2013 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival
Article by: J.R. Andres/SMM Editor-in-Chief & Sonoma Raceway Media Department
Images by: Randy Jones/SMM Staff Photographer
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SONOMA CALIF., May 18-19, 2013 - The 27th Annual edition of the Historic Motorsports Festival featured an eclectic display of racing machines dating from the dawn of automotive competition to the more recent 1990's, each taking their turn on the twisty and challenging 2.52 mile Sonoma road course. Rare is the opportunity to see such a diverse range of international racing philosophies and construction styles in one spot, highlighting cars that have been restored and updated while maintaining the original flair and panache they exhibited in the decades when they were new and actively racing.
The cars in attendance were divided up into 15 groups based upon the year they were constructed, the individual class they ran in and the size of their engine. Saturday's qualifying rounds determined the starting order for Sunday's races and once on the track, it was clear that the drivers were not going to be content with merely taking a leisurely summer afternoon wine country stroll through the turns and the straight-aways that lie before them. Once the racing began, festival turned into spectacle as the colors, the sounds and the sweet smell of spent racing fuel brought back memories of races long forgotten, as well as the people and the places these cars had seen since the first time they set a wheel upon a race track so many years ago.
Activities were not limited to racing only, as the SHMF also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Corvette. The weekend featured 32 significant racing Corvettes, covering four decades of the iconic brand's racing successes. Among the Corvette's in attendance, were Paul Reinhart's 1957 Corvette, Vic Edelbrock's 1963 Sting Ray, Ed Hugo's 1966 427 Corvette, Randy Peterson's 1969 L-88 Vette and Larry Bowman's 1963 Grand Sport Coupe. A seminar was provided by a panel of Corvette racers, historians and team managers, who discussed the brand's history from the early 1950's up to the car's modern-day triumphs at the 24 Hours of LeMans and the American LeMans Series.
Wine and gourmet food at the Wine Country Pavilion, rounded out an unforgettable weekend that provided enthusiasts with a reason to plan on being present at next year's 28th annual event. Being there once…will never be enough.
FINAL RACE RESULTS
Group 1 – 1962-67 Production/GT under 2000cc
Jeff Kline 1964 Ginetta G-4 La Jolla, Calif.
Group 2 – 1955-1962 Production/GT under 2000cc
Jeff Abramson 1959 Morgan +4 Alamo, Calif.
Group 3 – 1956-63 Formula Cars (F-Jr, F-2 and F-1)
Art Herbert 1963 Lola MK5A F-Jr. San Rafael, Calif.
Group 4 – 1955-60 Sports Racing Cars
David Swig 1957 Monsterati Special Sausalito, Calif.
Group 5 – 1946-55 Sports Racing and Production Cars
Rob Manson 1952 Manning Special Redwood City, Calif.
Group 6 – 1963-73 Grand National Stock
Dan Luckow 1969 Mercury Cyclone Bell Canyon, Calif.
Group 7 – 1982-91 Historic IMSA GTO/SCCA
Peter Baljet 1990 Baretta Duncan, British Columbia
Group 8 – Pre-1941 Sports and Touring Cars & 1925-41 Racing Cars
Paddins Dowling 1939 Maserati 4 CL Sausalito, Calif.
Group 9 – 1955-62 Production/ GT over 2000cc
Noel Park 1958 Corvette Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
Group 10 – 1962-66 Production/GT over 2000cc
Ross Thompson 1964 Corvette Phoenix, Arizona
Group 11 – 1959-66 Sports Racing Cars
Jeff Abramson 1966 Lotus 23C Alamo, Calif.
Group 12 – 1966-72 Historic Trans Am Cars
Ken Epsman 1972 Javelin Santa Clara, Calif.
Group 13 – Historic Can-Am Cars
Steve Cook 1968 McLaren M6B Yountville, Calif.
Group 14 – 1973-79 IMSA GT & 1964-70 FIA Cars
Ross Thompson 1976 Corvette Phoenix, Arizona
Group 15 – 1971-82 FIA Sports Racing Cars
Chris McAllister 1972 Gulf Mirage M6 Indianapolis, Indiana
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NORWALK, Ohio – After qualifying in the top spot to start the day at the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series driver Jose Gonzalez took home the win at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
The Norwalk event marked the fourth race of the 2021 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season, and with today’s victory, Gonzalez currently sits second in the points standings.
His journey to the winner’s circle began when he defeated Alex Laughlin in the opening round. He then took down Mike Castellana in the quarterfinals and later Doug Winters in the semifinal round. It was his 5.723-second pass at 250.09 mph over points leader Brandon Snider.
Snider, the No. 7 seed, defeated Justin Jones, Lyle Barnett and Jerico Balduf en route to his first final round of the season.
The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service returns to action July 16-18 at the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.
Final finish order (1-16) at the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the fourth of 12 events in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Jose Gonzalez
2. Brandon Snider
3. Jerico Balduf
4. Doug Winters
5. Justin Bond
6. Mike Castellana
7. Lyle Barnett
8. Jim Whiteley
9. Steve Jackson
10. Mike Salinas
11. Eric Latino
12. Justin Jones
13. Alex Laughlin
14. Jeffery Barker
15. Khalid alBalooshi
16. JR Gray.
Sunday's final results from the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the fourth of 12 events in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Pro Modified:
Jose Gonzalez, Chevy Camaro, 5.723, 250.09 def. Brandon Snider, Chevy Corvette, 5.777, 248.84.
Final round-by-round results from the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the fourth of 12 events in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE:
Jerico Balduf, Chevy Chevelle, 5.880, 244.92 def. Mike Salinas, Chevy Camaro, 5.909, 245.58; Doug Winters, Chevelle, 5.906, 245.76 def. Jeffery Barker, Toyota Camry, 6.057, 219.76; Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 5.795, 248.48 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 5.931, 239.78; Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 5.858, 244.87 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.846, 247.79; Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.936, 243.50 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 6.628, 154.07; Brandon Snider, Chevy Corvette, 5.829, 248.52 def. Justin Jones, Corvette, Foul - Red Light; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.836, 247.88 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.913, 242.45; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.871, 245.23 def. JR Gray, Camaro, 6.712, 199.43; QUARTERFINALS -- Winters, 5.923, 243.02 def. Whiteley, Foul - Red Light; Snider, 5.819, 247.97 def. Barnett, 6.248, 166.66; Gonzalez, 5.800, 246.89 def. Castellana, 5.847, 246.35; Balduf, 5.862, 244.25 def. Bond, 5.812, 248.66; SEMIFINALS -- Snider, 5.794, 248.25 def. Balduf, 5.833, 246.21; Gonzalez, 5.752, 248.93 def. Winters, 5.922, 223.14; FINAL -- Gonzalez, 5.723, 250.09 def. Snider, 5.777, 248.84.
Point standings (top 10) following the 14th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the fourth of 12 events in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Pro Modified:
1. Justin Bond, 328
2. Jose Gonzalez, 322
3. Brandon Snider, 294
4. Steve Jackson, 254
5. Khalid alBalooshi, 204
6. Jeffery Barker, 192
7. Mike Castellana, 177
8. JR Gray, 169
9. Doug Winters, 164
10. Alex Laughlin, 147.
2021 Major Events
At Sonoma Raceway
