Alexander Curtis' 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
    Vintage Races & Rallies

    Coronado Speed Festival (2015) – Highlights

    Victor Varela

    The Coronado Speed Festival 2015 was held September 19-20 at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. This year marked the 80th anniversary of Fleet Week in San Diego and for the past 18 years, the Coronado Speed Festival has been part of this annual event. This end of summer celebration brought locals and far-away enthusiasts to the Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island to enjoy the sights and sounds of vintage racing.

    Each year, NAS Coronado constructs a temporary 1.7-mile course on the runways and taxiways of the Naval Air Station for the ‘Race at the Base’. Race fans enjoyed a weekend of racing with the various race classes that participated, as well as an open paddock — where the cars are worked on and the drivers prepare themselves for their time on the race track. The weekend also included a Helo demo, Red Bull’s Geoff Aaron Endurocross pro demonstration, a parade lap by the car show winners, several flyovers by Navy jets and helicopters and the USO singing troupe.Attendees to the Coronado Speed Festival 2015 also had access to numerous vendors, food stands, car club corrals and several military vehicles and aircraft on display. Racing and car aficionados, along with their families and friends, had a lot to see, eat and experience throughout the race weekend.

    This year’s Speed Festival was unique in that aside from the 200+ historic race and sports cars that participated in this year’s race event, several rare and unique pre-war racers that participated in the 1915 Point Loma road race were also brought out this weekend. With 2015 marking the 100th anniversary of the Point Loma road race, this historic event was well represented. To celebrate this milestone, an impressive contingent of pre-war racers were present in both the paddock as well as on the race track throughout the warm, sunny weekend. Among them were Ed Archer’s 1915 Ford Model Tracer; Brody Blain’s 1911 National 40; Brian Blain’s 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn; Jim Putnam’s 1912 Packard 30; Randy Reed’s 1914 Tahis Special; Rob Stewart’s 1912 EMF and several from Williams Evan including a 1913 Mercer Raceabout 35-J; 1910 F.I.A.T. S-61; 1913 Isotta Fraschini and a 1911 FIAT Pope Ono.

    Other notable and interesting entrants at the Coronado Speed Festival 2015 included Jim Hague’s 1971 Ford Boss 302 Mustang; Tracy Chalmers’ 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350; Al Arciero’s 1958 Lister Knobbly; Peter Giddings’ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza; Boris Said’s 1968 BMW 2002; Jeff Gerken’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL; Fred Yeakel’s 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah; David Roberts’ 1978 Budweiser Lightning Cosworth; Jim Maetzold’s 1980 March 80A and Alex Curtis’ 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. My favorite was Wayne Blasman’s 1970 BRE Datsun 240Z.

    After a long and successful partnership with the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA), the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation partnered with Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) to manage the 2015 event and they did a fantastic job of running the Speed Festival.

    —

    Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2015 Coronado Speed Festival, with Victor Varela producing the following images from this year’s vintage ‘Race at the Base’. We split up Victor’s 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 can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Victor, visit VictorVarela.com.

    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

     

    Nick Colonna’s 1970 McLaren M8C
    1978 Chevron B36 Driven by Tom Minnich
    Jeff Gerken’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
    Alan Frick’s 1969 Chevron B16
    Paul Christensen’s 1956 Porsche 356A
    Dennis Racine’s 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S
    Power slide… 1970 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Gregory Weirick
    Catching the back end… Jim Hague in the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

     

    Cal Meeker’s 1973 Lola T292
    1964 Townsend MK IV driven by Owen Gibson
    Timothy Herbst in the 1976 Crossle
    1910 Fiat S61 Grand Prix
    The 1915 Point Loma line up
    Pushing the 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn
    Sunoco Camaro
    USA-1

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

     

    1963 Jaguar XKE driven by Nick Colonna
    1964 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Jeni Yeakel-Swanson
    Alexander Curtis’ 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
    Tom Cantrell’s 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
    Jim Caudle’s 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
    Tom Brecht’s 1968 BMW 2002 TA
    Jay Parille’s 1966 Ford Shelby GT350
    1965 Genie MK-10B driven by A.C. D’Augustine

