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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Report and Photos

Alexander Curtis' 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL
Alexander Curtis\' 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

The Coronado Speed Festival 2015 was held September 19-20 at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. This year marked the 80th anniversary of Fleet Week in San Diego and for the past 18 years, the Coronado Speed Festival has been part of this annual event. This end of summer celebration brought locals and far-away enthusiasts to the Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island to enjoy the sights and sounds of vintage racing.

Each year, NAS Coronado constructs a temporary 1.7-mile course on the runways and taxiways of the Naval Air Station for the ‘Race at the Base’. Race fans enjoyed a weekend of racing with the various race classes that participated, as well as an open paddock — where the cars are worked on and the drivers prepare themselves for their time on the race track. The weekend also included a Helo demo, Red Bull’s Geoff Aaron Endurocross pro demonstration, a parade lap by the car show winners, several flyovers by Navy jets and helicopters and the USO singing troupe.Attendees to the Coronado Speed Festival 2015 also had access to numerous vendors, food stands, car club corrals and several military vehicles and aircraft on display. Racing and car aficionados, along with their families and friends, had a lot to see, eat and experience throughout the race weekend.

This year’s Speed Festival was unique in that aside from the 200+ historic race and sports cars that participated in this year’s race event, several rare and unique pre-war racers that participated in the 1915 Point Loma road race were also brought out this weekend. With 2015 marking the 100th anniversary of the Point Loma road race, this historic event was well represented. To celebrate this milestone, an impressive contingent of pre-war racers were present in both the paddock as well as on the race track throughout the warm, sunny weekend. Among them were Ed Archer’s 1915 Ford Model Tracer; Brody Blain’s 1911 National 40; Brian Blain’s 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn; Jim Putnam’s 1912 Packard 30; Randy Reed’s 1914 Tahis Special; Rob Stewart’s 1912 EMF and several from Williams Evan including a 1913 Mercer Raceabout 35-J; 1910 F.I.A.T. S-61; 1913 Isotta Fraschini and a 1911 FIAT Pope Ono.

Other notable and interesting entrants at the Coronado Speed Festival 2015 included Jim Hague’s 1971 Ford Boss 302 Mustang; Tracy Chalmers’ 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350; Al Arciero’s 1958 Lister Knobbly; Peter Giddings’ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza; Boris Said’s 1968 BMW 2002; Jeff Gerken’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL; Fred Yeakel’s 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah; David Roberts’ 1978 Budweiser Lightning Cosworth; Jim Maetzold’s 1980 March 80A and Alex Curtis’ 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. My favorite was Wayne Blasman’s 1970 BRE Datsun 240Z.

After a long and successful partnership with the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA), the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation partnered with Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) to manage the 2015 event and they did a fantastic job of running the Speed Festival.

Similar to 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2015 Coronado Speed Festival, with Victor Varela producing the following images from this year’s vintage ‘Race at the Base’. We split up Victor’s 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 be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Victor, visit VictorVarela.com.

Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

Nick Colonna's 1970 McLaren M8C
Nick Colonna’s 1970 McLaren M8C
1978 Chevron B36 Driven by Tom Minnich
1978 Chevron B36 Driven by Tom Minnich
Jeff Gerken 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
Jeff Gerken’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
Alan Frick 1969 Chevron B16
Alan Frick’s 1969 Chevron B16
Paul Christensen's 1956 Porsche 356A
Paul Christensen’s 1956 Porsche 356A
Dennis Racine's 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S
Dennis Racine’s 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S
Power slide... 1970 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Gregory Weirick
Power slide… 1970 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Gregory Weirick
Catching the back end... Jim Hague in the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Catching the back end… Jim Hague in the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

Cal Meeker's 1973 Lola T292
Cal Meeker’s 1973 Lola T292
1964 Townsend MK IV driven by Owen Gibson
1964 Townsend MK IV driven by Owen Gibson
Timothy Herbst in the 1976 Crossle
Timothy Herbst in the 1976 Crossle
1910 Fiat S61 Grand Prix
1910 Fiat S61 Grand Prix
The 1915 Point Loma line up
The 1915 Point Loma line up
Pushing the 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn
Pushing the 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn
Sunoco Camaro
Sunoco Camaro
USA-1
USA-1

