ABOVE: Awesome 1939 Lagonda V12 was one of many dramatic sights seen at speed
during the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix weekend at Watkins Glen. (Robert Adams photo)

This past weekend’s SVRA U.S. Vintage Grand Prix presented by Jaguar provided an over-the-top array of experiences for fans and participants alike. In addition to the spirited competition in numerous races by over 400 racecars, fans could go hands-on on to speed through Jaguar’s autocross course or master the rugged terrain of the Land Rover off-road experience. Saturday evening welcomed everyone at the track to one of Motostalgia’s auctions of rare and fine automobiles. The auction also included the automobile-themed sculpture of artists Craig and Pamela Booth.

The popularity of camping was evident. Thousands of fans found another fun excuse to embrace the outdoors by posting their tents or parking their motorhomes in the backdrop of the 3.4-mile undulating road course. They reveled in the serenade only the broad range of engine noises spanning 70 years of automotive evolution can produce. All their favorite marques had come out to play, including Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, American muscle, NASCAR and a plethora of open wheel series machines. There was even a truck series racer in the mix.

The Collier Cup MGs staged their homage to the early days of Watkins Glen road racing. Historic Trans Am appeared with SVRA for the fourth time this year in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Trans Am. Their contest on Sunday was particularly thrilling. Jim Hague, driving an ex-Peter Gregg Boss 302 Mustang, beat Kep Epsman in the AMC Javelin formerly piloted by the versatile legend George Follmer to the line by no more than a foot.

The significance of the weekend was underscored by the headliner names in attendance. Lyn St. James was honored for her 1985 IMSA GTO victory at The Glen – the first time a woman had gone solo to win a major endurance race. NASCAR television broadcaster Mike Joy not only gave opening remarks prior to the Historic Trans Am race but also jumped behind the wheel of a 1966 Mustang and brought it home 19th in the field of 27.

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Former 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner Davy Jones served as grand marshal and his colleague at Jaguar, Roberto Guerrero, accepted the same role for the Watkins Glen community’s annual Grand Prix Festival held the same weekend. Both drivers were honored with markers on The Glen village’s famous Walk of Fame during the weekend. The collaboration between the track, the community and the SVRA took the entire U.S. Vintage Grand Prix to a level that gave it depth and meaning well beyond the confines of Watkins Glen International.

There were some amazing stories on the track. Former Brickyard Invitational Indy Legends Pro-Am champion Peter Klutt pulled off an astounding comeback in Sunday’s Dick Mooney Memorial Trophy. After losing a clutch in his 1969 Corvette during the first Group 6 race on Saturday, Klutt, who owns Legendary Motor Car garage and hosts the Velocity Channel’s television show by the same name, was forced to start 22nd in Sunday’s Mooney Memorial. He stormed through the field to seize the lead on the eighth and last lap for the unlikely triumph.

The meet closed in the waning light of Sunday afternoon with a great display of speed in the pre-war competition. Peter Giddings steered his 1955 Lancia-Ferrari, arguably the paddock star of the weekend, to a nice win over a short field that included runner-up Richard Morrison in his 1939 Lagonda V-12 Le Mans racer.

Below this gallery illustrating the variety of the on-track action, check out the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix podium finishers by run groups and races for the weekend.

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Saturday, Sept. 11

Group 2

1) Bobby Brown, 1971 Brabham BT35

2) Dave Handy, 1968 Brabham BT29

3) David Porter, 1971 Lotus 69 Formula Ford

Group 3

1) John Parker, 1967 Volvo 1800

2) George Balbach, 1961 Porsche 356

3) Bob Bramlage, 1964 Ginetta

Group 4

1) Joey Bojalad, 1960 Elva Mk VI Prototype

2) Randy Williams, 1966 Jaguar ERA XKE-R

3) David Zavetsky, 1959 Devin-Healey Special

Group 5

1) Bill Thumel, 1967 Lola T70

2) Tom Shelton, 1965 Lola T70

3) Doc Bundy, 1964 Lotus 23B

Group 6

1) Jody O’Donnell, 1969 Corvette

2) Michael Donohue, 1963 Corvette

3) Charles Bentley, Camaro Z28

Group 7 (Sports 2000)

