Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

by | May 11, 2014

The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival on May 17-18 will celebrate the early years of the iconic SCCA Can-Am Series, which ran from 1966 to 1974, with a focus on the unique Shadow race car that competed in the Series from 1970-1974. Governed by FIA rules, the Series was open to Group 7 sports cars with unlimited engine capacity, virtually unrestricted aerodynamics and few other technical restrictions. The spectacular two-seater, closed-wheel cars were designed more for short-distance sprints than for endurance racing, and included marques such as Lola, McLaren, Porsche, Chaparral and Shadow.

It was the birthplace and proving ground for (at the time) outrageous technology. The high cost of this technology eventually led to the Series’ downfall. Drivers included Mark Donohue, George Follmer, Jim Hall, Phil Hill, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Oliver, Peter Revson and John Surtees.

Follmer won the 1972 Can-Am Championship driving Roger Penske’s Porsche “Panzer,” and also partnered 1974 champion Jackie Oliver on Don Nichols’ Shadow team. He and Nichols, founder of Nichols Advanced Vehicle Systems (AVS), are honored guests at this year’s Festival and will anchor a discussion group, “Can-Am through the eyes of Shadow,” at the third racing seminar, to be held on Saturday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m. at Sonoma Raceway.

Shadow Can-Am cars currently owned by Fred Cziska, of Petaluma, Calif., and Dennis Losher, of Twain Harte, Calif., are expected to be on display and competing at Sonoma, along with other Can-Am cars, such as a group of 1968 McLaren M6Bs from Robert Ryan (Avila Beach, Calif.), Robert Bodin (Wayzata, Minn.) and Ed Swart (Sylmar, Calif.), a 1972 McLaren M8F driven by pro sports-car racer Rick Knoop (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), as well as a cadre of ’60s Lola T-70s and T-163s.

The celebration of fine cars at the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival continues into the evening on Saturday, May 17, at the Sonoma Plaza and the 22nd annual Historic Race Car Festival. A group of 30 select race cars competing at the Sonoma Historics will parade to the Plaza and be placed on display during the Festival. Locals and race fans alike will enjoy tastings from several local restaurants and wineries. All proceeds from the charity event will benefit the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway. For more information, click here.