Navy Open House at Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival Has Record Four Ships for Public Tours

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The jewel in the crown of Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival is the Navy Open House at Navy Base Coronado, September 19-20, a Fleet Week San Diego event, featuring an unprecedented four active Navy ships open for public tours. And for high-flying excitement, Sunday Opening Ceremonies crowds will thrill to the exhibition of the four-man helicopter drop and F18 flyover.

"We are very excited for this year's 'Race at the Base,'" said Naval Base Coronado Commanding Officer Capt. Stephen Barnett. "We enjoy this opportunity to open up the base to our neighbors and display the birthplace of Naval aviation."

The four ships scheduled to open their doors to the public are:

• USS SOMERSET (LPD-25)
  Named in honor of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks of 2001, whose actions prevented the plane from reaching their intended terrorist target, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock is named for Somerset County, Pennsylvania where the plane crashed.
• USS WAYNE E. MEYER (DDG-108)
  An Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy, she is named after Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer, known as the Father of Aegis. Part of Carrier Strike Group Three, the Meyer carries an AEGIS Weapon System.
• USS CAPE ST. GEORGE (CG-71)
  A Ticonderoga-class cruiser, Cape St. George is named for the World War II Battle of Cape St. George where a U.S. Navy destroyer force led by Captain Arleigh Burke defeated a Japanese destroyer force in November 1943.
• USS CHAMPION (MCM-4)
  This Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship is the recipient of the 2004 Environmental Quality Small Ship Award sponsored by the Environmental Readiness Division of the Chief of Naval Operations.

The Navy Open House will allow the community the opportunity to get a glimpse into a Navy base that is the workplace of more than 31,000 service members and civilians, and otherwise closed to the public. 

The Open House has hosted the Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival for 18 years running. The "Race at the Base" is one of San Diego's most successful fundraisers for the military and offers a variety of pulse-quickening events, including more than 250 historic racecars taking to the specially constructed track on the runway.

This year, Coronado Speed Festival pays tribute to the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II.  San Diego-area members of that group will be honored as military Honorary Grand Marshal during the Opening Ceremonies on Sunday.

The Navy Open House and Coronado Speed Festival will also feature these can't-miss attractions:

• The Military Pit Crew Challenge showcases young sailors and/or marines currently stationed on NASNI and other area installations. The 10-member teams will be timed as they recreate an actual pit stop, which includes jacking up the car, changing all four tires, fueling up and then pushing it out of the box and across the finish line. 
• Ship Tours of four active Navy ships
• Navy Recruiting will showcase the Navy SEALs Desert Patrol Vehicle: http://www.specialoperations.com/Navy/DPV/
• Commands and displays from Naval Air Station North Island
  • Fleet Readiness Center Southwest: http://www.navair.navy.mil/frcsw/
  • Strike Force Training Pacific: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Strike-Force-Training-Pacific/198855670124937
  • Naval Special Warfare Command: http://www.public.navy.mil/nsw/Pages/default.aspx
• At the ship tour pier, the Marines will have several examples of ground equipment on display, including:
  • Two Humvees
  • An AAV-P7 Assault Amphibious Vehicle
  • An LAV-25 Light Armored Vehicle
  • An LVS-R Logistics Vehicle System
  • A PLST Palletized Load System Trailer

Like every year, all active duty, active reserve and their direct-dependent military ID-holders will enjoy free admission to the event. Admission is free for children 12 and under, both military and non-military. 

For the public, tickets cost $25 for one day and $35 for both days, in advance on the event website. Tickets will also be available at the venue ($35 one day and $45 for both days).

About Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival
The Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival is Fleet Week San Diego's preeminent event featuring fast-paced, thrilling auto racing and exhibitions for car enthusiasts of all ages. Staged at one of racings' most distinctive locations – Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of Naval Aviation – it's the only place to see live racing on an active U.S. Navy runway. Proceeds for the event benefit the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation and the Navy Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) program.

Find Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival at www.facebook.com/coronadospeedfestival or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SpeedFestSD.

About SVRA
The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association is the premier vintage racing organization in the United States. Founded in 1981 by Ford Heacock III, the SVRA has 2,000 members. It currently sanctions 14 events at some of the finest racing venues in the United States, including: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, Auto Club Speedway, Road Atlanta, Pocono Raceway, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sonoma Raceway, Portland International Raceway and Virginia International Raceway. The rapidly growing organization also hosted the first U.S. Vintage Racing National Championships in 2013 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Further information on SVRA can be found on our website, www.svra.com, on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/sportscarvintageracing, and on YouTube,  https://www.youtube.com/user/SVRAcom, featuring more than 70 action packed videos of SVRA events. 

SOURCE Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival