Vintage Sports Car Racing, U.S. Marines & Charity

03/08/96

Sports car racing on airport circuits was all the rage back in the 50s. A lot of big names in American road racing competed on these temporary and pretty safe (no trees) circuits including Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Masten Gregory, Phil Hill and others who went on to motorsports stardom. In fact one of the catalysts/founders of racing on military airports was Flying Tiger empressario, General Curtis LeMay.

The weekend of August 2-4 sports cars will roar around the Tustin, California U.S.Marine base to help out the Marine Welfare and Recreation fund and also to aid the Marconi Foundation for Kids Sports. Conducted by Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA), at least 250 entries are expected. The feature race will be devoted to pre-1973 Trans Am racers.

There will also be a legends race, celebrity race, a base open house, and a music concert. Over 100,000 spectators are expected at the Marine helicopter facility, which was constructed as a Zepplin/blimp base with HUGE hangers for lighter-than-air craft to patrol the Pacific ocean for enemy submarines.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel