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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Report and Photos

Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 Picasa
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016

The inaugural SVRA Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix took place on March 18-20, 2016 at the 2.1-mile Fernandina Beach Airport in Amelia Island, Florida. Held the week after the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the event was a revival of the races originally held at the airport from 1963 through 1974.

About 125 cars in eight racing groups entered the Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016. Most of the cars were from the 1960s and ’70s, but they ranged from 1928 racers — Ray Morgan’s Riley Brookland Special and Robert Tone’s Ford Speedster — to the 2014 Porsche Cayman driven by Shane Lewis.Lewis was participating in the Stuttgart Cup which has become a fixture in many vintage events. Many feel they do not belong, and perhaps they are right, but it’s interesting to see a class of relatively modern cars to visualize where racing is and where it was side-by-side. There were also about 25 vintage motorcycles and a handful of vintage airplanes adding flavor to the event.

Interesting entries included Dennis Bigioni’s 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C, Richard Mitchell’s 1929 Stutz Blackhawk, Theo Bean’s Aston Martin DB4, Larry Ligas’ sweet sounding 1961 Daimler SP250 and the Cobras of Phil Mulacek, a 427 cid and a 1964 289 cid.

The forecast called for a rainy and stormy race weekend, yet fortunately the weekend was dry except for some early morning rain. Despite the threatening weather, there was a good spectator turnout. They were treated to a very good show, with interesting cars and motorcycles, good racing and fly-overs by interesting airplanes.

Airport races, just like carburetors and ignition distributors, are a thing of the past, and for good reason. Racing venues have progressed over the decades and now provide comfort, safety and viewing pleasure unheard of decades ago. Yet this is perhaps the best reason to have them again. It’s a reminder of how participants dealt with races back then. There was a lot of sharing, improvising and just doing without, and it made us better people. At least for the weekend.

Tony Parella, President and CEO of SVRA, and his staff put together a great event. It was a monstrous task. They had no blueprint to guide them, and they had to deal with local authorities, the FAA, TSA, the local country club and uncertain weather. As with any first time event, there were unexpected issues to deal with, yet, to SVRA’s credit, the event went off smoothly. Races ran on schedule, and spectators and participants left happy. Well done.

Sports Car Digest documented the 2016 Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix by SVRA, with photographer David Ferguson providing the following selection of images from the debut event. We split up the pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can by found on the last page of the gallery and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.

Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Don Heth's 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina
Don Heth’s 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Richard Mitchell behind the wheel of the 1929 Stutz Bearcat
Richard Mitchell behind the wheel of the 1929 Stutz Bearcat
Shelby Mustang GT350s
Shelby Mustang GT350s

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

A 1934 MG PA of Michael Bartell
A 1934 MG PA of Michael Bartell
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Bill Warner takes the inside in his 1971 Triumph TR6
Amelia Island Concours Founder Bill Warner takes the inside in his ex-Group 44 and Paul Newman 1971 Triumph TR6
Denis Bigioni piloting the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C
Denis Bigioni piloting the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Theo Bean behind the wheel of the 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Theo Bean behind the wheel of the 1959 Aston Martin DB4

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

The 1970 Lotus 61 of MX Bob Koons
The 1970 Lotus 61 of MX Bob Koons
The 1976 Lola T342 of Bruce Domeck
The 1976 Lola T342 of Bruce Domeck
The 1970 Titan Mk 6 of Bob Burnside
The 1970 Titan Mk 6 of Bob Burnside
The 1928 Riley Brookland Special of Ray Morgan
The 1928 Riley Brookland Special of Ray Morgan
Denis Bigioni in the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C
Denis Bigioni in the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C
The 1939 Dreyer Ford Special of Scott Ebert
The 1939 Dreyer Ford Special of Scott Ebert

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

George Pardee in his 1954 MG TF trails Daniel Leonard in the 1949 MG TC
George Pardee in his 1954 MG TF trails Daniel Leonard in the 1949 MG TC
Denis Bigioni in the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C
Denis Bigioni in the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C
Ross Bremer raced this 1966 Ford Anglia 105 Super on this very airport in 1968
Ross Bremer raced this 1966 Ford Anglia 105 Super on this very airport in 1968
James Heck behind the wheel of the 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
James Heck behind the wheel of the 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
The 1965 Ford Mustang of Stephen Seitz
The 1965 Ford Mustang of Stephen Seitz
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette of Michael Moss
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette of Michael Moss

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Mark Rife pilots the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Mark Rife pilots the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Susan Patterson in the 1952 Devin MG Speedster
Susan Patterson in the 1952 Devin MG Speedster
1959 Aston Martin DB4 of Theo Bean
1959 Aston Martin DB4 of Theo Bean
David Baugham leads the group in his 1969 Nerus F100
David Baugham leads the group in his 1969 Nerus F100
The 1964 Elva Mk 7S of Roger Cassin
The 1964 Elva Mk 7S of Roger Cassin
Andrew Lewis piloting the 1983 March 83S
Andrew Lewis piloting the 1983 March 83S

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

The 1970 Lola T210 of Lawrence Huang
The 1970 Lola T210 of Lawrence Huang
Robert Phillips in the 1968 Lola T70
Robert Phillips in the 1968 Lola T70
Robert Phillips in his 1968 Lola T70
1968 Lola T70
Ready for liftoff!
We have liftoff!
Skip Bryan behind the wheel of the 1972 BMW 2002
Skip Bryan behind the wheel of the 1972 BMW 2002
The 1961 Lotus Super 7 of Charles Kates Jr.
The 1961 Lotus Super 7 of Charles Kates Jr.

