Report and photos by Dennis Gray
The 9th annual Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG) Charity Challenge was held October 6-7, 2012 at the 12-turn, 2.52-mile Sonoma Raceway Sears Point in Sonoma, California.
The 2012 CSRG Charity Challenge featured a strong field of more than 220 historic race cars, including pre-war, sports racing and formula as well as production and GT entrants.The race weekend featured the Formula Car Invitational, encompassing Historic Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Atlantic and Super Vees. Also featured were the V8 Thunder Challenge for Historic Trans-Am cars, Historic NASCAR, V8-powered sports cars, IMSA GTU and SCCA U2 Trans-Am 2.5 Challenge sedans up to 1972. The race weekend featured practice and qualifying on Saturday, with the vintage racing action taking place on Sunday.
Headline cars at the CSRG Charity Challenge 2012 included the Ferrari 250 GTO (4757GT) of Tom Price; Fred Cziska’s Shadow Mk.3 Can-Am; Lotus 77 F1 of Chris Locke; Cameron Healy’s Porsche 908/3; Marnix Dillenius in his Alfa Romeo TZ; Osella PA3/5 driven by four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion, Eddie Lawson; Thor Johnson’s Porsche 910; pair of Lola T163 Can-Am beasts; Siata 208CS of Jeffrey O’Neill; Peter Giddings in his 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C ‘P3’ and Tom Claridge’s Kurtis 500S; among others. Buoyed by near-perfect Sonoma Valley weather and the healthy list of cars and drivers, race organizers said this year’s Charity Challenge was the most successful since the economic downturn.
For a $50-$250 donation, fans could take a three-lap ride around the road course in one of some 36 different participating race cars, including the Ferrari 250 GTO, Lola T163 and Shadow Mk.3. Proceeds from the race weekend benefited the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway. CSRG has contributed more than $500,000 to Sonoma County youth organizations through Speedway Children’s Charities since 2002.
CSRG Charity Challenge 2012 – Photo Gallery
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[Source: Infineon Raceway Sears Point; photo credit: Dennis Gray]
Thank you Dennis for your great photographic coverage of the CSRG Charity Challenge, up to your usual high standard. I was particulary interested in seeing your shots of the likes of the Huffaker/BMC F/juniors, the great photo of the Dailu Mk2 Special, and that very unusual Siata 208cs. It is aways good to see your coverage of American Sports/Racers like the Kurtis 500S-22, Devin TR Special, not to mention the really I presume rare (?) Phoenix SAAB. Living as I do in Scandinavia it´s always interesting to see what Americans have wrapped a body around what I presume was at one stage, a SAAB motor and running gear… Looking forward to your next shoot. Cheers.
I couldn’t make it this year. Bummer. Looks like a missed a great race weekend, especially with the GTO on track and the big-bangers as well. Thanks for bringing it to my desktop.