New Class of Vintage Autos and Legendary Classics Comprise Line-up at Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Start your engines!  The 14th Annual Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival is right around the corner, September 24-25 on Naval Air Station North Island, and promises a can't-miss line-up of prestigious historic racecars, including a legendary class new to the schedule in 2011: the Formula 5000.  

The F5000 auto-racing series ran in various countries around the world from 1968 to 1982.  The engines were American-made stock-block V-8s with a maximum 5.0 liter engine.  The F5000s will be racing in Race Group 3.

But the cars won't be the only stars out on the track during this race group.  Tony Adamowicz, or "Tony A2Z" as he's known to fans, will be at Coronado Speed Festival, racing in the same historic Gurney Eagle race car he won the championship with in 1969.  The car had been in storage for 37 years until Riverside International Automotive Museum founder Doug Magnon bought it in 2006 and began restoring it with master mechanic Bill Losee.  As the Eagle had been parked immediately after the 1969 season, and was not run again until following its restoration in 2008, Adamowicz remains the only driver to actually have driven this car.

Racing fans won't want to miss the 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by Dale Earnhardt, or the Lola 332 Brian Redmond won the SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship with in 1976.  Of course, the real old-timer this year is the 1917 Chevrolet Speedster, the oldest Chevy racer in North America.  All the vintage automobiles will be on display in the paddock.

This year's marquee celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Chevrolet.  From the Corvette to the Camaro, Chevy has a rich race history thanks to the company's uniquely American ingenuity, invention and legend.  Would-be racers can take live test drives of some of Chevy's high-performance vehicles on Saturday and Sunday.  Drivers ages 18 and older are accompanied by trained product specialists who point out vehicle features and answer questions as you get the feel of their top-of-the-line cars.

Overall, nine different race groups will take to the track both Saturday and Sunday, each divided according to make, age and horsepower.  The cars race at high speeds on a spectator-friendly 1.7-mile course constructed in mere days on the runways and taxiways of the military base.

Race Groups

Group 1   -  1952 – 1959 Sports Racing and Production cars
Group 2   -  1962 – 1972 Sports Racing and Formula Cars under 2000cc
Group 3   -  1969 – 1980 Sports Racing and Formula Cars
Group 4   -  1953 – 1966 Production cars under 2000cc
Group 5   -  1959 – 1966 Production cars – Disc Brake
Group 6   -  1962 – 1966 Productions cars over 2500cc
Group 7   -  1965 – 1988 FIA Manufacturer Championship Cars
Group 8   -  Historic NASCAR – 1972 thru -
Group 9   -  1966 – 1972 Historic Trans-AM

Ticket Information

Tickets are now on sale for the "Race at the Base," and are available at http://www.fleetweeksandiego.org/tickets.html.  In advance, single-day tickets cost $25, or $35 for both days.  Tickets will also be available at the venue ($35 one day and $45 for both days).  Once again, all active duty, active reserve and their direct-depend military ID-holders will enjoy FREE admission to this year's event.  Admission is free for children 12 and under, both military and non-military.

About Historic Motor Sports Association

The Coronado Speed Festival is sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA).  Established in 1977, HMSA specializes in race events with historic cars, emphasizing the preservation and proper use of historic race cars. For more information about HMSA, call 818-249-3515 or visit www.hmsausa.com.

About Coronado Speed Festival and Fleet Week San Diego

The Coronado Speed Festival is Fleet Week San Diego's preeminent event. Fast-paced, thrilling auto racing and exhibitions for car enthusiasts of all ages mark the widespread draw of this event.  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.

The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation. In addition to honoring the military services through the annual Fleet Week events, the Foundation's goals are to foster awareness of the contributions made by enlisted military personnel and their families, to enhance relationships between the civilian, business and military communities, to provide events that military personnel and their families can attend at little or no cost, and to raise funds for charitable efforts benefiting enlisted service members and their families.  

For more information, or for a complete listing of all of the Fleet Week events, please visit www.fleetweeksandiego.org or you can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fleetweeksd or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fleetweeksd.

SOURCE Coronado Speed Festival and Fleet Week San Diego