Race at the Base


By Michael T. Lynch
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Jonathan Feiber's T61 Birdcage Maserati was among the fastest in Race Three, but a chance meeting with Neil Hadfield's D-Type Jaguar led to both cars retiring. Credit: David Woodhouse.

Steve Earle, with wife Debbie and son Doug, organize America’s most prestigious vintage race, The Monterey Historics. Outside of California, many are not aware that they also present the Wine Country Classic at Sears Point (aka Infineon Raceway) and the Lime Rock Vintage Festival. Their hidden gem may be the Coronado Speed Festival, run just across the bay from downtown San Diego in October.

The low-key fifties ambiance is accentuated by the use of an airfield course, even though the host is the Navy rather than the Strategic Air Command on whose bases so many fifties races were run. Acres of concrete have been transformed into a grippy layout where tweaks over time (this year’s event was the sixth annual) have created a configuration that gives equal weight to top speed and handling. An example of this was in the 1956-62 production car race where the usually dominant Corvettes were humbled by two Morgans and two Porsche 356s.

Although it didn't race, just hanging out in the pits, this Alfa 8C2900B had more charisma than 95% of the cars that did. Credit: Michael T. Lynch

Competitors love the event because the course equalizes lap times, and there’s lots of track time – three practice sessions and two twenty-minute races for each group. The vast expanse of the base allows competitors to park their support vehicles alongside the race cars. Social highlights included Bob Bondurant’s induction into the San Diego Motor Racing Hall of Fame on Thursday, a participants’ dinner at the Admiral’s residence on Friday night, and an after-race party on Sunday aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). How’s that for being made to feel important?

Spectators are also unanimous in their praise of the festival which is only 15 minutes from the heart of the city. A three-day $21 admission package doesn’t break the budget for families, and when they arrive there is an extensive vendor village, car club corrals and close racing on a course that is entirely visible from free grandstands. There was a nice line-up of midgets and sprints, but, unfortunately, none raced. In keeping with the aviation theme, there was a display of vintage Naval aircraft and flyovers by modern and vintage planes. A three-plane formation of a Douglas Skyraider and two A-6s brought the most attention.

Steve’s magic Rolodex is known for bringing out significant cars. This year’s running was a feast for Italian car fans, and VeloceToday is pleased to show you some of the best.

Dave Vegher in Tony Wang's 250P Ferrari checks his mirrors to see where Alan Frick's Alfa GTA is. Credit: David Woodhouse.	Tom Hollfelder provided one of the best drives of the day. Starting deep in the pack, he moved his Alfa 33/3 forward. After passing one McLaren Can Am car for second, he was taking the lead from another when the engine gave out. Credit: David Woodhouse.

Kaid Marouf's Alfa SZ1 negotiates a turn on the vast naval base. Credit: David Woodhouse.	The Marouf family in action with their favorite marque. Kaid Marouf's Alfa TZ2 leads Said's GTA. Credit: David Woodhouse.

An all Italian line-up. Ned Spieker's Alfa P3 leads Tom Price's Alfa 8C2300 with Don Baldocchi's Nardi-Crosley bringing up the rear. Credit: David Woodhouse.	The program says Tom Price's Maserati is a 200Si. The cars 2489 cc displacement would indicate a 250S. Whatever it is, it brightened the course for only four laps before retiring. Credit: David Woodhouse
The regulars check out the supercharged straight-eight in Peter Giddings' Alfa 8C 35. It ran away with the pre-war race, making some of the best sounds of the weekend. In its heyday, it was driven by Nuvolari among other immortals. Credit: Michael T. Lynch	Dean Meiling's Maserati A6GCS is warmed up before Saturday's practice. This was a Maserati team car driven in several races by Luigi Musso. Credit: Michael T. Lynch