Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival_Gooding & Company Shows Three Extraordinary Vintage Race Cars
Editorial-free photos attached. High resolution available. SonomaHistoricLOGOinsert.jpg FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Barby MacGowan, Media Pro Int'l for General Racing, Ltd., +1 (401) 225-0249 Gooding & Company Shows Three Extraordinary Vintage Race Cars at 2010 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival SONOMA, Calif. (June 5, 2010) - The internationally celebrated automotive auction house Gooding <http://www.goodingco.com/> & Company has signed on as a leading hospitality sponsor of the 2010 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival <http://www.sonomahistorics.com/> , held at Infineon Raceway <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> , June 5-6. As a result, guests in attendance will have the rare and unique opportunity to preview three extraordinary historic race cars prior to the company's Pebble Beach Auctions on August 14 and 15, when they will be offered for sale - a winning 1956 Maserati 200 SI raced by Sir Stirling Moss; an award-winning 1951 Ferrari 340 America from the estate of devoted enthusiast Mr. Gil Nickel and a stunning 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Racing Monoplace that won the 1950 Paris Grand Prix. Notably car number one of Maserati's 200 series, the 1956 Maserati 200 SI was the factory works team and development car for many years. Retaining an outstanding racing record to this day, the 200 SI participated in all the great European and South American events during its racing career, capturing podium finishes at Nurburgring, Napoli, Caraccas and Bari. It has been driven by Stirling Moss, Jean Behra and Piero Taruffi and has competed in many famed races including the Cuban Grand Prix, Mille Miglia, Monza, Targa Florio and the Grand Prix of Rome. Most recently, the car won its class at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and has proved successful in all of the important historic events. With extensive documentation, beautiful patina and its distinctively exposed original bodywork, this desirable 1950s 2-litre racing car will be a coveted motor sport offering at auction as well as an exciting display car in Sonoma this weekend. From the estate of the late Gil Nickel, a beautiful Vignale-bodied 1951 Ferrari 340 America will also be parked for public viewing in Sonoma. The late Mr. Nickel re-established the renowned Far Niente Winery and was known by many for being a devout automotive enthusiast with impeccable taste for thoroughbred cars. A fine example, this Ferrari 340 America debuted at the 1952 New York Auto Show and was of the fastest sports cars of its day. During Mr. Nickel's thirty-year ownership, the Ferrari participated in many internationally prominent events including the Mille Miglia, Monaco Historics, Laguna Seca Historics and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and is still capable of driving in the world's best vintage racing events. The third car on display is Gooding & Company's 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Racing Monoplace, a beautiful open-wheel single-seat racing car that achieved early success when it won the 1950 Paris Grand Prix with Georges Grignard at the wheel. Still very capable of competitively vintage racing, this Talbot-Lago was recently treated to a thorough mechanical and body restoration by renowned specialist Scott Sargent and will be a definite treat for enthusiasts attending the Historics. Gooding & Company's annual Pebble Beach Auctions will take place on Saturday August 14 and Sunday August 15, 2010 at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, commencing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Preview days will start on Wednesday, August 11 and will continue through Sunday, August 15. The auctions will commence at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auction catalogues are available for $100 and admit two to the viewing and the auction. Auctions are broadcast live from Gooding & Company's website on <http://www.goodingco.com/auction> www.goodingco.com/auction. Bidder registration forms, press credentials and additional auction information are also available on www.goodingco.com <http://www.goodingco.com/> or by calling (310) 899-1960. For additional vehicle information and up-to-the-minute results, follow Gooding & Company on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/GoodingCompany> and Twitter @GoodingCompany <http://www.twitter.com/GoodingCompany> . About Gooding & Company Gooding & Company provides unparalleled service for those in the collector car market, offering a wide range of services, including private and estate sales, appraisals and collection management. Also recognized for being the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Gooding & Company recently made history with the sale of the world's most valuable car, a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, formerly of the Williamson Bugatti Collection. # # # For tickets, please visit <http://www.infineonraceway.com> www.infineonraceway.com. For additional information on the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, visit www.sonomahistorics.com.