The 2022 Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge was held at Sonoma Raceway from September 30 to October 2. This 19th annual CSRG event featured more than 200 historic race cars in nine different racing groups competing on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile circuit set against the Sonoma Hills outside of San Francisco.
The historic weekend of racing highlighted the MG series race cars celebrating 60 years of the former British automaker, along with show cars, vintage aircraft fly-bys and a Saturday night dinner for the drivers and his teammates. The three-day event was open and free to all spectators.
The CSRG began in 1968, when a group of like-minded automotive friends formed a racing club that focused on a fun racing environment and car preservation versus a winning attitude that is everything.
Today, several events are held throughout the year at various tracks throughout Northern California where racers can share their passion for the sport of historic auto racing during the CSRG Charity Challenge by offering spectators rides on instead of a tax-deductible donation to support the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway. Children’s charities.
The popular annual event has raised more than $1.1 million since it began in 2004.
After an early Saturday morning drivers’ meeting, the Group 1 riders attacked the fog enveloping the track and stayed until mid-morning. Qualifying sessions were already underway when the sun came up and the remaining groups, which included production sports cars, MGs, Formula cars and GT cars, finished their morning qualifying before the lunch break. After lunch, a large number of hour-long charity rides were held. A warm and blustery afternoon of qualifying for round two concluded as the sun quickly set behind the hills surrounding Sonoma Raceway.
CSRG Charity Challenge 2022 Photo Gallery
Two minutes before the race cars hit the track!
1974 Porsche 911 IMSA-Chet Taylor
1966 Ford Shelby GT 350 – Robert Brayton
John Goodman takes the inside of turn 4 in his 1988 Chevrolet IMSA Corvette while Drew Alcazar follows closely on the outside in a 1969 Ford Shelby GT350
1975 Porsche 911 RSR – Kevin Romak
1968 Autodynamic Mk 4A FV – Scott Miller
1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT – Eric Bernhard
1967 Alfa Romeo GTV – Parker McKean
1969 Alfa Romeo GTV-Bruce McKean
Car #71: Ed Matsuishi (1971 Datsun 510), Car #84: David Buchanan (1970 Datsun 510), Car #75: Phil Hartstein (1972 Datsun 510)
Group Six riders line up in the Pits
1969 Lotus 61 – Paul Kitchen
1970 Crossle 16/20F – Alex Dodd
1979 Crossle 32F – Max Minshull
1969 Elden Sturgess MK7 – Kyle Shepard
1956 MG A – Shawn Deluna
1967 Midget MG – Bill Greenman
1964 MG MGB–Adin Stein
1980 March 80A – Ori Della Penna
Jonathan Burke in a 1973 Brabham BT40 is behind Andrew Wait in a 1971 Titan Mk 6 coming out of Turn 10
1989 Lola 88 – Michael Faulknor
1966 Mini Mini Cooper S – Gary Drean
Chuck Krause in his 1967 Porsche 912 overtakes Frank Zucchi in his 1969 Datsun 1600 at turn 10
1957 Porsche 356A driven by Art Hebert exits turn 10 during the CSRG Charity Challenge at Sonoma Raceway
1964 Triumph Spitfire driven by Michael John heads into turn 11 at Sonoma Raceway
A corner worker signals to cars on the track that someone is trying to overtake
1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint
A young racing enthusiast helps his dad prepare the race car in the Paddock
An excited passenger gets a ride in a 1967 Porsche 912 driven by Chuck Krause during the CSRG Charity Challenge event at Sonoma Raceway
David Nelson exits the pits with a passenger, in his 1955 Triumph TR2, for a few laps around the Sonama race track during the CSRG Charity Challenge
Glenn Oliveria, owner of the 1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, prepares to take a few laps around the track at Sonoma Raceway during the CSRG Charity Challenge event
James Alder prepares to take his passenger for a few laps around the track in his 1952 Jaguar XK 120 OTS during the CSRG Charity Challenge event
Passengers buckle up for a few laps at Sonoma Raceway during the CSRG Charity Challenge event
George Putnam prepares to hit the track in his 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint for a few laps with a passenger who made a charitable donation during the CSRG Charitable Challenge event that raises money for Speedway Children’s Charities
William Taylor in his 1962 Cooper Monaco takes a few laps around the track with someone who made a charitable donation during the CSRG Charity Challenge event
CSRG benefit rides were held in a variety of race cars.
Drivers check the rear wing of a Group 7 race car
Racing Marbles: Small pieces of rubber that break off the tires when cornering.
Spectators can get up close and personal with the race cars in the Paddock and often talk to the drivers.
Jean Pierre Molerus cleans the hood of his 1954 Nichols Special
Dash view of a 1954 Nichols Special Panhard
The Alfa Romeo Visconti snake in racing form
A well used leather Momo steering wheel
racing patina
Number 12, a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette, is being serviced between races
Kenny Tse sits in his 1968 Datsun 510 alongside the rest of the ‘Datsun 510 gang’, ready to take on Group 9 on track
1977 gallon B39
Group 9 wait patiently in the pits before starting the afternoon race.
David Buchanan exits the pits in his 1970 Datsun 510 for the Group 9 race
Keeping those batteries topped up when there’s downtime between runs
1983 Ralt RT4
A correct vintage vintage livery on this 1989 Lola 88 makes it a standout
This 1970 McLaren M12 parked in a garage at the Sonoma Speedway awaits its turn to drive off
Fill the fuel tank before the next race
Beautiful Alfa Romeo lettering in the engine compartment and a sculpted oil cap are just some of the beautiful details on this Alfa Romeo.
The afternoon sun highlights the rear light of an Alfa Romeo
1964 Porsche 356C driven by Joseph Rossi in Group 2
Basic and light interior of a 1964 Porsche 356C
Many years of CSRG racing and tech inspections passed
Jack Perkins puts his 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA through the mandatory MOT before hitting the track
1969 Chevron B15b – Nicolas Colyvas
1962 Huffaker FJ-Jonathan Rosenthal
1973 BMW 3.5 CSL – Steve Walker
1970 Porsche 914-6GT – Jon Wactor
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 – Steve Eftimiou
1972 Datsun 240Z – Rob Fuller
1976 Chevrolet Corvette-Mike Thurlow
1959 Austin Healey Bugeye-Nick Martin
1959 BMC FJr-Jim Smith
1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce-Tom Sahines
1967 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior – Patrick Hung
1955 Triumph TR2-David Nelson
1966 Alfa Romeo GTV-Chet Taylor
