The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) returns to Sonoma Raceway for the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, June 3-5. Racers and fans will enjoy this Gold Medallion invitational event, which salutes race cars prepared to the rules of the era in which they were originally raced.
The weekend will be highlighted by a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Can-Am and Trans-Am Series, including a trip down memory lane through one of the most exciting eras in America's racing heritage. Historic Trans Am (group 10) and Historic Can Am (Group 11) will be featured in their own race groups throughout the weekend and are slated to race on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:45 p.m. Many of these authentic machines were once driven by legends such as Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney and Mark Donohue.
To further highlight the 50th anniversary of Can-Am and Trans-Am, George Follmer, one of America's greatest and most versatile road-racing champions, will serve as grand marshal. Follmer was a two-time Trans-Am champion in 1972 and 1976. In 1972, he drove an AMC Javelin to four victories and won two races for Porsche during the 1976 Trans-Am season. The three-time Indianapolis 500 starter won the Can-Am championship in 1972, driving Roger Penske's Porsche 917/10 to five wins. He also finished second in the 1974 Can-Am championship driving the popular UOP Shadow.
More than 330 of the world's finest racing machines will take to the 12-turn road course, some of which date as far back as Pre-WWI. It's sure to be an incredible collection of race cars, including Bugatti, Lotus, Corvette, Ferrari, Jaguar, and Alfa Romeo, some of which have never tested the twists and turns of Sonoma's world-class road course.
On-track action begins each day at 8 a.m. The weekend will feature practice, qualifying and races in each of the 13 race groups. Tickets to the Sonoma Historics are $15 on Friday, and $40 on Saturday and Sunday. A full-weekend ticket is $60 and parking is free. Children 12 years and under are admitted free.
On Saturday night, June 4, a select group of historic race cars will depart the raceway under a full California Highway Patrol escort and head to the picturesque downtown Sonoma Plaza for the Historic Race Car Festival. After a ceremonial lap around the Town Square, the cars will settle into the Plaza for public viewing. Saturday's car show, benefitting the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, is another perfect opportunity for fans to enjoy the street and performance cars from local car clubs, as well as show off their own rides. The Historic Race Car Festival runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the event.
For tickets and more information on the Sonoma Historics, visit SonomaRaceway.com/Historics or call 800-870-7223.
