Tag: Sonoma

The California Mille begins Sunday in San Francisco


The 21st Annual California Mille, which celebrates Italy’s most famous race, the “Mille Miglia”, starts Sunday, April 24th at the famous Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco. Over 70 historic race cars will be on display. There will be cars from Great Britain, Columbia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada and from all over the United States. Only cars that could have qualified for the Italian event which ran from 1927 to 1957, can participate in the California Mille. The public is invited to come see the cars and meet the drivers from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

The following morning, they begin their 1,000 mile tour which is more of a demanding drive than a race. They will cross the Golden Gate bridge for a four day trip through the back roads of Northern California. Along the way they will take some laps on two racetracks, Infineon Raceway in Sonoma and Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows. They will end their journey on Thursday evening with a Banquet and Awards Dinner at the Lodge in Sonoma.

From www.californiamille.com, here is short summary of each day’s travels.

“On Day One we’re planning to do a few laps of Sears Point (Infineon) Raceway, before we lunch at Arturo Keller’s fabulous Petaluma hilltop museum. We’ll finish the day at Solage in Calistoga, where they treated us so well last year.

Day Two will consist of a beautiful drive up to the Little River Inn, and back to Calistoga.

On Day Three, we’ll go Northeast from Calistoga, on more of California’s magic country roads, lunching at Thunderhill Raceway, and putting in a few touring laps, then back on a different route to Solage.

The Fourth Day will prove that no matter which direction you travel from Calistoga, it’s a great driver’s road and scenic to boot.”

According to Martin Swig the Director and Dan Radowicz the event planner, “This is the first time we’ve tried a hub-and-spoke style route. We think you’ll enjoy it.”

For more information and a complete roster of the cars and drivers please visit: www.californiamille.com.

In 2010, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the California Mille, they produced a video with highlights from last year’s events.

To order your 30 minute DVD ,simply mail a check in the amount of $49 (includes tax & shipping) to:

Amici americani della Mille Miglia
154 Mitchell Boulevard
San Rafael, CA 94903.

(Be sure to include your shipping address)

Vintage Racing Returns to Infineon Raceway

The Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG) kicks off its 44th season at Infineon Raceway, April 2-3. The event will feature open practice on Friday, with vintage racing slated for the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course on Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend will also feature the MG West Coast Reunion with nearly 100 MG’s slated to race in special MG-only race groups, an MG parade during the lunch break each day, as well as charity track rides on Saturday.

More than 250 vintage race cars in total will grace the road course over the weekend including Sports Racing, Formula and Production Sports Cars from the 1930s through the early 1970s. The groups will consist of many well-known machines, including Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Porsche, Shelby 350GT, Corvette and Jaguar.

Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Admission is $25 each day or $40 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and under are admitted FREE. A major portion of ticket sales from the event weekend will benefit Rotary Central Marin Foundation and the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway.

For more information on the Classic Sports Racing Group, visit www.csrgracing.org.

CSRG returns to Infineon Raceway, Oct. 1-2, for the CSRG Charity Challenge. CSRG has contributed nearly $500,000 to Sonoma County youth organizations through Speedway Children’s Charities since 2002.

NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart was at the Oakland Zoo

Tony Stewart, who has won championships in more series than anyone racing today, traded his race suit for a zoo-keeper’s uniform during a behind-the-scenes experience at the Oakland Zoo on Thursday.

Stewart, who was in the Bay Area in advance of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway (June 24-26), had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up-close and personal with Osh, an 11,000 pound, 16-year-old male elephant. Working alongside Elephant Manager Jeff Kinzley, Stewart helped complete some of the daily care for Osh, including a “pedicure,” mouth check and feeding him lunch. Osh even kicked off the countdown to race weekend by passing Stewart the official green flag.

“That’s a pretty incredible animal, and this is like nothing I’ve ever done,” said the driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing. “It didn’t take long to realize how much respect you have to have for that animal.”

Tony Stewart with Osh. Photo by Mike Doran, courtesy of Infineon Raceway.
Tony Stewart with Osh the elephant. Photo by Mike Doran, courtesy of Infineon Raceway.

Elephant Manager Jeff Kinzley said of Stewart, “Tony was a true star with Osh, just like he is on the track.”

Stewart also had the chance to interact with some of the zoo’s other popular attractions, including a skunk, tortoise and a 48-pound Colombian red-tail boa, before participating in a Q&A with media members and fans.

More than 100 fans came out to see Stewart, who also unveiled the new Trackside with Tony ticket package for race weekend. This package includes Saturday and Sunday race tickets for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, plus a Q&A with Stewart in the Club 7 hospitality area, for just $114. Plus, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Tony Stewart Foundation.

“I always enjoy going to Sonoma. It’s not only a beautiful area, but I always enjoy the road courses,” said Stewart, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion. “The competition is getting better and better on the road courses, and I can honestly say there are 12-15 guys who can go home with a win.”
 

Stewart, who has posted two wins in Sonoma (2002, ’05), returns to Northern California in June for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Tickets, including the Trackside with Tony package, are available by calling 800-870-RACE or at http://www.infineonraceway.com/.

Infineon Raceway Press Release