Velocity Invitational (2022) – Recap & Photograph Gallery On-the-Floor Protection + Gallery


Article and photographs by Invoice Wagenblatt ([email protected])

The second Velocity Invitational occasion was held October 14 to 16 at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California. Jeff O’Neill and his crew as soon as once more confirmed the historic racing neighborhood that there’s multiple option to maintain an occasion. 

Velocity Invitational’s mixture of thrilling automobiles, household leisure, engaging location, manufacture help, and a well-curated show ends in an unbelievable 3-day expertise. When O’Neill first began Velocity Invitational, his imaginative and prescient was to current the automobiles in a extra spectator-friendly atmosphere. 

As an alternative of the standard autos and transporters unfold out within the paddock, the Velocity Invitational crew erected massive tents, the place automobiles are staged by race teams.

The entry is capped at slightly over 2 hundred automobiles, and the format proves that high quality over amount works. Take Group 4, for instance, a Ferrari 250 GTO, a pair of 250 GT SWBs, 4 Alfa Romeo GTZ, and a Ferrari 250 TDF for good measure – greater than sufficient to excite any historic automobile fanatic. 

Charles Wegner/1959 Ferrari 250 GT TDF (left), Jeff O’Neill/1963 Ferrari 250 GTO and Rob Walton/1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta approaching Flip 9

McLaren Automotive is an enormous supporter of the occasion. Along with the paddock and on-track demonstrations, CEO Zak Brown supplied a 2013 McLaren MP4/28A for Mario Andretti to attempt. The 1978 World Driving Champion had driving a recent system 1 automobile on his bucket checklist, and due to McLaren, that has been ticked off. Along with Mario, two-time world champion Mika Häkkinen demonstrated the TAG/Porsche powered MP4/2C, and Pato O’Ward, the ex-Senna MP4/5B. 

Zak Brown (left) watches ae mechanics will get Pato O’Ward prepared for demonstration laps within the es-Senna McLaren MP4/5B

 

As spectators wander the paddock, there are small shows scattered all through. Along with the McLaren highway automobiles, Hypercar producers, Czinger, Guntherwerks, Hennessey, and Zenvo, had been displayed. All through the weekend, monitor demonstrations had been interspersed with the race teams. The Ragtime Racers and show of Miller automobiles supplied a pleasant distinction to the hypercars.

McLaren highway automobile show
Miller Indy automobile show
The Peterson Museum had the Juan Gonzalez Assortment of Formulation 1 automobiles on the show within the paddock.

The early 1930 Bugattis bookended the 9 race teams to 2012 Porsche 911 Membership Vehicles in Group 9. Every day ended with the Mini vs. Mustang race. That is the second yr of the matchup and is a takeoff of the sixties-era racing. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was a wonderful monitor for the race, with the Mustangs’ energy out of the flip and on the straights balanced by the Minis’ dealing with within the corners.

After beginning at Sonoma Raceway in 2019 and the final two years at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, let’s hope that the Velocity Invitational stays on the calendar. Should you haven’t skilled the occasion or west coast historic racing, add the occasion to your bucket checklist.

Jeff O’Neil giving a thumbs up capturing the success of the 2022 Velocity Invitational

2022 Velocity Invitational Photograph Gallery

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