SONOMA, California — Sonoma County drivers posted a pair of victories on Saturday at the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Infineon Raceway.
Petaluma’s Dave Vegher took the lead on the fourth lap and held on for the victory in his 1966 Elva in Group 5A for 1961-1966 Sports Racing Cars. Vegher outlasted second-place Mike Blackie (1964 Genie) and third-place Greg Meyer from Los Altos (1962 Dailu). The main event spanned 12 laps.
Sonoma’s Chris MacAllister closed out the day with a win in Group 7A in his 1971 McLaren. MacAllister, who splits his residency between Sonoma and Indianapolis, passed early-leader Tony Garmey on lap three and won the 12-lap race for 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars. MacAllister averaged 89.509 mph.
There was racing in seven groups overall on Saturday over the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course.
Other winners included: David Hankin (Group 1A, 1968 Ford Torino, Redding); Rob Manson (Group 2A, 1952 Schaghticoke, Barcelona); Scott Brown (Group 3A, 1957 MGA, Redwood City); Tom Claridge (Group 4A, 1964 Ginetta, Los Gatos); and Steve Petty (1991 Camaro, Charles Town, W. Va.)
Action resumes on Sunday at the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival with racing in six divisions: 1914-1949 Pre-War Sports and Racing Cars; 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars; 1962-1967 GT Cars over 2000cc; 1958-1963 Formula Cars; 1965-1988 FIA/IMSA GTP Cars; and 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars.
Gates open at 8 a.m., with warm-up racing in all divisions set to begin at 9 a.m. The 12-lap main events are set to begin at 1 p.m. In addition to racing, fans will also get free admission into the Wine Country Pavilion with their race-day ticket.
Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival
SONOMA, Calif. – Top-5 results Saturday from the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Infineon Raceway. All 12-lap races were contested on Infineon Raceway’s 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course. Car and hometown in parentheses:
GROUP 1A (1963-1974 Grand National Cars)
1. David Hankin (1968 Ford Torino, Redding); 2. Mark Mountanos (1971 Pontiac Firebird, Ukiah); 3. Randy Peterson (1971 Chevrolet, Sonoma); 4. Jim Hague (1972 Ford, Santa Clara); 5. Scott Rubin (1966 Ford, Santa Clara).
GROUP 2A (1948-1955 Sports Racing & GT Cars)
1. Rob Manson (1952 Schaghticoke, Barcelona); 2. John Buddenbaum (1949 Jaguar, Sunnyvale); 3. Jim Herlinger (1949 Baldwin, Woodside); 4. Donald Racine (1952 Aardvark, Nevada City); 5. Jeff Abramson (1954 Ferrari, Alamo).
GROUP 3A (1955-1962 GT Cars)
1. Scott Brown (1957 MGA, Redwood City); Brian Howlett (1961 Morgan, Hacienda Heights); Clint deWitt (1960 Porsche, Sacramento); Ron Cressy (1959 Corvette, Sherman Oaks); Paul Ryan (1962 Lotus, Coronado).
GROUP 4A (1962-1968 GT Cars under 2000cc)
1. Tom Claridge (1964 Ginetta, Los Gatos); 2. Paul Quackenbush (1963 Lotus, Grass Valley); 3. Robert Forbes (1964 Ginetta, Emerald Hills); 4. Victor Avlia (1964 Lotus, Corona Del Mar); 5. Michael Taradash (1966 Lotus, Palos Verdes Estates).
GROUP 5A (1961-1965 Sports Racing Cars)
1. Dave Vegher (1966 Elva, Petaluma); 2. Mike Blackie (1964 Genie, Prescott); 3. Greg Meyer (1962 Dailu, Los Altos.); 4. Edith Arrowsmith (1964 Brabham, Scottsdale, Ariz.); 5. Steve Schmidt (1963 Lotus, Newport Beach).
GROUP 6A (1973-1980 IMSA GT, GTX/1982-91 Trans-Am)
1. Steve Petty (1991 Camaro, Charles Town, W. Va.); 2. John Watkins (1983 Pontiac, Anderson); 3. Peter Baljet (1990 Beretta, Duncan BC); 4; Kenneth Davis (1985 Roush Mercury, Escondido); 5. Phil Gallant (1985 Mustang, Oceanside).
GROUP 7A (1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars)
1. Chris MacAllister (1971 McLaren, Sonoma); 2. Any Boone (1968 McLaren, Laguna Beach); 3. Tony Garmey (1970 McLaren, Maple Valley, Wash.); 4. Scott Drnek (1974 Sting, Hayward); 5. Don Bell (1969 Lola, Woodside).
