The Roaring Season

I managed to get away on Friday and stayed through Saturday before returning home from the track that is north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate bridge. The course first opened in 1968 and was known for years as "Sears Point"\.
It later became "Infineon Raceway" and recently named "Sonoma Raceway."
Anyway I stopped in and wanted to share some of my photos with y'all.







(Ken Hyndman )

Due to some coolant loss and heavy traffic I arrived late in the day and thought I would be turned away but everyone was friendly and let me in. Hardly anyone was around and I was like a kid in a candy store and snapped some of these photos of the cars back in my day, 1963 - 1972 Grand National Stock Cars.
The cars were still in original condition just as they were over 50 years ago.

1972 Ford Gran Torino driven back then by Bobby Unser.


1969 Dodge Daytona


As I said everyone was friendly and ready to share stories with all ages.


1965 Ford Galaxie as driven by Fred Lorenzen.


1963 Chevy Impala as driven by "Junior" Johnson.


1966 Chevrolet Chevelle

(Ken Hyndman photos )..more soon.

I wonder what was wrong with 'Sears Point' as a name...

Ray,
It is all about money ! In 2002 Sears Point sold its naming rights to the German technology company "Infineon" for a ten year partnership which they did not renew in 2012. The track is currently known as Sonoma Raceway although it is said that management is searching for a new company interested in acquiring the naming rights.
( So this could be your chance mate, to get your name out there for the world to see. "Bell International Raceway" sounds pretty good don't you think ?)

(Ken H)

Here is one for Steve.

1971 Pontiac Firebird.


This one is for me as I have to admit I was a fan of "The Intimidator," Dale Earnhardt.

Dale's 1994 Chevy Lumina.

(Ken Hyndman photos )

Ken- nah...people may link it to Bell Tea- something Americans may have heard of but not drink.
I feel- RAYS RACEWAY has a good bite to it

Awesome pics Ken. Did the stock cars get a race, or were they just on display?

khyndart in CA wrote:Here is one for Steve.

1971 Pontiac Firebird.
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(Ken Hyndman photos )

Thanks Ken, Pontiac actually had a pretty good presence in Nascar Grand American, particularly with the gen 2 Firebird. Herb Adams was involved in building and racing a couple of these cars, though I don't know if this is one of his.

Steve,
They did race but it was late on Saturday and I had to get back home and all the finals were on the Sunday.
Perhaps next time. The best race for me was the Historic Trans Am. The lead changed every lap !
More on that later. I took a lot of photos and have to figure out how to present them without making it too boring.
There were a lot of categories, something for everybody and I could not do them all justice.
Ken

Steve,
Bruce Canepa had his usual fine selection of cars here except for the Gulf 917.
One of his cars was this 1970 Pontiac Firebird # 92 originally driven by Jerry Titus.
I clicked some pics that showed the brakes and thought you may be interested. Note it has "Hurst / Airheart" brake calipers at the rear.
Are you allowed slotted rotors ?





Check this 1970 refueling system from either side, depending on the track direction and pits etc.


Bruce Canepa's car # 92 driven by Rob Kauffman at this event.


(Ken Hyndman photos )

Thanks for the pics of the 'Tirebird' Ken, they're really great. This is one of my all-time favorite Trans-Am cars, even though it never actually had any success in period. It was one of the cars built for the 1970 season by the factory Pontiac team, T/G Racing, but when Jerry Titus was killed, the team really fell apart. I don't know if this car was driven in 1970 by Titus, but it reappeared in 1971, now sponsored by BF Goodrich, who wanted to promote their new radial street tyres. I'm pretty sure the car actually raced on radial street tyres.

Note also that the Tirebird doesn't have all those plastic front aero parts that were standard on Trans-Am models, and also appeared on the T/G Racing cars in 1970. It just has a simple front spoiler.

As for the brakes, Bruce Thompson may know more, but I think from memory the rules were opened up in 1970 allowing for after-market brakes. I'm pretty sure the factory backed Dodge Challengers and Plymouth Cudas also used Hurst-Airheart brakes. I'm pretty certain I can't use these.

Also, I can't use rotors that are drilled or slotted, although vented are OK.

Thanks again Ken, keep the pics coming.

It is a cool car and it would be neat to see one of this model built for HMC. I think you are right re the tyres Steve that BF Goodrich used it to promote the new T/A Radial tires...

Had to celebrate a bit of "Jolly ol England".
The cars are identified in the photos.












(Ken Hyndman photos )

Some of the older Porsches competing at Sonoma.











(Ken Hyndman photos )

This is the time for me to thank Bruce Thompson (Bruce302)who last year at Laguna Seca introduced me to Trans Am driver,
Chad Raynal.
So this year at Sonoma I saw Chad and he took me in as though I was part of the family. What a super nice guy and a wonderful driver and a great sense of humor. So Bruce when anything went wrong it was your fault and when things went well I got the credit ! That suited me just fine. On the Friday practice the 1969 Camaro # 64 of Chad's had an exhaust welding issue. (Bruce's fault ) In the Saturday warm up a front brake rotor cracked. (Bruce's fault). But all was repaired in time for the main Trans Am race on Saturday. (Thanks to Ken )

Chad's dad Roger who always willing to help anyone in the Historic Trans Am group.


Camaro front brakes.


Chad felt good during the morning practice.


Chad giving the thumbs up about the car.


Chad with his # 1 fan on Saturday.


(Ken Hyndman photos )

Chad some tough competition for the main race Saturday and he qualified 4th against some of these magnificent beasts.;









Chad Raynal ready to go racing.

The AMX Javelin did not race on the Saturday.

(Ken Hyndman photos. )

It was time to go racing.
Really good racing with the lead changing every lap but the last two were led by Chad and he won a very close race.


First lap and Chad is in 4th position.



Chad wins !


Chad & Scott (his transport driver) having a well earned drink and giving the credit to me and I am invited back anytime..might see you next time Bruce !

(Ken Hyndman photos )

Loving these pics Ken.

Really great photos Ken. Love those cars and the way they are all prepared and kept in period state. A real credit to all of the 'caretakers'.

Great photos, fantastic period cars and a spectacular autocourse.... a day of bliss I bet.
Thanks for posting