HCS: Sears Point race notes

Ferrari Testa Rossas Impress at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, CA (Mar 21). Ferrari Testa Rossas were the story of the second round of the North American Shell Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge this weekend at Infineon Raceway near Sears Point, California. Spectators and competitors alike were able to appreciate the full range of the development of the TR, with Chuck Wegner's four-cylinder 625 LM, the predecessor to the range, Nick Colonna's 500 TRC, Mike Callaham's 625 TRC fitted with a 250 TR-spec engine, Jon Shirley's 250 TR prototype, and David Love's later pontoon-fendered 250 TR. Among the 12 cylinder TRs Mike Callaham won his class on Saturday, with Jon Shirley taking the honors on Sunday.

Tom Price used his driving skills and a perfectly set up Maserati 200 SI to take a pair of class and overall wins among the Drum Brake Group; not satisfied with that track time, he also ran exhibition laps in his ex-Sir Stirling Moss "offset" Maserati 250 F, and won the Consistency Challenge in his Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Peter Giddings, a perennial winner in the pre-war class, won on Saturday but suffered mechanical ills on the second day, giving Bruce Trenery (Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza) the victory.

Among the Disc Brake group Todd Morici took a pair of wins, one in his 512 BB/LM and on Sunday in his 250 LWB Spyder California Competition. Other dual winners in the Disc Brake races were Chuck Wegner (196 SP) and John Goodman, who drove an ex-Paul Newman/Budweiser Racing Ferrari 308. Goodman has restored not only the car but the original transporter as well, which was used as a paddock display.

In addition to the winner's trophies, special awards for sportsmanship and the spirit of the Challenge were presented by sponsors Bose and Piaggio Aero to Chuck Wegner, Peter Le Saffre, and David Love.

The next event in the 2004 North American Shell Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge will be at Le Circuit at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, on June 26-27.

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