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

     

    And the Pre-Wars are off!
    The 1912 Packard 30 racing the 1916 Sturtivant-Auburn
    1914 Tahis Special driven by Randy Reed
    1915 Ford Model T driven by Ed Archer
    1916 National AC driven by Eric Ramos
    Jim Putnam’s 1912 Packard 30
    Peter Giddings’ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza
    Joseph P. Conte’s 1968 AMC Javelin

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

     

    Through the donut
    Follow the leader
    1966 Ginetta 12 driven by Fred DellaNoce
    1966 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Tom Beattie
    1969 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Scott Brady
    David Leyvas’ 1973 Porsche 911 RSR
    1971 Chevron B19 driven by Henry Manney
    Jeff Gerken’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

     

    1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans driven by Richard Morrison
    1939 Lagonda V12 driven by Joe Harding
    Jim Putnam’s 1912 Packard 30
    1951 Morgan Plus driven by John G. Miller
    Tony Parella’s 1934 Chevrolet Bigcar
    Max Jamiesson’s 1935 Ford Sprint Car
    Peter Giddings’ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza
    1993 Ford Thunderbird driven by Clay Harper

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

     

    Al Arciero’s 1958 Lister Knobby
    1968 Chinook FF driven by Doug Fitch
    Norm Cowdrey’s 1972 Crossle 172 CF
    Michael Patlin’s 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
    1959 Porsche 356 driven by Don Tevini
    1955 Porsche 356 A 1600 driven by Bill Noon
    1968 Camaro RS/SS driven by Jere Clark
    1978 Budweiser Lightning Cosworth driven by David Roberts

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

     

    1972 Lola T300 driven by Chris Pedersen
    1970 BRE Datsun 240Z driven by Wayne Blasman
    1967 Porsche 911S driven by Wayne Baker
    Pen Pendleton’s 1974 Ferrari 308/GT4
    Michael Evans’ 1968 Ford Mustang
    1966 Shelby GT350 driven by Charles Jones
    1973 Chevron B26 driven by Gregory Gray
    Fred Yeakel’s 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

     

    Flexing their muscle
    Maintenance is the key
    Rolling off the transporter
    In the paddock… all lined up
    Alexander Curtis relaxing in his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
    Boris Said checking the tire pressure on his ’68 BMW 2002
    The tiny 2.5 liter Hemi V8 inside the 1962 Daimler SP250 D/Production
    In the paddock – 1972 Lola T300

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

     

    Ron Myska’s 1969 Ford Torino
    There was action in the air as well
    Sebastian Coppola’s 1970 Lola T192
    1980 March 80A driven by Jim Maetzold
    1977 Chevron B39 driven by Gray Gregory
    1978 Chevron B36 Driven by Tom Minnich
    1966 Ginetta 12 driven by Fred Della Noce
    Al Arciero’s 1958 Lister Knobby

     

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    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

     

    [nggallery id=853 images=15]

     

    Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Feature Race Results

    Group 1
    1. Dennis Racine, 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S
    2. Donald Racine, 1961 Austin Mini Cooper S
    3. Tim Brecht, 1960 Austin Mini Cooper S

    Group 2
    1. Todd Strong, Crossle 32 Mk9
    2. Dan Cowdrey, 1970 Titan FF Mk6
    3. Rodney Grabinski, 1986 Swift DB1

    Groups 3 and 4
    1. Fred Della Noce, 1966 Ginetta G12
    2. Frank Arciero, 1958 Lotus Eleven
    3. Paul Ryan, 1962 Lotus Super Seven

    Groups 5 and 7
    1. Cal Meeker, 1973 Lola T292
    2. Gray Gregory, 1973 Chevron B-26
    3. Tom Minnich, 1978 Chevron B-36

    Group 6
    1. Clair Schwendeman, 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
    2. Alan Davison, 2000 Panoz GTS
    3. Jim Caudle, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

    Group 8
    1. Dylan Doherty, 1970 Porsche 914/6
    2. Tim Brecht, 1969 BMW 2002
    3. Craig Hauenstein, 1968 BMW 2002

