Sharing the Love

SONOMA, CALIF.  (June 6, 2010) -- Last night, the public celebrated exquisite vintage cars, fine wine, and exceptional cuisine at the Sebastiani Winery near downtown Sonoma, capturing the festive spirit of the historic automobile races taking place at nearby Infineon Raceway this weekend.  The Saturday evening event, called the Historic Car Festival and benefitting Infineon’s Speedway Children’s Charities, was another high note among many at the umbrella Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, a General Racing event that expands on the Wine Country Classic the company has orchestrated here for 24 years.

Over 30 vintage vehicles, selected from 375 that were racing, paraded the 15 miles from Infineon Raceway to downtown Sonoma and took a lap around the historic town square before settling just outside the lush grounds of the winery, simulating a mini Concours d’Elegance experience for anyone who wanted to participate. Meanwhile, inside the gates, more than 700 people--including competitors, their friends, family and townspeople--had exchanged their $30 tickets for a wine glass and access to food and drink samplings from more than 11 area wineries and just as many restaurants.

“We appreciate the great gatherings and social events because to me vintage racing is 1/3 the people, 1/3 the history and 1/3 the racing opportunity,” said Cameron Healy (Portland, Ore.), who raced his 1953 Cooper Porsche and 1968 Porsche 908K here.

Tony Hart (Moorpark, Calif.) who entered his 1959 Cooper Monaco and 1967 Camaro Z28, shared the sentiment:  “This is our fourth or fifth year here and we love this event.  We really are having a wonderful time at tonight’s party; I like how they combine the racers with the community.”

Mike Ryan, a mechanic for Mark Sange’s (Bolinas, Calif.) 1935 Austin 7 Monoposto, raved about the wine and food. “It gives a feeling of the quality of the lifestyle in Sonoma and Napa Valley,” he said.  “It’s a lovely affair.”

Announced at the end of the evening, the people’s choice award for favorite classic race car was Dick DeLuna’s (Woodside, Calif.) 1917 Hall-Scott.  The crowd pleaser, with its hand built all-aluminum body, put together with 1000 rivets and housing a bi-plane engine, sat high above the others on its oversized spoke wheels, gleaming in the setting sun. In appreciation of his efforts in restoring, racing and sharing his car with others, DeLuna received a double magnum of “special label” Sebastiani Wine, presented by General Racing’s Steve Earle and Infineon Raceway President and General Manager Steve Page.

SONOMA HISTORIC MOTORSPORTS FESTIVAL FAST APPROACHING;

FANS IN FOR VINTAGE TREAT

SONOMA, CALIF.  (May 18, 2010) - Representing each decade of the 20th Century, 13 historic race car groups will attack the very technical 2.52 mile road course at Infineon Raceway during the upcoming Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival.  Over the weekend of June 5-6, 2010, the roads in and around Sonoma will be traversed by classic sports cars and elegant grand touring vehicles as they shuttle their stylish passengers through rolling California hills, past vineyards and wineries on eucalyptus-lined roads that wind between the luxurious inns and restaurants of the Sonoma wine country and the track.

The drivers of these vintage race cars are a unique breed, and most have had a racing past either as a professional or amateur.  Some have waited until they've raised a family or nurtured a growing business to pursue the hobby, but the common denominator is their shared passion for these cars and the art of driving them.