historic Award – Presented for Presentation and Performance in Race Group
Group 1 – Jim Nix, Saratoga, Calif., 1926 Rajo Ford
Group 2 – Steve Walker, Amity, Ore., 1935 BMW 315/1
Group 3 – Timothy Barnes, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 1951 Jaguar XK120
Group 4 – Maurice McCaig, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1961 Cooper T-56 F-Jr.
Group 5 – Erickson Shirley, Vail, Colo., 1959 Lister-Chevrolet
Group 6 – Michael Reischl, Kent, Wash., 1967 Chevron GT
Group 7 – Ronald Cressey, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1959 Chevrolet Corvette
Group 8 – Trace Chalmers, Irvine, Calif., 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner
Group 9 – John Goodman, Seattle, Wash., 1964 Shelby Cobra
Group 10 – Fred Della Noce, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1967 Alfa Romeo GTAm
Group 11 – Greg Weirick, Malibu, Calif., 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Group 12 – Fred Cziska, Petaluma, Calif., 1972 Shadow DN2
Group 13 – Alex McAllister, Indianapolis, Ind., 1971 Chevron B-19
Group 14 – Chris Liebenberg, Boyertown, Pa., 1982 Ford Mustang
Purchase Dennis Gray Photos
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[Source: General Racing; Dennis Gray]
In life, we strive to get better and improve no matter what the task. Dennis….you can stop now! Its not possible to take better pictures than these.
Bill.
Thanks. It helps that the cars and drivers put on such a great show. The drive Ken Epson put on Saturday taking his Dekon Monza from last to third then Sunday’s drive by Henry Schmitt in his 3.5 CSL BMW Batmobile from near last to fourth were both lessons on how to drive aggressively and quickly without bending any sheet metal. Fun to watch and great to shoot.
Dennis,
Great shots, but I believe the name is Ken Epsman and he owns several TransAm cars and he can drive them.
You are of course correct. Late night on the computer never pays. Dennis
Thanks Dennis for your great photographic coverage, especially of my personal favorites the Sports Racing cars. And great to see all your photographs of the North American built Sports Racing cars, and Formula cars. Cheers from Sweden, Graham…
The reports and pix are a treasure for those of us that saw them originally, but must pick and choose opportunities to see the cars and drivers run these days. To that end I’d ask the Digest editors if they’d consider adding a schedule/calendar of vintage events and auctions a bit into the future so we ‘old guys’ might plan/try to attend more of those near enough. For now, keep up the ‘fine art’ you offer that we love.
I think I finished fourth and second in class in group 13a – maybe Schmitt was next?