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

Hal Nichols in his 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Hal Nichols in his 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
The 1972 Porsche 911 S/T of Davis Jones
The 1972 Porsche 911 S/T of Davis Jones
The 1972 Datsun 240Z of Linwood Staub
The 1972 Datsun 240Z of Linwood Staub
Tom Downey in the 1969 Datsun 510
Tom Downey in the 1969 Datsun 510
Don Heth behind the wheel of the 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina
Don Heth behind the wheel of the 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina
Jim Malone in the 1968 Triumph TR6
Jim Malone in the 1968 Triumph TR6

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

Will Painter in the 1966 Alfa Romeo GTV
Will Painter in the 1966 Alfa Romeo GTV
Dale Erwin behind the wheel of the 1958 Porsche 356
Dale Erwin behind the wheel of the 1958 Porsche 356
Roy Crowninshield's 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Roy Crowninshield’s 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV
Tim Suddard behind the wheel of the 1957 Triumph TR3
Tim Suddard behind the wheel of the 1957 Triumph TR3
The 1969 Ford Escort Mk I of Karen Perrin
The 1969 Ford Escort Mk I of Karen Perrin
Peter Dunn piloting the 1963 Morgan 4/4
Peter Dunn piloting the 1963 Morgan 4/4

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
The business end of Robert Phillip's 1968 Lola T70
The business end of Robert Phillip’s 1968 Lola T70
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Dennis Bigioni’s 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C leads field at the 2016 Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix
Jason Generotti behind the wheel of his 1985 Swift DB-1
Jason Generotti behind the wheel of his 1985 Swift DB-1
The 1949 MG TC driven by Daniel Leonard
The 1949 MG TC driven by Daniel Leonard

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

Sam Blanton threads his 1936 Winfield-Ford Special through the hay bales
Sam Blanton threads his 1936 Winfield-Ford Special through the hay bales
Bill Stelcher behind the wheel of the 1929 Ford Model A Speedster
Bill Stelcher behind the wheel of the 1929 Ford Model A Speedster
George Pardee's 1954 MG TF
George Pardee’s 1954 MG TF
The 1928 Ford Model A Speedster of Robert Tone
The 1928 Ford Model A Speedster of Robert Tone
A 1934 MG PA of Michael Bartell
A 1934 MG PA of Michael Bartell
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016
Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

 

Ray Morgan in the 1964 Merlyn Mk 6
Ray Morgan in the 1964 Merlyn Mk 6
Alan Vinson leads the Aston-Martin in his 1965 Shelby Cobra 289
Alan Vinson leads the Aston-Martin in his 1965 Shelby Cobra 289
Phil Mulacik's 1964 Shelby Cobra
Phil Mulacik’s 1964 Shelby Cobra
Stephen Seitz's 1965 Ford Mustang
Stephen Seitz’s 1965 Ford Mustang
Plenty of ponies
Plenty of ponies
Roy Allen's 1966 Shelby GT350 after ingesting the hay bale
Roy Allen’s 1966 Shelby GT350 after ingesting the hay bale

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Twelve

 

Skott Burkland's 1969 Porsche 911 leads the pack
Skott Burkland’s 1969 Porsche 911 leads the pack
The 1972 Porsche 911 S/T of Davis Jones
The 1972 Porsche 911 S/T of Davis Jones
The 1969 Porsche 911 T piloted by Chester Hawley III
The 1969 Porsche 911 T piloted by Chester Hawley III
Plenty of Porsche 356s to go around
Plenty of Porsche 356s to go around
Gary Hess piloting the 1973 Porsche 914/4
Gary Hess piloting the 1973 Porsche 914/4
Jim Lenehan's 1972 Porsche 914/6 shows evidence of contact with a hay bale
Jim Lenehan’s 1972 Porsche 914/6 shows evidence of contact with a hay bale

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Thirteen

 

The 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider of Steven Piantieri
The 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider of Steven Piantieri
The 1958 Austin Healey Sprite of Gary Hagopian
The 1958 Austin Healey Sprite of Gary Hagopian
Larry Ligas' 1961 Daimler SP250
Larry Ligas’ 1961 Daimler SP250
Warren Alpin's 1962 Triumph TR4
Warren Alpin’s 1962 Triumph TR4
Mike Fisher behind the wheel of his 1960 Austin Healey 3000
Mike Fisher behind the wheel of his 1960 Austin Healey 3000
The 1961 Lotus Super 7 of Charles Kate Jr.
The 1961 Lotus Super 7 of Charles Kate Jr.

 

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Amelia Island Vintage Grand Prix 2016 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=895 images=15]

 

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[Source: David Ferguson]