The second Velocity Invitational event was held October 14 to 16 at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California. Jeff O’Neill and his team once again showed the historic racing community that there is more than one way to hold an event.
Velocity Invitational’s mix of exciting cars, family entertainment, attractive location, manufacture support, and a well-curated display results in an incredible 3-day experience. When O’Neill first started Velocity Invitational, his vision was to present the cars in a more spectator-friendly environment.
Instead of the usual vehicles and transporters spread out in the paddock, the Velocity Invitational team erected large tents, where cars are staged by race groups.
The entry is capped at a little over two hundred cars, and the format proves that quality over quantity works. Take Group 4, for example, a Ferrari 250 GTO, a pair of 250 GT SWBs, 4 Alfa Romeo GTZ, and a Ferrari 250 TDF for good measure – more than enough to excite any historic car enthusiast.
Charles Wegner/1959 Ferrari 250 GT TDF (left), Jeff O’Neill/1963 Ferrari 250 GTO and Rob Walton/1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta approaching Turn 9
McLaren Automotive is a big supporter of the event. In addition to the paddock and on-track demonstrations, CEO Zak Brown provided a 2013 McLaren MP4/28A for Mario Andretti to try. The 1978 World Driving Champion had driving a contemporary formula 1 car on his bucket list, and thanks to McLaren, that has been ticked off. In addition to Mario, two-time world champion Mika Häkkinen demonstrated the TAG/Porsche powered MP4/2C, and Pato O’Ward, the ex-Senna MP4/5B.
Zak Brown (left) watches ae mechanics gets Pato O’Ward ready for demonstration laps in the es-Senna McLaren MP4/5B
As spectators wander the paddock, there are small displays scattered throughout. In addition to the McLaren road cars, Hypercar manufacturers, Czinger, Guntherwerks, Hennessey, and Zenvo, were displayed. Throughout the weekend, track demonstrations were interspersed with the race groups. The Ragtime Racers and display of Miller cars provided a nice contrast to the hypercars.
McLaren road car displayMiller Indy car displayThe Peterson Museum had the Juan Gonzalez Collection of Formula 1 cars on the display in the paddock.
The early 1930 Bugattis bookended the nine race groups to 2012 Porsche 911 Club Cars in Group 9. Each day ended with the Mini vs. Mustang race. This is the second year of the matchup and is a takeoff of the sixties-era racing. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was an excellent track for the race, with the Mustangs’ power out of the turn and on the straights balanced by the Minis’ handling in the corners.
After starting at Sonoma Raceway in 2019 and the last two years at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, let’s hope that the Velocity Invitational stays on the calendar. If you haven’t experienced the event or west coast historic racing, add the event to your bucket list.
Jeff O’Neil giving a thumbs up capturing the success of the 2022 Velocity Invitational
2022 Velocity Invitational Photo Gallery
Chris MacAllister/1955 Jaguar D-Type exits Turn 6 on his way to first place in Group 2
Ben McGraw hustles his 1974 Porsche 911 IMSA trough Turn 2
Start of the Sunday afternoon Mini vs Mustang race
Michael Leven heads a group into Turn 2 during the Mini vs Mustand race.
Zak Brown (left) discusses the lines around WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with Pato O’Ward as Mario Andretti is occupied in the background.
Pato O’Ward prior to taking to the track for the McLaren Formula 1 demonstration laps in the ex-Senna McLaren MP4/5B
It’s not unusual for early morning sessions to be run in foggy conditions – here John Mote/1950 Allard K2 is being followed by Tim Barnes/1951 Jaguar XK 120 through Turn 2
Chase Johnson/1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa in Turn 2
Steve Walker’s 1975 BMW 2002 leads Zak Brown in his 1975 Ford Capri RS 3100 through Turn 2 during Friday Morning practice.
