Spring is usually associated with blooming flowers and bright sunshine, but the month of May is an exciting time for race fans and car fanatics, as the warm weather also signals the revving of engines and the green flag on racing season.
Locally, there are more than a few events to enjoy throughout the month of May as racing season truly kicks off at Infineon Raceway. Below is a glimpse at a few of the ways you can fill your weekends with beautiful scenery and the excitement of racing:
Ferrari Challenge, May 1-3
Race fans have the rare opportunity to see exotic Ferrari racecars on the twisting Infineon Raceway road course when the North American Ferrari Challenge Series returns to the Sonoma Valley, May 1-3.
The weekend will be headlined by racing action in the F430 Challenge and the Ferrari Historic Challenge divisions. In all, nearly 100 machines will grace the road course, including vintage cars from Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa-Romeo (Ferrari Historic Challenge). It’s an unbelievable chance to see these rare machines up-close in the open paddock and even chat with the drivers and owners.
Practice will be held on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with F430 Challenge and Historic Ferrari qualifying and races on both Saturday and Sunday. For a complete schedule and more information, visit ferrarichallenge.com.
Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, May 15-17
Those who enjoy their racing on two wheels are sure to enjoy the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, at Infineon Raceway, May 15-17. In addition to a full slate of AMA Pro Road Racing action on the road course, the weekend will also feature Supermoto USA, the AMA Supermoto XTRM Championship Series and SBFreaks Street Freestyle.
On the 12-turn road course, you’ll enjoy a full weekend of motorcycle action, including double-header races in American Superbike and Daytona SportBike. You’ll see motorcycles from every major manufacturer – Kawasaki, Yamaha, Ducati, Buell and Aprilia – battling for the checkered flag.
Off the track, the weekend will also feature three full days of Supermoto racing at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center. Friday and Saturday will be headlined by Supermoto USA, which has competed during the AMA road-racing weekend each of the last four years in Sonoma. On Sunday, XTRM Supermoto racing will take place in three professional categories.
Plus, top stunt riders will once again battle at the SBFreaks Street Freestyle Show. These popular additions return to the Sonoma Valley for the fourth consecutive year.
The weekend will also feature rider autograph sessions, demo rides by KTM, Buell and Aprilia, rider Q&A sessions and much more!
Wine Country Classic Historic Car Races, May 30-31
One of the world’s most iconic sports cars will take center stage in its centennial year at the Wine Country Classic Historic Car Races, May 30-31. The Morgan will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2009, and one of the biggest celebrations will take place at Infineon Raceway as the Morgan takes center stage as the featured marque.
In all, more than 250 historic machines, some dating as far back as 1914, will take to the road course. In addition, the event will also feature the Wine Country Pavilion, boasting sumptuous food and wine samplings from Sonoma and Napa valley purveyors, as well as Q&A sessions with competitors and a Champagne Celebration in the Wine Country Winner’s Circle.
This weekend also boasts the Vintage Race Car Festival in the Sonoma Plaza on Saturday, May 30. More than 30 historic machines will cruise from the track to the Square, where they’ll be parked on display. The evening also includes samples from some of Sonoma’s top restaurants and wineries. All proceeds from the event benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. Tickets for the event are $30 in advance or $35 at the event (5:30-8 p.m.). Contact Denise Silver, 707.933.3950 or dsilver@infineonraceway.com.
For more information about any of these events, or to purchase tickets, be sure to call 800.870.RACE or visit infineonraceway.com.
