Twenty-six years ago STEVE EARLE began hosting historic races at Sonoma. This year the theme is “Moments in Time: A Celebration of Motorsports History. There are fifteen classes of cars, based on years, type and racing history. Cars dating back to Pre 1941 all the way up to 1991.
The Grand Marshall for the weekend is BILL POLLACK, who won the inaugural Golden Gate Park Road Race in San Francisco. He took some parade laps during Sunday noon break, with Earle driving BRUCE McCAW’s 1952 Mercedes Benz Le Mans, which won the famed 24-hour race at year, the only Le Mans victory for Mercedes.
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Several of the groups had exciting races, good clean fun. One such was Group Two, for 1956-1963 Cars. The finishing order was as started – DANNY BAKER of SF racing his 1963 Lotus 27 F-Jr and ART HEBERT of San Rafael in DON SANDY’s 2963 Lola MK5A. But the two went at it hammer and tongs, gentlemen style. Hebert led much of the race until the penultimate lap. Hebert spun in the carousel, slowing down for a lapped car and a race car parked in a dangerous area. Hebert was looking nose to nose at Baker. They were past the single yellow flag, so Baker gunned it and took the lead. The full course caution came out and the two were locked into order. The two are friends and both smiled about what a good race it was.
HOWARD SWIG of Sausalito CA found a way to get into the race group he wanted – Group Eight for 1925-1941 Racing Cars. His 1931 Chrysler CD-8 Le Mans was originally in Group One for Pre-1941 Sports & Touring Cars. He was fastest in Group One for Qualifying, so Earle moved him to Group Eight, where he gridded sixteenth of 22. Young Swig was pleased. He is competitive, and in his spare time he races Spec Miatas, a SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) club racing class with fields upwards of fifty plus. Alas, Swig DNF with mechanical problems. The pole car was Peter Greenfield of Freeport NY in his 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35, but he spun himself out of contention and DNF. The second gridded car, PADDINS DOWLING of Sausalito won in his 1939 Maserati 4CL, with PETER GIDDINGS of Danville moving up from third to finish second in his 1931 Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3. Giddings has raced this car around the world and done quite well, sometimes qualifying first but starting last so he can race his way to the victory.
JOHN KERR and his 1932 Miller-Schofield/Ford, which took such a wild ride Saturday, started fifth and finished seventh. He said his friends now call him ‘Dusty.’
Group Seven for 1982-1991 Historic IMSA GTO/SCCA TransAm cars was won from the pole by PETER BALJET of Duncan British Columbia Canada. The car originally was raced by CHRIS KNEIFEL. Many of the cars finished about where they started, including STEVE SCHULER of Capistrano Beach CA. He was racing the 1991 Mustang originally raced by ROBBY GORDON. Schuler started and finished sixth. These days Gordon has refocused his racing efforts from full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup to part time. This allows him time to run his off-road team, where he’s leading the points. He ran the Baja 500 this weekend, and will start a new stadium racing series, a la Mickey Thompson.
Sunday’s weather was brilliant! The morning was really warm with a slight breeze, nicer than Saturday. The wind picked up at noon, but the sun still shone and a good time was had by all … or most at best.