    Group 9
    1. Cal Meeker, 1979 Ralt RT-1
    2. Martin Lauber, 1977 Chevron B-39
    3. Gray Gregory, 1977 Chevron B-39

    Group 10
    1. Tom Klauer, 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
    2. Ralph Borelli, 1991 Ford Thunderbird
    3. Tom Cantrell, 1998 Ford Taurus

    Historic Trans Am
    1. Walter Brown, 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
    2. Gary Goeringer, 1971 AMC Javelin
    3. Jim Hague, 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302

    Pre-War
    1. Max Jamiesson, 1935 Ford Sprint Car
    2. Richard Morrison, 1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans
    3. Brian Blain, 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn

    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.

    [Source: Victor Varela]

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    Victor Varela
    Southern California based photographer, specializing in capturing sports, racing, modern & vintage cars.
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    Show Comments (12)

    12 Comments

    1. When did it become okay to tilt horizons? We now have a generation of photographers with one short leg. Tilting the camera doesn’t add interest, but is annoying. Too bad there weren’t any interesting spectators enjoying the racing.

      1. This coming from someone who undoubtedly shoots in “P” mode because he’s convinced it’s the “professional” setting!

        1. Nope! That came from a veteran professional aviation and motorsport photographer who was published in major US and international aviation and motorsport magazines, some on the covers. Artificially tilting horizons is lying, says more about the ethics of the photographer, adds nothing to the truth of the photograph, and is annoying to viewers.

    2. Everyone, including Anonymous, is entitled to their own opinion… even when it’s easy to post obtuse photographic ideology, while they hide their identity. Kind of lacks conviction when you hide behind the electronic curtain if you ask me. Yet, it is the internet after all, so anyone can claim to be Napoleon and try to convince us all that they almost conquered Europe.

      Note to Anonymous – aka Veteran Aviation, Motorsports Photographer, your comments, not very professional. You need to work on that.

    3. Victor does outstanding racing photography, and I for one greatly appreciate his efforts at the Coronado Speedfest each and every year.
      Sam Simpson

    4. Crossle 172 CF

      There is No Such Car a 17F Crossle is a one of a kind F3 Car this looks like a 32F Crossle numbers end in F or S.

    5. Hi Gerry,

      Thanks for the information. The car was identified based on the entry list provided by the SVRA – who was given that information by the driver/owner. There are errors now and then when identifying cars and it is appreciated when clarification is provided by the astute readers of SCD.

      Cheers!

    6. As a professional photographer who covered the Coronado Speed Festival for AutoWeek since its inception in about 1996 until a few years ago, Given that the course on Coronado is a completely flat military airfield tarmac, using orange cones and white barriers, I understand the frustration photographers experience shooting there to have more interesting and varied shots. But the tilted barriers and other background visuals make it an obvious contrivance that,to me, looks silly and dishonest. Unfortunately, I see this done not infrequently by major car magazines, albeit with a lot ore subtlety. But That being said, his closeup/telephoto shots of the cars themselves are quite good.

    7. This is not landscaping photography!

      As photographers, we all are gifted with our own creative view and perspective when capturing an image. We take ALL the elements we see in front of us and try to capture the image as we VISUALIZE it. There is nothing dishonest about doing this. If we start to acquiesce to the conventional and stagnate way of doing cookie cutter photography, then and only then are we being dishonest to ourselves and others. Condescending remarks and childish opinions will never change that for any photographer who believes in his craft. Most forget that in photography, the rules are there as a guideline and are not meant to be strictly adhered to as one’s vision should never be boxed in. The visual world isn’t flat.

    8. Great photo of the GT4! This was its race debut. It only ran for 3 laps of Sunday morning practice and 1/2 the final session due to overheating, but I was hoping someone got a good shot, great that it was you. Did you submit to VM? Great shot for the Annual if I do say so myself. And you don’t have to explain yourself on this site to some moron who’s bring to pretend he’s photography critic, your work speaks for itself. Always has.

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