1) Justin Frick, 1976 Osella PA6/8

2) Graham Adelman, 1976 Chevron B36

3) Ben Sinnott, 1991 Lola T9190

Group 8

1) Jim Hamblin, 1968 Porsche 911

2) Craig Chima, 1962 Lotus 7

3) Mayo Smith, 1972 Porsche 911RS

Historic Enduro (one hour)

1) David Porter, 2007 Pescarolo 01 Judd

2) Travis Engen, 2005 Audi R8 LMP

3) Steve Scullen, 2009 Oreca FLM09

Sunday, Sept. 11

Group 1

1) Harry Gentry, 1962 MG Midget

2) Dave Morgan, 1968 Mini-Cooper

3) Dave Nicholas, 1960 MGA

Group 2

1) Dave Handy, 1968 Brabham BT29

2) Bobby Brown, 1971 Brabham BT35

3) Robert Burnside, 1969 Brabham BT29

Group 3

1) Bob Bramlage, 1964 Ginetta

2) Vic Skirmants, 1961 Porsche 356

3) James Jackson, 1964 Porsche 356

Group 4

1) Randy Williams, 1966 Jaguar ERA SKE-R

2) Bill Treffert, 1960 Corvette

3) Bill Schwacke, 1955 Corvette

Group 5

1) Tom Shelton, 1965 Lola T70

2) Doc Bundy, 1964 Lotus 23B

3) Harry McPherson, 1966 Ford GT

Group 6

1) Peter Klutt, 1969 Corvette

2) Michael Donohue, 1963 Corvette

3) Charles Bentley, 1967 Camaro Z28

Group 7

1) Justin Frick, 1976 Osella PA6/8

2) Tyler Pappas, 2003 Mazda CSR

3) Graham Adelman, 1976 Chevron B36

Sports 2000 Feature

1) Ben Sinnott, 1991 Lola T9190

2) Robert Sherwood, 2002 Carbir

3) Mark Coombs, 1990 Lola T9090

Group 8

1) Jim Hamblin, 1968 Porsche 911

2) Craig Chima, 1962 Lotus 7

3) Gregg Frey, 1970 Porsche 914

Group 9

1) Mark Brannon, 1997 Lola T9720

2) Bruce Hamilton, 2008 Dallara Infiniti

3) Marc Giroux, 1997 Lola T9720

Group 10

1) Jeffrey Bernatovich, 1990 Corvette

2) Ike Keeler, 1990 Olds Cutlass

3) Doug Richmond, 2008 Ford Falcon GT1

Group 11

1) Randy Johnson, 2007 Pescarolo

2) David Porter, 2007 Pescarolo

3) Steve Scullen, 2009 Oreca

Group 12

1) Jonathan Pfeffer, 1990 Corvette

2) Richard Stuart Milne, 1972 Porsche RSR

3) Carlos Miguens, 1974 Porsche 911 IROC

International GT

1) Steven Hill/Mike Skeen, 2007 Ferrari F430

2) Juan Gonzalez Jr., 2010 Porsche GT3

3) Christopher Haehn, 2008 Porsche GT3

Governor’s Cup All-Corvette Race

1) Jeffery Bernatovich, 1990 Corvette

2) Jonathan Pfeffer, 1990 Corvette

3) Michael Donohue, 1963 Corvette

Historic Trans Am

1) Jim Hague, 1970 Boss 302 Mustang

2) Ken Epsman, 1971 AMC Javelin

3) Jim Halsey, 1970 Boss 302 Mustang

Pre-War

1) Peter Giddings, 1954 Lancia-Ferrari D50A

2) Richard Morrison, 1939 Lagonda V12

3) Robert O’Meara, 1952 MGTD Cisitalia