Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Celebrates Can-Am Series and Classic Race Cars at Sonoma Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net

(Digital image attached of the two Shadow Can-Am cars at Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival's Sunday race. Fred Cziska's No. 101 1972 Shadow DN2 leads Dennis Losher's No. 107 1971 Shadow MKII. Photo credit: Joe Jacobson.)

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Celebrates Can-Am Series and Classic Race Cars at Sonoma Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (May 18, 2014) - The fifth annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Sonoma Raceway celebrated the history of the Can-Am Series, with a focus on the Shadow Cars, in sunny and warm weather as nearly 350 vintage and historic cars in 14 groups competed on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in the heart of Northern California's wine country today. 

The featured Group 12 race - 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars - was won by Spencer Trenery, of Emeryville, Calif., in a 1970 McLaren M8C, while Fred Cziska's 1972 Shadow DN2 and Dennis Losher's 1971 Shadow MKII finished fifth and eighth, respectively.

From a 1929 Lagonda, a 1911 National 40, to a cadre of McLaren M8 Can-Am cars from the '60s and ‘70s, and the fan-favorite Trans-Am cars of the same era, an enthusiastic crowd was treated to close competition among many classic race cars from the last 100 years at the 28th annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd.

Race winners included a 1970 Porsche 908/3 driven by Cameron Healy, a 1936 ERA R6B, raced by Charles McCabe, a 1962 Lotus 22 F-Jr. piloted by Carl Moore, and a 1971 Chevron B-19 driven by Randall Smith.

"The weekend was successful once again," said Steve Earle, president of General Racing, Ltd., who has organized premier historic car events for four decades. “We are very proud of the quality of our drivers. We had only one minor incident, but otherwise it was a good, clean, fun weekend for all the participants and fans. That's what it's supposed to be, and has always been.

"We also appreciate the participation of car clubs at this event, representing marques such as Morgan, Porsche and Datsun Z, and to have Blackhawk Automotive Museum join in with a car tour from Danville, Calif., to the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival."

Overall Race Winners Today:

Race 1 – Group 1 Pre-1927 Sports Touring Cars - D*** Jeffery, Hillsborough, Calif., 1937 Triumph Special
Race 2 – Group 2 1925-1941 Racing Cars - Charles McCabe, San Francisco, Calif., 1936 ERA R6B
Race 3 – Group 8 1963-1973 Grand National Stock Cars - Ron Myska, Fairfield, Calif., 1969 Ford Talladega
Race 4 – Group 4 1956-1963 Formula Jr., F-2, F1 Cars - Carl Moore, Alamo, Calif., 1962 Lotus 22 F-Jr.
Race 5 – Group 3 1946-1955 Sports Racing & Production Cars - Dyke Ridgley, Willamette, Ill., 1953 Jaguar C-Type
Race 6 – Group 7 1955-1962 Production GT Cars - Noel Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., 1958 Corvette
Race 7 – Group 6 & 13b 1959-1966 Sports Racing Cars & 1964-1970 FIA Cars - Cameron Healy, Portland, Ore., 1970 Porsche 908/3
Race 8 – Group 5 1955-1960 Sports Racing Cars - Dyke Ridgley, Willamette, Ill., 1960 Maserati T-61
Race 9 – Group 9 1962-1967 Production/GT Cars over 2000cc - Jeff Abramson, Alamo, Calif., 1964 Corvette
Race 10 – Group 10 1962-1967 Production Cars under 2000cc - Dalmo de Vasconcelos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1965 Lotus Elan
Race 11 – Group 11 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars - Jim Halsey, Los Angeles, Calif., 1970 Boss 302
Race 12 – Group 12 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars - Spencer Trenery, Emeryville, Calif., 1970 McLaren M8C
Race 13 – Group 13a 1970-1979 IMSA GT & 1971-1979 FIA Cars - Randall Smith, Petaluma, Calif., 1971 Chevron B-19
Race 14 – Group 14 1982-1991 Historic IMSA GTO/SCCA Trans-Am Cars - Mike Gagen, La Mesa, Calif., 1988 Camaro

The Sonoma Historic Cup - “The Phil Hill Trophy”
Presented for Best Presentation and Performance Overall
Winner: Charles McCabe, San Francisco, Calif., 1936 ERA R6B

The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Pre-1940 Category
Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Winner: Mike Eddy, Gardena, Calif., 1963 Falcon

The Sonoma Historic Trophy, Post 1940 Category
Presented for Excellence in Presentation
Winner: Paddins Dowling, Sausalito, Calif., 1939 Maserati 4 CL

The Sonoma Historic Award
Presented for Presentation and Performance in Race Group
Group 1 – Jim Nix, Saratoga, Calif., 1926 Rajo Ford
Group 2 – Steve Walker, Amity, Ore., 1935 BMW 315/1
Group 3 – Timothy Barnes, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 1951 Jaguar XK-120
Group 4 – Maurice McCaig, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1961 Cooper T-56 F-Jr.
Group 5 – Erickson Shirley, Vail, Colo., 1959 Lister-Chevrolet
Group 6 – Michael Reischl, Kent, Wash., 1967 Chevron GT
Group 7 – Ronald Cressey, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 1959 Corvette
Group 8 – Trace Chalmers, Irvine, Calif., 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner
Group 9 – John Goodman, Seattle, Wash., 1964 Shelby Cobra
Group 10 – Fred Della Noce, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1967 Alfa Romeo GTAm
Group 11 – Greg Weirick, Malibu, Calif., 1970 Camaro
Group 12 -  Fred Cziska, Petaluma, Calif., 1972 Shadow DN2
Group 13 - Alex McAllister, Indianapolis, Ind., 1971 Chevron B-19
Group 14 – Chris Liebenberg, Boyertown, Pa., 1982 Mustang

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