Under warm and sunny skies at the 3rd annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California, more than 340 historic cars took the checkered flag in 15 groups of racing. Cars ranging from a 1911 National to a collection of Can-Am cars from the 1960s and ’70s, and the popular Trans-Am cars from the same era, treated an enthusiastic crowd to tight competition at the 26th annual vintage racecar event organized by General Racing Ltd. in Sonoma.
This year’s theme was “Moments in Time: a Celebration of the History of Motorsports,” and honored event Grand Marshal Bill Pollack, winner of the main event of the 1952 Golden Gate Park Road Races driving a Cadillac-Allard J2. Pollack’s duties included signing copies of his book, Red Wheels and White Sidewalls: Confessions of an Allard Racer, riding in a historic car parade to the Sonoma Plaza from the track, waving the checkered flag for Group 9 (1946–1955 Sports Racing & Prod) in which a pair of cars that also raced in the Golden Gate Park Road Races, the 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special and a 1949 Baldwin Special, were entered. He also took part in a racing seminar discussing the early days of racing in California, and rode in Bruce McCaw’s 1952 Mercedes-Benz W194, the only Mercedes-Benz to date to win overall in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Pollack also presented the Sonoma Historic Cup, “The Phil Hill Trophy,” to Brian Blain of Visalia, California, who drove a 1911 National to 8th place in Group 1 (Pre-1941 Sports & Touring Cars). Group winners included a 1934 MG NE (Pete Thelander), a 1972 Ford Gran Torino (Jim Hague), a 1963 Cobra 289 (John McKenna), a 1939 Maserati 4CL (Paddins Dowling) and a 1952 Manning Special (Robert Manson) among others. More than 1000 people per day visited the Wine Country Pavilion in the paddock area, enjoying wines, and local fare from Victor Scargle, executive chef at Lucy Restaurant & Bar at Bardessono in nearby Yountville.
“We had great weather, safe conditions and everyone had a good time, and that is always our goal,” said Steve Earle, president of event organizer General Racing, Ltd. “We are adding new elements to the event each year, as we get familiar with our new home.”
Complete official results are posted on www.generalracing.com.