The Parker family nose-to-tail in their Cobras
Jim Hague/1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 hustles through Turn 5 in the always competitive Historic TransAm class
Steven Smith pushing “Gilbert” his 1965 VW Beetle 1600 through Turn 5
John Buddenbaum/1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special turns into The Corkscrew
Gregory Campbell/1955 Porsche Devin Speedster in Turn 8 about to descend The Corkscrew
Anthony Wang’s 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa looks great in yellow as he goes through Turn 6
Wesley Abendroth/1955 Chevrolet Mistral Flat Out through Turn 6
Paddins Dowling/1934 ERA R2A alongside Brad Baker/1931 Bugatti T51 in Turn 6 during Group 1 practice
Rob Walton/1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta heads Kevin Adair/1959 Austin Healey 3000S and the rest of the Group 4 field into The Corkscrew
William Lyon/1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera heads a train including David Perkins/1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ, Ranson Webster/1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera, and Jeffrey ONeill/1963 Ferrari 250 GTO into The Corkscrew
Mario Andretti in the 2013 McLaren MP4-28a during the McLaren Formula 1 Demonstration
Peto O’Ward in the McLaren MP4/5B during the McLaren Formula 1 Demonstration
Mika Häkkinen in the McLaren MP4/2 during the McLaren Formula 1 Demonstration
Geir Ramleth/1963 Lotus 23B out brakes Horatio Fitz-Simon/1963 Lotus Elan 26R into Turn 11
Robert Smalley’s 1968 Porsche 911in Turn 2 during the under 2.5-liter TransAm race.
Group 2 action in Turn 2 – Robert S. Davis/1953 Siata 208s is momentarily ahead of Chris MacAllister/1955 Jaguar D-Type who is followed by James Alder/1952 Jaguar XK 120
Uwe Biegner/1953 Porsche 356 turns into Turn 8 aka The Corkscrew
Juan Gonzalez/2008 Porsche 997 RSR heads Ranson Webster/2012 Porsche GT3 Cup through Turn 5
Max Jamiesson/1935 Ford Sprint Car leads Ivan Zaremba/1935 Railton Light Sport Tourer through Turn 6
Brian Mullin hustles his 1938 Talbot T26 along as he exits Turn 6
John Buddenbaum pushing his 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special through Turn 6
Nicholas Colonna/1958 Devin SS in Turn 6
Conrad Stevenson/1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ is followed by Paul Christensen/1956 Porsche 356A Speedster, and others into Turn 8
John Kerr/1932 Miller-Schofield Champ Car leads Max Jamiesson/1935 Ford Sprint Car and Brian Mullin/1938 Talbot T26 into Turn 8
R. Spencer Trenery/1961 Cooper Monaco about to descend The Corkscrew
John Murray’s 1968 BMW 2002 leads the under 2.5-liter TransAm field into Turn 2.
Nicholas Colonna/1958 Devin SS heads Thor Johnson/1959 Lotus 17 during Friday morning practice.
Jeffrey ONeill/1963 Ferrari 250 GTO exiting Turn 2
Ben Wysard/1952 Porsche Glockler about to exit Turn 8 and start the descent through The Corkscrew.
Chris MacAllister/1964 Shelby Cobra FIA 289 in Turn 11
Charles McCabe/1936 ERA R6B followed by Paddins Dowling/1934 ERA R2A and Brad Baker/1931 Bugatti T51 into The Corkscrew descent with the old Fort Ort in the background.
Steve Schmidt/1958 Porsche 356A Speedster through The Corkscrew
Charles McCabe/1936 ERA R6B in Turn 6 during Saturday morning practice
Charles Christensen/1972 Porsche 911S gets a little air as he heads Jonathan Feiber/1974 Porsche RSR 3.0 in Group 5
Rob Kauffman/1965 Ford GT40 heads Charles Wegner/1965 Shelby GT350 through Turn 2
Ned Spiker’s Maserati 200s in Turn 6
Horatio Fitz-Simon/1963 Lotus Elan 26R in Turn 11
Ned Spiker/1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB leads Ranson Webster/1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera
