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.
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.
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.
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.
2022 Velocity Invitational Photograph Gallery
Chris MacAllister/1955 Jaguar D-Kind exits Flip 6 on his option to first place in Group 2
Ben McGraw hustles his 1974 Porsche 911 IMSA trough Flip 2
Begin of the Sunday afternoon Mini vs Mustang race
Michael Leven heads a bunch into Flip 2 in the course of the Mini vs Mustand race.
Zak Brown (left) discusses the traces round WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with Pato O’Ward as Mario Andretti is occupied within the background.
Pato O’Ward previous to taking to the monitor for the McLaren Formulation 1 demonstration laps within the ex-Senna McLaren MP4/5B
It’s commonplace for early morning classes to be run in foggy situations – right here John Mote/1950 Allard K2 is being adopted by Tim Barnes/1951 Jaguar XK 120 by way of Flip 2
Chase Johnson/1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa in Flip 2
Steve Walker’s 1975 BMW 2002 leads Zak Brown in his 1975 Ford Capri RS 3100 by way of Flip 2 throughout Friday Morning follow.
The Parker household nose-to-tail of their Cobras
Jim Hague/1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 hustles by way of Flip 5 within the at all times aggressive Historic TransAm class
Steven Smith pushing “Gilbert” his 1965 VW Beetle 1600 by way of Flip 5
John Buddenbaum/1949 Jaguar Parkinson Particular turns into The Corkscrew
Gregory Campbell/1955 Porsche Devin Speedster in Flip 8 about to descend The Corkscrew
Anthony Wang’s 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa seems to be nice in yellow as he goes by way of Flip 6
Wesley Abendroth/1955 Chevrolet Mistral Flat Out by way of Flip 6
Paddins Dowling/1934 ERA R2A alongside Brad Baker/1931 Bugatti T51 in Flip 6 throughout Group 1 follow
Rob Walton/1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta heads Kevin Adair/1959 Austin Healey 3000S and the remainder of the Group 4 subject into The Corkscrew
William Lyon/1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera heads a prepare together with David Perkins/1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ, Ranson Webster/1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera, and Jeffrey ONeill/1963 Ferrari 250 GTO into The Corkscrew
Mario Andretti within the 2013 McLaren MP4-28a in the course of the McLaren Formulation 1 Demonstration
Peto O’Ward within the McLaren MP4/5B in the course of the McLaren Formulation 1 Demonstration
Mika Häkkinen within the McLaren MP4/2 in the course of the McLaren Formulation 1 Demonstration
Geir Ramleth/1963 Lotus 23B out brakes Horatio Fitz-Simon/1963 Lotus Elan 26R into Flip 11
Robert Smalley’s 1968 Porsche 911in Flip 2 in the course of the below 2.5-liter TransAm race.
Group 2 motion in Flip 2 – Robert S. Davis/1953 Siata 208s is momentarily forward of Chris MacAllister/1955 Jaguar D-Kind who’s adopted by James Alder/1952 Jaguar XK 120
Uwe Biegner/1953 Porsche 356 turns into Flip 8 aka The Corkscrew
Juan Gonzalez/2008 Porsche 997 RSR heads Ranson Webster/2012 Porsche GT3 Cup by way of Flip 5
Max Jamiesson/1935 Ford Dash Automotive leads Ivan Zaremba/1935 Railton Gentle Sport Tourer by way of Flip 6
Brian Mullin hustles his 1938 Talbot T26 alongside as he exits Flip 6
John Buddenbaum pushing his 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Particular by way of Flip 6
Nicholas Colonna/1958 Devin SS in Flip 6
Conrad Stevenson/1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ is adopted by Paul Christensen/1956 Porsche 356A Speedster, and others into Flip 8
John Kerr/1932 Miller-Schofield Champ Automotive leads Max Jamiesson/1935 Ford Dash Automotive and Brian Mullin/1938 Talbot T26 into Flip 8
R. Spencer Trenery/1961 Cooper Monaco about to descend The Corkscrew
John Murray’s 1968 BMW 2002 leads the below 2.5-liter TransAm subject into Flip 2.
Nicholas Colonna/1958 Devin SS heads Thor Johnson/1959 Lotus 17 throughout Friday morning follow.
Jeffrey ONeill/1963 Ferrari 250 GTO exiting Flip 2
Ben Wysard/1952 Porsche Glockler about to exit Flip 8 and begin the descent by way of The Corkscrew.
Tyler Hagan/1960 Porsche 356 Roadster exiting Flip 9
Chris MacAllister/1964 Shelby Cobra FIA 289 in Flip 11
Charles McCabe/1936 ERA R6B adopted by Paddins Dowling/1934 ERA R2A and Brad Baker/1931 Bugatti T51 into The Corkscrew descent with the outdated Fort Ort within the background.
Steve Schmidt/1958 Porsche 356A Speedster by way of The Corkscrew
Charles McCabe/1936 ERA R6B in Flip 6 throughout Saturday morning follow
Charles Christensen/1972 Porsche 911S will get slightly air as he heads Jonathan Feiber/1974 Porsche RSR 3.0 in Group 5
Rob Kauffman/1965 Ford GT40 heads Charles Wegner/1965 Shelby GT350 by way of Flip 2
Ned Spiker’s Maserati 200s in Flip 6
Horatio Fitz-Simon/1963 Lotus Elan 26R in Flip 11
Ned Spiker/1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB leads Ranson Webster/1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera
