Historic Classic Motorsports Mitty Offers Excitement Off and On Track

ATLANTA, Apr. 26, 2011: Three days of racing with some 300 historic cars and motorcycles are just part of the action this weekend (April 29-May1) at the Speedfest at the Classic Motorsports Mitty at Road Atlanta. This year, the Mitty will again feature an incredible variety of historically significant race cars—both on display in the paddock and circling the Road Atlanta track.

Sponsored by Classic Motorsports magazine and sanctioned by the Historic Sportscar Racing association, The Mitty will include IMSA Camel GT, SCCA Trans-Am, Can-Am, Formula 1, CART and even NASCAR Winston Cup cars. “We are extremely excited about this year’s Classic Motorsports Mitty. This event has taken on a life of its own through the decades and continued to grow,” said Ken Fengler, HSR Vice President of Race Operations. “We are looking for increased numbers of entrants and spectators and have numerous events on and off the track that everyone will enjoy.” Mazda is this year’s featured marque, marking the first time the Japanese brand will be so honored at the vintage event.

Jim Downing, famed Mazda racer and co-inventor of the HANS safety device, will serve as Grand Marshal. Mazda will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their historic win at Le Mans in the Mazda 787b piloted by Bertrand Gachot, Johnny Herbert and Volker Wiedler. This marked the first time that a team/manufacturer that was not from the European continent won Le Mans.

The Mazda 787b was also the first car to win Le Mans with a Wankel rotary engine. Look for some impressive displays in the Mazda historic racing show area commemorating this landmark victory. Mazda will display all its concept cars created through the years including the 1989 Miata Club Sport car and the Miata Coupe concept. Several other activities will involve Mazda owners, including an attempt to set a world record for the most Mazdas around 2.54-mile Road Atlanta track. Mazda owners also are invited to attend post-race activities by showing their car key for admission.

The three-day event will feature more than 300 cars including such famous makes as Porsche, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Cobra, Fiat-Lancia, Lola, Corvette, Datsun, Mustang and Austin Healey. The event also attracts vintage motorcycles including Indian, Norton, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Kawasaki models. Speeds in some of the race classes approach 200 miles per hour but feature a wide variety of historic racers dating from the late 1950s to today. With two enduro events, drivers will be earning points to win race watches from Louis Chevrolet Watches at the end of the HSR season.

Three spectacular events to watch will be the Porsche Cayman Series with brightly colored cars in historic paint schemes from Porsche’s long racing history, the Mission Foods GT3 Cup for Porsche 911 RS/RSR cars from 2000-2011 and the popular Mazda MX5 Cup feature race. The Classic Motorsports Mitty will host the second round of the 2011 Classic Motorsports Small Bore Cup. The series is open to small-bore cars produced before 1965 and their continuation counterparts. This leg of the competition promises to be a hotly contested battle among many highly recognizable cars.

Not all the action will be on the track. More than 20 car club corrals will be featured in the infield and nightly entertainment will offer post-race bench racing and camaraderie. Kumho Tires USA will again offer spectators the chance to drive a Kumho Tires-equipped Mazda MX-5 around the infield autocross course. The driving experience is completely free of charge.

The Hella “Night into Day” Party will be held in the big-top tent for a special Saturday night party sponsored by Hella USA. Also, the Moss pub will be open for business during the evening hours Friday and Saturday nights. The Moss pub lets fans challenge a friend to a game of darts or a race around the slot car track. Live music performed will be performed by Wes Cobb Saturday night. The SafeRacer / Mazda Driver’s Party Friday night will be held in the Classic Motorsports big-top tent on the hill.

Along with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, Downing, the event’s Grand Marshal will be the honored guest. Free entry is open to any Mazda owner showing their car keys. The crew at Flyin’ Miata will be on hand for the Mitty and hosting a special get together for Miata owners to hang out and talk tech. Flyin’ Miata, an industry leader since 1989, will be hosting group discussions to help make everyone’s Miata faster, better handling and safer. DIY Autotune will host the first ever MegaSquirt MegaMeet at the 2011 Mitty. Guests with vehicles using MegaSquirt engine management are encouraged to bring out their home brewed creations and share them with other MegaSquirt users and Mitty guests. The staff of DIY Autotune will also be on hand to answer questions about installing, wiring, and tuning personal MegaSquirt systems. Something for everyone abounds at the Classic Motorsports Mitty.

Join the fun April 29-May 1 at Road Atlanta. For more information, go to www.themitty.com or www.hsrrace.com.