Velocity Invitational Sonoma, California

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Velocity:  The rate at which an object moves

For some, the word conjures a bullet speeding toward a target.  For the more motor-minded, perhaps it’s a Top Fuel dragster rocketing from a standing start to over 330 miles an hour in 1,000 feet (about 304.8 m).  The Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway celebrates all forms of motorsport that go fast and get there quickly.  The event offers up a buffet of speed, whether that is going sideways, uphill or carving through a road course.  Bill Sessa sent us this report…

Photos Mike Noga

The core of the weekend (October 4-6 this year) on the 2.2-mile Sonoma circuit in Northern California’s famous wine country is two days of traditional historic racing in nine run groups that range from throaty and brutal Trans Am and NASCAR stock cars to international GT classes and Formula One.  But to call the Velocity Invitational just another weekend of historic racing is like calling the royalty-drawing Cheltenham races in the UK just another horse race.  From the staging of race cars in the paddock, the exotic hypercars and historic machines scattered around them, the wide variety of food and wine, and opportunities for fans to experience the same sensation of speed that racers do on-track, the weekend is a white-tablecloth celebration of motorsports.  “It’s a combination of the Monterey Historics and The Quail,” contended Jeff Kiser, a Northern California driver standing next to his Mustang Trans-Am machine. 

Everything from Supercars to low riders were featured at the event

The Velocity Invitational was founded five years ago by local businessman, historic racer and noted car collector Jeff O’Neill.  “When I first started historic racing, I loved racing but hated the experience,” he said.  “I wanted to bring my family, but the food was awful and there was nothing for them to do to enjoy being at the track.”  The Velocity Invitational is his solution to making racing a family event.  “We’re not really running a race,” explains O’Neill, who races a handful of weekends each year in the US, as well as historics in Monaco and Le Mans. “We are bringing cars out of collections so people can see them.” 

For Bill’s full report, see the November 2024 issue of Historic Motor Racing News

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