2023 Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway
Published on . Event was held at Sonoma Raceway on .
#photo gallery #auto show #California #cars #classic cars #event #racecars #Sonoma Raceway
The last car show of the year was the Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway. At the same time, it was my first-ever car show at Sonoma, and wow, what a great racetrack to attend events at!
It’s the same distance for me as Laguna Seca; the drive up there is just as enjoyable. Do start early, though, and don’t speed! It’s not every day I see a McLaren and GT3 on the side of the road getting CHP lottery tickets.
Once you are on the track, everything is so close! Vendors, souvenirs, grandstands, staging grid, and varying corners — from turn 11 with a new VIP pavilion (not accessible to GA public) to turn 3 and the Carousel (turn 6).
These turns provide different perspectives for watching cars deal with corners and taking pictures with fantastic sunlight and a lovely backdrop.
WRC Rally Cars
The November sun doesn’t get too high, and you enjoy not just a golden hour but the whole day! The weather is dry and warm, and the air is crisp and clear.
The event schedule is packed with competition classes alternating with exhibitions, taxi rides, and parade lap sessions.
All racing classes are historical — from SCCA Production Sports Cars of the 60s to F1, IMSA & ALMS Le Mans cars of the 70s and 80s.
Many of these cars are absolute masterpieces: Ferrari 250LM, Ferrari 625 F1, Sauber Mercedes C9, GT40 MKII, and BMW 635CSi, to name a few.
The McLaren Racing team was celebrating its 60th birthday, and its presence was immense. Besides the owners’ club presenting top-of-the-line road cars (like the P1 Senna), the team brought its glorious historic F1 cars, including Ayrton’s MP4/6 and Hamilton’s MP4/23. Great drivers to take them around the track weren’t in short supply: Pato O’Ward, Lando Norris, Tony Kanaan, and Alexander Rossi.
Historic F1 Cars
One of the exhibition classes was presented by DirtFish Rally School and featured Subaru STI WRXs, Ford Fiesta WRC, Lancia Rally 037, and Ford Escort Mk2. WRXs were doing the usual Subaru thing — going sideways in every mid and low-speed corner — quite a refreshing sight for local paved tracks.
The paddock area was full of participants’ cars as well as unique display-only exhibits, such as all Ford GT models (including the just revealed MK4), Sotheby’s auction cars (like the Aston-Martin DB4 and 1954 Ferrari 625 F1), GuntherWerks, and TVR cars.
At the back of the paddock, I found a row of unique and very original pre-war cars, such as the 1920 Straight 8 Duesenberg of Bobby Green and Hall Scott M Roadster — which had never been built at the time but was reconstructed in the early 2000s, based on blueprints from 1917. There are so many beautiful handcrafted elements on these cars — it’s a true work of art.
Carbon Fibre
A colorful row of AMG GTs was placed under the grandstands. I can’t get over the masculine, massive, and wild shape of GTs. It’s an old-style German no-compromise racing machine. I haven’t driven one, but it certainly looks the part.
Velocity Invitational is a mix of Monterey Reunion — which caters primarily to historical racing enthusiasts and, let’s say, Luftgekühlt — with its festive vibe, live music, great selection of food, and much more family-friendly atmosphere in general.
Trans Am
Food options were plentiful — with a broad selection of hearty and healthy options. The most creative and bold vendors had a long line in front of their stands.
Right next to the dining area, bars, and play zones was a staging pit lane — where cars of a single class would line up before going out onto the track. This way, everyone got a great spot to look at and take pictures of cars while enjoying their snack and drink.
Can Am
My primary impression of this event was the diverse crowd, festive vibe, and how smooth and well-organized everything felt.
My favorite cars were the Sadler-Meyer Special and the Duesenberg Straight 8, Lancia Rally 037, and BMW 635CSi.
IMSA GT, AAGT, FIA Group 4
I loved my first Velocity Invitational experience and will certainly be back. Hope to meet you there, dear reader.
IMSA ALMS Le Mans
My favourite class!
Further Reading
- Interview with Walter Rohlr on Lancia 037
- Ford Fiesta RallyCross storms Pikes Peak
- McLaren M23 F1 car story
- Velocity Invitational participant galleries
- Group 1: 1947 – 1956 Sports Racing Cars & 1947 – 1956 Production Sports Cars
- Group 2: 1956 – 1962 SCCA Production Sports Cars
- Group 3: 1956 – 1961 Sports Racing Cars
- Group 4: 1963 – 1969 Production Sports Cars
- Group 5: 1966 -1981 Historic F-1 Cars
- Group 6: 1968 – 1978 IMSA GT, AAGT, FIA Grp 4
- Group 7: 1966 – 1973 Historic Can-Am Cars
- Group 8: 1966 – 1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars
- Group 9: 2006- 2016 IMSA ALMS Le Mans
- Group 10: 1960’s Mini Vs Mustang Enduro