Below please find a list of some local competitors entered in the Jaguar Wine Country Classic Vintage Car Races, presented by Bank of the West, at Infineon Raceway, June 4-5. These capsules are designed to give media members competitors from their local areas. If you would like to interview any of these competitors, please contact Diana Rose at Infineon Raceway at 707-933-3918 or drose@infineonraceway.com.
Nearly than 300 vintage cars are expected for the weekend of racing, with some cars dating as far back as pre-World War I. All competitors will tackle the twisting 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course, with qualifying set for Saturday, June 4, and main events scheduled for Sunday, June 5, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Gary Lucas (Tiburon – 1915 Ford Model T) - Tiburon’s Gary Lucas will pilot the oldest entry of the field during the Jaguar Wine Country Classic with his 1915 Ford Model T. Lucas, who has been a firefighter in San Rafael for 28 years, has owned the vintage car for more than 20 years. In addition to the Wine Country Classic and Monterey Historics, Lucas has also competed several times in The Great Race, a 14-day, cross-country trek, in his Model T. Lucas’ father, who owns a 1922 Ford Speedster, is also passionate about vintage cars and serves as his son’s riding mechanic, including manually pumping oil and gas throughout the race.
Len Auerbach (San Francisco – 1960 Aston Martin) – San Francisco resident Len Auerbach has considered racing cars his “mental health” for more than 30 years. Auerbach is the founder of Auerbach Consultants, which is one of the leading theatre, media facilities and lighting consulting firms in practice today. Auerbach’s company has helped design some of the signature performance facilities in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Opera House, the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. On the track, Auerbach races his 1960 Aston Martin, which he’s owned for nine years.
Martin, Esta and David Swig (Sausalito – 1928 & 1959 Alfa Romeo, 1953 Fiat) – The entire Swig family will get in on the act during the Jaguar Wine Country Classic. Sausalito resident Martin Swig, who has been involved in vintage racing for more than 25 years, will compete in the event, as will his wife, Esta, and their 20-year-old son, David. The family will compete in a trio of Italian machines: a 1928 Alfa Romeo Zagato Spider, 1953 Fiat 1100 and 1959 Alfa Romeo Julieta. In addition to racing on the track, Martin is also involved in organizing several California car events, including the California Millia Miglia and the Double 500, a one-day, 500 kilometer cruise that features cars worth less than $500.
Bruce Trenery (Martinez – 1932 Alfa Romeo) – Trenery is a veteran of big-time racing, having competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona seven times, as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring five times. Most recently, he co-piloted an Acura Integra at the 24 Hour Nurburgring Endurance in the A3 class (modified 2-liter cars) . He has been racing for 30 years, and some of it has rubbed off on his son, Spencer Trenery. Spencer has competed in the American Le Mans Series and the Grand American Road Racing Series. Bruce Trenery owns Fantasy Junction in the East Bay, which specializes in classic car sales, including Ferrari and McLaren. He has been racing for 30 years and has competed in every Wine Country Classic since its inception 19 years ago.
Bruce John (Oakland – 1960 Huffaker) – Before getting in to vintage car racing, John was a regular on the quarter-mile dirt oval at Antioch Speedway in the Grand American modified class. John has been racing for 28 years, including 12 years in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). John, who works as an administrative support officer for BART, suffered a heart attack three years ago but was inspired to continue in racing after watching his father pass away after a 10-year stint on kidney dialysis in 2003.
Dann Boeschen (St. Helena – 1966 Porsche) – Boeschen is a late-bloomer in the world of vintage car racing, having gotten started in 2001. He simply attended vintage car racing events, but in 1999 decided to become a competitor. After taking racing classes at the Bob Bondurant School in 1999 and the Jim Russell Racing School in 2000, he was ready to go. Boeschen will unveil his Porsche 906 at the Jaguar Wine Country Classic; he has spent the past two years restoring it. Boeschen is also dabbling in the wine business as he has created a small vineyard on seven acres behind his home in St. Helena. He specializes in red wines and should have his first vintage in two years.
Dave Sneary (Alamo – 1963 Morgan) – Sneary has combined two of his passions into a great lifestyle: sailing and vintage car racing. He has been involved in vintage car racing for 10 years and transformed his 1963 Morgan from a “pure” street car into a street car/vintage race car. The car was featured at the annual Monterey Historics in 2003 on SPEED. He is also a very accomplished sailor, having guided a 37-foot sailboat from San Francisco to Alaska, and a 46-foot sailboat from San Francisco to Costa Rica. Sneary, a graduate of Encinal High School in Alameda, competes annually in the Big Boat Series each September out of the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. He also owns McGinnis Insurance Services, out of Lafayette, which specializes in yacht insurance. Sneary is 62 years old and has lived in Contra Costa County since 1967.
Jim Gallucci (Danville – 1969 McLaren and 1969 Lola) – Gallucci got the bug for racing as a teenager in Rochester, N.Y., but it wasn’t road racing. His entrance into motor racing came at the drag strip at Spencer Speedway (Rochester) in his 1955 Chevy. Gallucci eventually discovered road racing and has been doing it ever since; he started vintage car racing in 1981 when he moved to California. He will drive his 1969 McLaren at the Wine Country Classic, and he will have someone else drive his 1969 Lola. The McLaren has quite a bit of history, having been competitive in races throughout Europe and Argentina. Gallucci works in commercial real estate and owns four shops in Danville (Race Car Fabrication) where he stores/works on race cars.
