SONOMA, Calif. (April 26, 2021) – The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) visited Sonoma Raceway this weekend to kick off the SpeedTour’s California double-header. Back-to-back weekends at Sonoma Raceway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca provide competitors with a unique opportunity to get in eight days of on-track competition at the two iconic venues across just an 11-day span. Bringing together SVRA and the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s West Coast Championship, the event also drew over a dozen pre-war cars and nearly 30 period-prepared Historic Trans Am cars.
It was a fierce weekend of competition with 22 people reaching the podium’s top step in the various feature races. A few were able to secure both wins for their group competition, and a couple crossed over from one group to another to capture two wins during the course of the weekend.
Scott Borchetta once again set the pace in Group 6 competition with his 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, earning his seventh & eighth victories of the season. In Group 9, Stuart Crow drove his 1992 Ralt RT40 to victory in both feature races. Michael Malone took the top step of the podium in both Group 10 features driving his 1988 Chevrolet Corvette. Curt Johnson also had a perfect weekend, winning both features for Group 12B in his 1979 Triumph TR7.
Art Hebert crossed groups to secure two victories throughout the course of the weekend, winning Group 2’s second feature race in his 1970 Titan Mk6, as well as Group 5A’s second feature driving his 1986 Swift DB2 Sports 2000. Spencer Trenery did the same, first winning Group 4’s first feature race in his 1961 Cooper Monaco, and then going on to secure the Group 11 feature race two win in his 2006 Riley Daytona Prototype Gen 1.
Donald Racine and Dennis Racine each took a win in Group 1. Competing against a strong contingent from the Southwest with 14 drivers from the region, Santa Monica’s Erich Joiner secured a victory in Group 2. In Group 3 competition, David Hagan and Peter George each took a feature win. Steve Sanett took the second feature race victory for Group 4, while Maurizio Brandhoff won Group 5A’s first feature. Group 5B competition was split between Geir Ramleth and Mark Brannon, who each took a group win. Group 8 mixed things up in their races with Tom Tuttle and Chet Taylor each taking a feature win. A familiar face to SVRA’s winner’s circle, Travis Engen took yet another feature win with Group 11. Group 12A also featured two different winners with J.R. Smith and Greg Creitz each winning one of the group’s feature races.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the fan-favorite Historic Trans Am. With nearly 30 period-prepared cars from the years of 1963 to 1971, the group always puts on a great show. Jim Hague won the first feature race driving his 1971 Ford Boss 302, while James J. Bittle took the victory in Sunday’s HTA feature with his 1968 Ford Mustang Tunnel Port 302.
Last, but not least, was the Pre-War Car exhibition. It was like taking a step back in time watching these vehicles race around the 1.99-mile Sonoma Raceway. With over a dozen cars participating, the group represented three decades of automotive history dating back to 1910.
For a full list of SVRA’s podium finishers at the Sonoma SpeedTour, visit SVRA.com.
Next weekend, SVRA is headed 150 miles south to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to wrap up its West Coast doubleheader. The Trans Am SpeedFest, held April 28-May 2, will feature vintage racing from SVRA, another reunion race with Historic Trans Am and modern-day Trans Am racing with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. Additionally, the Trans Am SpeedFest will be broadcast to SpeedTour Plus+ Pass subscribers on the SVRA App, which is available for download, here: https://nagrasports.app.link/YHkRxfOxq7.
About SVRA:
Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) is the premier vintage racing organization in the United States. Founded in 1978, SVRA has grown steadily to 2,500 active members with a database of over 11,000 race cars. Race weekends take place at some of the finest racing venues in the United States, including Charlotte Motor Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sebring International Raceway, Road America, Watkins Glen International, Michelin Road Atlanta Raceway, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Portland International Raceway, Auto Club Speedway, Lime Rock Park, Sonoma Raceway and Virginia International Raceway (VIR). In 2013, SVRA hosted the first U.S. Vintage National Championships at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas—a tradition it continues today. Find additional information on SVRA, a complete annual schedule, and entry lists on the SVRA website Be sure to check our Facebook page and YouTube channel, which currently boast a library of over 300 action-packed event videos, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Most SVRA races will be live-streamed on the SVRA app.