Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2017 – Report and Photos
Charles McCabe - 1934 Bugatti 59
The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2017 was held June 1-4 at Sonoma Raceway Sears Point in Sonoma, California. Beautiful weather greeted the 350 vintage and historic cars that competed in 13 groups on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in Northern California’s wine country.
The 2017 Sonoma Historics was the third year of Sonoma Raceway’s partnership with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) after the organization merged with Steve Earle’s General Racing. The ‘Gold Medallion’ invitational event salutes and rewards race cars prepared to the rules of the era in which they were originally raced. This year’s vintage race honored the Sensational ’60s, saluting the design, technology, and social developments that accumulated in many of the racing series and icons that are celebrated today.
Notable entrants at the 2017 SVRA Sonoma event included Erickson Shirley’s 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3; Peter Greenfield’s 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza; Peter Giddings’ 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2600 Monza; Paddins Dowling’s 1934 ERA R2A; Charles McCabe’s 1934 Bugatti Type 59; Chris MacAllister’s 1938 ERA 14B, 1964 Shelby Cobra FIA 289, 1966 Ford GT40 and 1971 Chevron B19; Mark Sange’s 1952 HWM Tasman Grand Prix; Jeff Abramson’s 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider; Reg Howell’s 1967 Porsche 910; Linda Mountanos’ 1935 Pirrung Special; Ranson Webster’s 1976 Porsche 935 K3; Steve Schmidt’s 1976 Porsche 935 K3; Cameron Healy’s 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR; Steve Walker’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL; Gary Cox’s 1953 Austin Healey Special; David Swig’s 1957 Monsterati Special and John Goodman’s 1972 Ferrari 312 Sparling NART Special.
Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2017 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, with Senior Photographer Dennis Gray offering the following photos highlighting this year’s event.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2017 – Photo Gallery (photo: Dennis Gray)
Philip Mendelovitz – 1989 Nissan GTU
Michael Parsons – 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
Walter Brown – 1987 Chevrolet Camaro
Steve Schuler – 1991 Roush Mustang
Gordon Johnson – 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Allen Nicholas-MARCH 76B
Nick Gojmeric-MARCH 802
Robert Corliss – 2001 Swift 14
Dalmos de Vasconcelos-RALT RT1 F Atl.
Peter Greenfield – 1933 Alfa Romeo Monza
Mark Sange – 1952 HWM Tasman
Erickson Shirley – 1934 Alfa Romeo P3
Rob Kaufmann-McLaren Mk8 E
Tom Dooley – 1988 Porsche 962
Tom Minnich – 1978 Chevron B36
Alex MacAllister – 1971 Chevron B19
Rob Kauffman – McLaren M8E
Paul Kuhl – 1981 March 81A
Tom Dooley – 2002 GForce IRL
Tom Dooley – 1988 Porsche 962
John Goodman – 1972 Ferrari Sparling NART Special
John Goodman – 1988 Chevrolet Protofab Corvette
Kenneth Davis – 1985 Roush Mercury Capri
Mark Mountanos – 1971 Pontiac Firebird and Mark Eddy- 1963 Chevrolet Impala
Doug Schultz – 1969 Dodge Daytona
Chris MacAllister – 1964 Cobra FIA 289
John Fudge – 1966 Bizzarrini 5300 GT and Dale Akuszewski – 1965 Sunbeam Tiger
Jeff Abramson – 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
Russ Uzes – 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Brad Oldenbrook-Ford Mustang
Chris Longstaffe – 1967 MGB GT
Rial Barnett – 1969 BMW 2002
Arthur Carter – 1972 Datsun 240Z
Greg Powell-Morgan Plus 4
Mike Eddy – 1964 Ford Falcon
Bill Ockerlund’s Plymouth Cuda.
Michael Martin – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Jim Hague – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Bruce Canepa – 1970 AMC Javelin
Robert Kauffman-Pontiac Trans Am
Forrest Straight – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
John Hildebrand – 1964 Pontiac Tempest/GTO
Karman Cusack – 1968 Ford Mustang
Jim Hague’s Ford Boss 302 leads the Plymouth Cuda of Bill Ockerlund.
Rob Fisher’s MARCH 79B F Atl
Rob Fisher-MARCH 79B F Atl.
