Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2010

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

Wine Country Classic Historic Car Races

Starts: 06/04/2010

Ends: 2010-06-06

Infineon Raceway

Sonoma, California

After 23 years as the Wine Country Classic Historic Car Races changes the name to Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. Same people running the show but with a new focus. Watch for more and greater things in the next few years.

June 6, 2010 - And the winner is..! Chris MacAllister of Indianapolis, Ind.. General Racing's Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival concluded after two days of racing at Infineon Raceway. Chris MacAllister of Indianapolis, Ind. won the Sonoma Historic Cup "The Phil Hill Trophy" for top overall performance and presentation, with his orange 1971 McLaren M8F. Chris was one of 375 entries competing in 13 groups of vintage racing cars that spanned each decade of the 20th Century starting with Pre-War Sports and Racing cars, Sports Racing Cars, Formula Cars, Historic Trans-Am, Historic Can-Am, IMSA GTP and FIA mfg, GT and Grand National cars.

"Having my name on the trophy means the world to me," said MacAllister. "It has been 26 or 27 years that I have been racing all over the world, and the best events I have ever been to are those organized by General Racing. To participate is really cool, to do well is great, but to be recognized by all my peers with the great cars, the great drivers at the best event in the country is really the best...it's as good as it gets."

Racing at all levels is a team sport and MacAllister gave credit to his mechanic for preparing the car "to the max." "At the morning practice, I could put this car anywhere," he said. "I was so comfortable; I was full-out everywhere."

After 24 years, Steve Earle of General Racing, which organizes the historic races says "this is a new event. It's bigger and better." With an increase in number of cars by more than 30%, which in and of itself takes the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival to a whole new level, adding more color, more excitement as 13 competition groups--identified by era dating from pre-World War I to the 1990s--take to Infineon Raceway"s 2.52 mile road course.

The event"s hospitality sponsor Gooding & Company, the internationally celebrated automotive auction house will have on display a winning 1956 Maserati 200 SI raced by Sir Stirling Moss; an award-winning 1951 Ferrari 340 America from the estate of devoted enthusiast Mr. Gil Nickel; and a stunning 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Racing Monoplace that won the 1950 Paris Grand Prix-- will be auctioned at Gooding & Company"s Pebble Beach Auctions in August.

A noted driver at this year's Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival is John Morton from El Segundo, Calif. He will be racing 3 cars in 3 different groups. A 1964 Lotus 23SR now owned by Tom Griffiths. A 1958 Scarab SR that John saw Lance Reventlow and Chuck Day race. And a 1964 Sunbeam Tiger.

"Racing here at Infineon Raceway with General Racing is always one of our favorite events of the year," said Morton. "It's a fun event and always so well organized. I think Infineon Raceway is the most demanding race course in the country. I don"t see how those NASCAR guys can drive on a hot day that long on this track. This is the toughest track for driver fatigue; you are always busy, and there is just no rest."

This year as always, the event will blend the historic cars and the historic wine country into a memorable event. More than 250 historic cars will grace the twisting road course, including machines from Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette and Lotus which will give fans a high speed historic car show while the drivers make pass after pass on the rising and falling track. Many of these cars could rightly make their home in automotive museums around the world, but each is driven to the highest skill level which their private owners possess.

Bonuses for Race fans will be the Wine Country Pavilion, featuring some of the best food and wine Sonoma and Napa have to offer, notable Bay Area chef Victor Scargle headlines the food scene. Local car clubs add an additional layer of cars to be enjoyed. Also tickets give all an open paddock area and a chance to chat with many of the drivers. Saturday night, June 5 the Vintage Race Car Festival, moves to the Sonoma Plaza.

PRESS RELEASES

McLaren Will be Featured Marque for 2011; Sonoma Historic Press Release 6-6-10 - pdf

Vintage Excellence Defined; Sonoma Historic Press Release 6-6-10 - pdf

Fine wine, and exceptional cuisine at the Sebastiani Winery near downtown Sonoma; Sonoma Historic Press Release 6-6-10 - pdf

Gooding & Company Shows Three Extraordinary Vintage Race Cars at 2010 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival; Sonoma Historic Press Release 6-5-10 - pdf

California Style, International Flair; Sonoma Historic Press Release 6-5-10 - pdf

Sonoma Historic Press Release 6-4-10 - pdf

Steve Earle, Steve Page, Martin Swig Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2010 Infineon Raceway 2010

Steve Earle, Steve Page, Martin Swig, Diana Brennan
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2010
Infineon Raceway 2010

Chris MacAllister Sonoma Historic Cup
"The Phil Hill Trophy" for top overall performance and presentation
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival
Infineon Raceway 2010
Photo credit Mike Finnegan 2010