The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 was held June 2-5 at Sonoma Raceway Sears Point in Sonoma, California. Beautiful weather greeted the 350 vintage and historic cars that competed in 13 groups on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in Northern California’s wine country.
The 2016 Sonoma Historics was the second year of Sonoma Raceway’s partnership with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) after the organization merged with Steve Earle’s General Racing. The ‘Gold Medallion’ invitational event salutes and rewards race cars prepared to the rules of the era in which they were originally raced. This year’s vintage race celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Can-Am and the Trans-Am Series, offering spectators a trip down memory lane through one of the most exciting eras in America’s racing heritage.
In addition to the booming Can-Am and Trans-Am racers, other notable entrants at the 2016 SVRA Sonoma event included Greg Whitten’s 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3; Erickson Shirley’s 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3; Peter Greenfield’s 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35; Peter Giddings’ 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2600 Monza; Charles McCabe’s 1936 ERA R6B; Joe Harding’s 1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans “Big Red”; Tom Price’s 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Zagato and 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO; Cameron Healy’s 1970 Porsche 908/3; Chris MacAllister’s 1964 Ford GT40, 1955 Jaguar D-Type and 1964 Shelby 289 FIA Cobra; Dean Meiling’s 1954 Jaguar D-Type; Ranson Webster’s 1976 Porsche 935 K3; Stephen Thein’s 1967 Porsche 910; Henry Schmitt’s 1974 BMW 3.5 CSL and Jeff Abramson’s 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider. The Sonoma Historic Trophy for ‘Excellence in Presentation’ was awarded to Nathanael Green’s 1925 Bugatti Type 35 and Robert Engberg’s 1957 Elva Mark IIB.
—
Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2016 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, with Senior Photographer Dennis Gray offering the following photos highlighting this year’s event. We split up Dennis’ pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, while the second gallery and race results can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all photographs.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Twelve
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Thirteen
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fourteen
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fifteen
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Sixteen
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
[nggallery id=916 images=15]
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival 2016 – Race Results
Group 1
1. Paddins Dowling, 1934 ERA R2A
2. Peter Greenfield, 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35
3. Max Jamiesson, 1935 Ford Sprint Car
Group 2
1. Cameron Healy, 1953 Cooper Porsche ‘Pooper’
2. Gregory Campbell, 1955 Porsche Devin Speedster
3. David Swig, 1957 Monsterati Special
Group 3
1. Paul Quackenbush, 1963 Lotus Super 7
2. Rick Laws, 1965 Lotus Super 7
3. Dalmo De Vasconcelos, 1965 Lotus Elan 26R
Group 4
1. Art Hebert, 1963 Lola Mk5A Formula Junior
2. Marty Benck, 1962 Lotus 22 Formula Junior
3. Nicholas Colyvas, 1962 Cooper T-59 Formula Junior
Group 5
1. Jim Hague, 1972 Ford Gran Torino
2. Linda Mountanos, 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle
3. Lance Smith, 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle
Group 6
1. Ken Sutherland, 1968 Ford Mustang 427
2. Jeff Abramson, 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
3. Chris MacAllister, 1964 Shelby Cobra FIA 289
Group 7
1. Martin Lauber, 1969 Chevron B16
2. Alan Frick, 1969 Chevron B16
3. A.C. D’Augustine, 1965 Huffaker Genie MK 10B
Group 8
1. Randall Smith, 1969 Brabham BT-29
2. Ethan Shippert, 1981 Crossle 45F
3. Ron Horning, 1971 Brabham BT-35
Group 9
1. Fred Della Noce, 1964 Ginetta G12
2. Jay Embree, 1966 Lotus 47GT
3. Jim Froula, 1971 Datsun 510
Group 10
1. Ken Epsman, 1971 AMC Javelin
2. Jim Hague, 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302
3. Bill Ockerlund, 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda
Group 11
1. Scott Drnek, 1974 Sting GWI Can-Am
2. Brian Blain, 1969 Lola T163 Can-Am
3. Emmett Murphy, 1972 McLaren M8F Can-Am
Group 12
1. John Hildebrand, 1978 Chevrolet Camaro
2. Ranson Webster, 1976 Porsche 935 K3
3. Mike Thurlow, 1975 Chevrolet Corvette
Group 13
1. Chris Liebenberg, 1991 Ford Mustang
2. Ken Epsman, 1984 Pontiac Trans-Am
3. Gordon Johnson, 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass
The Sonoma Historic Award – Presented for Presentation and Performance in Race Group
Group 1 – Brian Blain, 1916 Sturtivant-Auburn Racer
Group 2 – Don Tevini, 1959 Devin D Porsche
Group 3 – Paul Christensen, 1956 Porsche 356A
Group 4 – Karen Barry, 1960 MBC-Huffaker F-Jr.
Group 5 – Linda Mountanos, 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle
Group 6 – Michael Doyle, 1961 Jaguar E-Type
Group 7 – Martin Lauber, 1969 Chevron B-16
Group 8 – Ron Horning, 1971 Brabham BT-35
Group 9 – Ed Matsuishi, 1965 Porsche 911
Group 10 – Drew Alcazar, 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Group 11 – Emmett Murphy, 1972 McLaren M8F
Group 12 – Steve Walker, 1973 BMW CSL
Group 13 – Chris Liedenberg, 1991 Ford Mustang
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
[Source: SVRA; photos: Dennis Gray]
great pictures…picture no.180 is a GSM delta.Really neat cars.
Hey Dennis- You have done it once again……this years locations/technique worked out great.
Best, Steve
Great work Dennis, the images are outstanding and truly position the viewer to sense the action, especially the shot of John Delane leading in a battle of Lolas, McLarens and what happens sometimes. The “up front and personal” image of Cameron Healey’s 908 is excellent.
Magnificent pictures from a real pro. Just the sound of all these great vehicles is missing!
Some of the races I am unable to attend and with the super job Dennis does, it’s like I was there. Thanks Dennis.
Thanks Dennis. Re the 1969 TVR Vixen: I always knew my dad had a great car. He puts a lot into the racing sport. I’ll have a hard time getting him down out of the clouds now.
Sorry I missed this event but you made it inspiring to be there next year Dennis – cheers!