Tom Morgan – 1956 Morgan 42829
Jonathan Burke-Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder
Karl Krause – 1965 Turner MkIII
Thomas Turner – 1962 Triumph Spitfire
Dennis Racine-Austin Mini Cooper S
Donald Racine – 1961 Austin Mini
Steve Walker – 1935 BMW 315/1
Logan Calkins – 1935 Austin Seven Nippy
Richard Jeffery – 1935 Riley Special
Peter Gidding’s 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza goes inside Steve Walker’s 1935 BMW 315/1
Linda Mountanos – 1935 Pirrung Special
Michael McGarry – 1964 Huffaker Genie
Scott Renner – 1952 Jowett Jupiter
Mike Fisher – 1959 Bocar XP5
Kurt DelBene – 1960 Lola MK1
David Swig – 1957 Monsterati Special
Robert Williams – 1952 Siata Daina
Luca Maciucescu – 1959 EDP Special Chevrolet
Stan Anderes – 1956 Lotus 11 LM
Cameron Healy – 1953 Cooper Porsche Pooper
Sandra McNeil – 1958 Cooper Monaco T49
Gary Cox – 1953 Austin Healey Special
Greg Meyer – 1959 Sadler Mk IV
Jack Perkins – 1954 Warrior Bristol
Jeff Abramson – 1954 Ferrari Mondial
Thor Johnson – 1959 Lotus 17
Richard Goldsmith – 1970 Dodge Challenger
Bill Ockerlund – 1970 Plymouth Cuda
Steve Walker – 1973 BMW CSL
Cameron Healy – 1977 Porsche 911 RSR
Steve Schmidt – 1976 Porsche 935 K3
Ranson Webster – 1976 Porsche 935 K3
Michael McGarry – 1964 Huffaker Genie
Bruce Canepa – 1986 Porsche 962
Bill Blake – 1968 Lola T140
Jerry Kehoe – 1987 March 87B
Jim Maetzold – 1980 March 80A
Enrico Tenni – 1962 Lotus 7
Ranson Webster-Porsche Abarth GTL
Tancredi D\’Amore – 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Michael Sweeney – 1963 Porsche 356B
Michael Leven-Austin Mini Cooper S
George Batcabe – 1956 Porsche Speedster
Dean Collins – 1963 MG MGB
Peter Smith – 1958 Austin Healey Sprite
George Jewett – 1957 Alfa Romeo SVA
Gary Highland – 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI
Richard Jeffery – 1965 Turner MK III Roadster
Kevin Adair – 1962 MG B
Jacob Shalit – 1962 Sabra Sport
Robert Kann – 1958 Porsche 356A
Daniel Schwartz – 1958 Turner 950S
Ned Bacon – 1961 Porsche 356B
Edward Hugo – 1962 Porsche 356B
Alec Hugo – 1956 Porsche 356A
John Burmann – 1967 Austin Mini-cooper
Julie Racine – 1960 Austin Mini
Greg Vroman – 1969 Brabham BT29
Greg Vroman – 1969 Brabham BT29
Kurt DelBene – 1964 BRP BRM F1
Roger Pujol-Bobsy
Tom Minnich – 1972 Titan Mark 6
Jim Smith – 1962 Cooper T-59 F Jr
Robert Thull-Titan Mk5
Geir Ramleth – 1967 Lotus 51A
Adom Moutafian – 1967 Merlyn MK11A
Brian Blain – 1912 Packard 30
Eric Ramos – 1916 National AC
Charles McCabe – 1934 Bugatti 59
Linda Mountanos – 1935 Pirrung Special
Peter Greenfield – 1933 Alfa Romeo Monza
Charles Test – 1911 National Speedway Roadster
Peter Giddings – 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza
Chris MacAllister – 1938 ERA 14B
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
How about the there were six Genie race cars in one race – actually all in one group! Genie’s were built in San Rafael in the 60s, and at one time Huffucker Genie was the largest Race Car manufacturer in the United States.
Another issue, I don’t know if it’s my phone or what, but access to look at the photos is not laid out in a very user-friendly way. I tried a bunch of times to look for the group cards in group 7, with absolutely no luck. Maybe it works better on a laptop I don’t know. The photos that I did see were of course excellent!
Excellent photos indeed. Not only does Dennis know where to position himself on the track and how to shoot fabulous photos, but his long experience enables him to curate a set of photos of an event that captures its spirit. These photos evoke the entire weekend condensed to its essence. Beautiful presentation.
Please post the type of car, year of car and driver under the great photos, otherwise they are just photos
Paul, click on the image and the photo info is provided. You can also hover your cursor over the image and the info pops up.
I cannot seem to open any photos on my IPad from sportscardigest.com any more. They used to work beautifully. Did you guys change something, or did Apple?
each image is posted with driver, year of manufacture and model number for each leading car. i know i spent a couple hours adding them,
Wonderful images as usual, Dennis!
I have the same issues on iPad……header image and text ok, but usually images below will not open.
However, if I click on the blank spaces or gray lines, the images for one page will load in a new window.
I have to click the box for next page then repeat the process, and again > thru the images for that page.
Am liking the coverage SO MUCH that I persevere.
Have met Dennis @ Road Rockets one time he was photographing H. Schmit cars one time ?
Jim Grant
No 32 0n page 7 is a Lotus Eleven Sport (the Le Mans had a fairing behind the driver’s head) and carries the registration of the car driven by Gregor Grant ,editor of Autosport, in the 1000Miglia in 1957. He wrote about his drive in the magazine http://lotuseleven.org/MilleMiglia.htm
i will always defer to the event furnished entry list when captioning images. I may know or think i know who the driver is, model number or even history. But rather then argue the point i leave it to the entrants and sanctioning body to insure accuracy in the entry list. i have just a few hours to caption the images. You should contact the sanctioning body to make corrections.
That said thank you for having enough interest to comment. Thanks again.
Dennis
My apologies, I wasn’t trying to wind you up. In fact I was wrong. Lotus sold the ‘Eleven Le Mans’ with fairing /fin, wrap around screen and covered passenger seat as a competition version with 1100cc or 1500 cc Coventry Climax engine and De Dion rear axle. The open two seat version with full width screen and no fin was the ‘Eleven Club’ with the 1100cc Climax engine and a live rear axle. The ‘Eleven Sports’ had the ‘Club ‘ spec and a Ford 100E 1172 cc engine.
Using registration numbers to identify a car can also lead to confusion. There is a picture of Colin Chapman driving 9 EHX in ‘Le Mans’ trim at Goodwood in 1956. It is shown in a picture on Wikipedia as one of a team of three in ‘Club’ trim for Le Mans 1956 (which could account for the Sonoma organisers description) and it was on Gregor Grant’s ‘Eleven Club’ for the 1000Miglia in 1957. I rather wish I hadn’t started this!
Excellent Photos!
The photo’s cannot be copied anymore as I used to do sometimes and always refer to the sportsdigest website which would bring thousands to view the site and now the photo goes hazy when I try to do it so will not bother to visit anymore.
Don’t know why the website did this as all it does is restricts visitors and you will lose long term when visitors switch off.
You should consider changing the photographer for one that has a wider knowledge of web traffic and business if they are the instigator of this policy as its about the website and not the photographer as there are many who can step in.