Velocity
Typically, each year by the time November rolls around the automotive event happenings are limited to the local cars and coffees or one off meet-ups of like minded automotive enthusiasts in random grocery store parking lots. We have usually packed away our gear for the winter with the understanding that we are entering meager times for automotive content.
But alas, a surprise was waiting…..
That’s why making the trip WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was a much welcome trip this time of the year, in spite of the low winter sun and shortened days.
The event in question was the Velocity Invitational from the team behind the Sonoma Speed Festival in 2019 which turned heads as an impressive debut of a new automotive event. This year would be no different with the inaugural Velocity Invitational featuring three days of action from more than 250 cars spanning the last century. From the launch it was clear this event was heavily influenced by the Goodwood Festival of Speed held at the Goodwood Estate in England each year. From the way the cars were displayed to the timing of events on track the presence of the Goodwood influence was strong, recognizable and appreciated.
The lineup cars on display and on track was an impressive arrangement including the several examples of legendary Porsche 917, one of only six surviving Mercedes’ 300 SLRs and a demonstration from the McLaren Racing Formula 1 time featuring the 2011 MP4-26 and 2012 MP4-27 McLarens that were driven originally by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Topping off this demonstration was the presence of two-time Formula 1 Champion Mika Hakkinen and the McLaren MP4/13A which he drove to a win in the 1998 Australian Grand Prix.
The presence of modern Formula 1 cars would be an event to itself providing many with their first opportunity to see these marvels of power and technology scream around the track. Adding to this excitement was the sheer assault on the senses made by the V10 powered MP4/13A that could be heard echoing across the Salinas hills. According to the chatter in the garage, the team personnel assisting with the preparation of the Mp4/13A was a reunion of sorts as they were the same crew that supported Mika Hakkinen in 1998
Among the special demonstrations, groups and tributes was a healthy list of historic race cars, some that have been staples at the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion over the years and others appearing at the track for the first time.
Yet, the eye candy was far from over. Walking around in any direction revealed modern hypercars and supercars such as the McLaren Senna, McLaren Speed Tail, Bugatti Chiron Super-sport, and countless others. If a visitor to the track somehow could not find a car from their dreams either modern or classic then they were not looking hard enough or were blindfolded.
The Master of Puppets, Metallica’s James Hetfield, in conjunction with the Peterson Automotive Museum had a display of some of Hetfield’s finest custom American cars. This collection rounded out the event as a one-stop shop for everyone regardless of what sort of automotive fixation one might have.
The automotive content of the event was so dense that I almost left out the culinary options that typically are not present at most automotive events. A centerpiece of the Velocity Invitational was the Sip and Savior pavilion, a giant food court near the paddock that had food and drink offerings from local restaurants and wineries.
As connoisseurs of many things automotive and mechanical, we’ve had the opportunity to attend and cover a wide range of events with some becoming yearly favorites while others belong in the trash bin of things we’d rather soon forget. The Velocity Invitational is an event that we hope returns year after year and grows in popularity and participation. It has the opportunity to really establish itself as a unique automotive experience at one of the best tracks on the West Coast with a variety that is frankly, unrivaled at most other automotive events.