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

1963 Jaguar XKE driven by Nick Colonna
1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight driven by Nick Colonna
1964 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Jeni Yeakel-Swanson
1964 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Jeni Yeakel-Swanson
Alexander Curtis' 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Alexander Curtis’ 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Tom Cantrell's 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Tom Cantrell’s 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Jim Caudle's 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Jim Caudle’s 1969 Chevrolet Corvette
Tom Brecht's 1968 BMW 2002 TA
Tom Brecht’s 1968 BMW 2002 TA
Jay Parille's 1966 Ford Shelby GT350
Jay Parille’s 1966 Ford Shelby GT350
1965 Genie MK-10B driven by A.C. D'Augustine
1965 Genie MK-10B driven by A.C. D’Augustine

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

And the Pre-Wars are off!
And the Pre-War Cars are off!
The 1912 Packard 30 racing the 1916 Sturtivant-Auburn
The 1912 Packard 30 racing the 1916 Sturtivant-Auburn
1914 Tahis Special driven by Randy Reed
1914 Tahis Special driven by Randy Reed
1915 Ford Model T driven by Ed Archer
1915 Ford Model T driven by Ed Archer
1916 National AC driven by Eric Ramos
1916 National AC driven by Eric Ramos
Jim Putnam's 1912 Packard 30
Jim Putnam’s 1912 Packard 30
Peter Giddings' 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza
Peter Giddings’ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza
Joseph P. Conte's 1968 AMC Javelin
Joseph P. Conte’s 1968 AMC Javelin

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Through the donut
Through the donut
Follow the leader
Follow the leader
1966 Ginetta 12 driven by Fred DellaNoce
1966 Ginetta 12 driven by Fred DellaNoce
1966 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Tom Beattie
1966 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Tom Beattie
1969 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Scott Brady
1969 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Scott Brady
David Leyvas' 1973 Porsche 911 RSR
David Leyvas’ 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR
1971 Chevron B19 driven by Henry Manney
1971 Chevron B19 driven by Henry Manney
Jeff Gerken's 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
Jeff Gerken’s 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans driven by Richard Morrison
1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans driven by Richard Morrison
1939 Lagonda V12 driven by Joe Harding
1939 Lagonda V12 driven by Joe Harding
Jim Putnam's 1912 Packard 30
Jim Putnam’s 1912 Packard 30
1951 Morgan Plus driven by John G. Miller
1951 Morgan Plus driven by John G. Miller
Tony Parella's 1934 Chevrolet Bigcar
Tony Parella’s 1934 Chevrolet Bigcar
Max Jamiesson's 1935 Ford Sprint Car
Max Jamiesson’s 1935 Ford Sprint Car
Peter Giddings' 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza
Peter Giddings’ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza
1993 Ford Thunderbird driven by Clay Harper
1993 Ford Thunderbird driven by Clay Harper

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

Al Arciero's 1958 Lister Knobby
Al Arciero’s 1958 Lister Knobby
1968 Chinook FF driven by Doug Fitch
1968 Chinook FF driven by Doug Fitch
Norm Cowdrey's 1972 Crossle 172 CF
Norm Cowdrey’s 1972 Crossle 172 CF
Michael Patlin's 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
Michael Patlin’s 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina
1959 Porsche 356 driven by Don Tevini
1959 Porsche 356 driven by Don Tevini
1955 Porsche 356 A 1600 driven by Bill Noon
1955 Porsche 356 A 1600 driven by Bill Noon
1968 Camaro RS/SS driven by Jere Clark
1968 Camaro RS/SS driven by Jere Clark
1978 Budweiser Lightning Cosworth driven by David Roberts
1978 Budweiser Lightning Cosworth driven by David Roberts

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

1972 Lola T300 driven by Chris Pedersen
1972 Lola T300 driven by Chris Pedersen
1970 BRE Datsun 240Z driven by Wayne Blasman
1970 BRE Datsun 240Z driven by Wayne Blasman
1967 Porsche 911S driven by Wayne Baker
1967 Porsche 911S driven by Wayne Baker
Pen Pendleton's 1974 Ferrari 308/GT4
Pen Pendleton’s 1974 Ferrari 308/GT4
Michael Evans' 1968 Ford Mustang
Michael Evans’ 1968 Ford Mustang
1966 Shelby GT350 driven by Charles Jones
1966 Shelby GT350 driven by Charles Jones
1973 Chevron B26 driven by Gregory Gray
1973 Chevron B26 driven by Gregory Gray
Fred Yeakel 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah
Fred Yeakel’s 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

Flexing their muscle
Flexing their muscle
Maintenance is the key
Maintenance is the key
Rolling off the transporter
Rolling off the transporter
In the paddock... all lined up
In the paddock… all lined up
Alexander Curtis relaxing in his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Alexander Curtis relaxing in his 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Boris Said checking the tire pressure on his '68 BMW 2002
Boris Said checking the tire pressure on his ’68 BMW 2002
The tiny 2.5 liter Hemi V8 inside the 1962 Daimler SP250 D/Production
The tiny 2.5 liter Hemi V8 inside the 1962 Daimler SP250 D/Production
In the paddock - 1972 Lola T300
In the paddock – 1972 Lola T300

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

Ron Myska's 1969 Ford Torino
Ron Myska’s 1969 Ford Torino
There was action in the air as well
There was action in the air as well
Sebastian Coppola's 1970 Lola T192
Sebastian Coppola’s 1970 Lola T192
1980 March 80A driven by Jim Maetzold
1980 March 80A driven by Jim Maetzold
1977 Chevron B39 driven by Gray Gregory
1977 Chevron B39 driven by Gray Gregory
1978 Chevron B36 Driven by Tom Minnich
1978 Chevron B36 Driven by Tom Minnich
1966 Ginetta 12 driven by Fred Della Noce
1966 Ginetta 12 driven by Fred Della Noce
Al Arciero's 1958 Lister Knobby
Al Arciero’s 1958 Lister Knobby

 

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Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=853 images=15]

 

Coronado Speed Festival 2015 – Feature Race Results

Group 1
1. Dennis Racine, 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S
2. Donald Racine, 1961 Austin Mini Cooper S
3. Tim Brecht, 1960 Austin Mini Cooper S

Group 2
1. Todd Strong, Crossle 32 Mk9
2. Dan Cowdrey, 1970 Titan FF Mk6
3. Rodney Grabinski, 1986 Swift DB1

Groups 3 and 4
1. Fred Della Noce, 1966 Ginetta G12
2. Frank Arciero, 1958 Lotus Eleven
3. Paul Ryan, 1962 Lotus Super Seven

Groups 5 and 7
1. Cal Meeker, 1973 Lola T292
2. Gray Gregory, 1973 Chevron B-26
3. Tom Minnich, 1978 Chevron B-36

Group 6
1. Clair Schwendeman, 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
2. Alan Davison, 2000 Panoz GTS
3. Jim Caudle, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

Group 8
1. Dylan Doherty, 1970 Porsche 914/6
2. Tim Brecht, 1969 BMW 2002
3. Craig Hauenstein, 1968 BMW 2002

Group 9
1. Cal Meeker, 1979 Ralt RT-1
2. Martin Lauber, 1977 Chevron B-39
3. Gray Gregory, 1977 Chevron B-39

Group 10
1. Tom Klauer, 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2. Ralph Borelli, 1991 Ford Thunderbird
3. Tom Cantrell, 1998 Ford Taurus

Historic Trans Am
1. Walter Brown, 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
2. Gary Goeringer, 1971 AMC Javelin
3. Jim Hague, 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Pre-War
1. Max Jamiesson, 1935 Ford Sprint Car
2. Richard Morrison, 1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans
3. Brian Blain, 1916 Sturtevant-Auburn

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[Source: Victor Varela]