Events

Sonoma CSRG Charity Challenge

Saturday, October 2

Infineon Raceway

Hello MGOC Members. Ever wanted to get your car on a race track with you behind the wheel? If so, you’ll have your chance on Saturday October 2 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

The Classic Sport Racing Group (CSRG) is holding its 6^th Annual Charity Challenge and has arranged for owners of pre-1980 sports cars to go “on track” for parade laps on the course during the lunch break from racing and practices. The cost is $20 per person payable at the gate. Registration, executing waivers, etc. will be taken care of at the event that morning.

Speed is limited to 40 MPH following a pace car and no passing is allowed on the track. Helmets, gloves, and other racing attire are not required. CSRG recommends wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts. Attendees can also purchase “Charity Rides” for hot laps in cars competing in the races that weekend. The cost of these rides ranges from $50 to $75 depending on the ride you select. You must have a helmet and proper attire to participate in the hot laps where you will be a passenger.

A contingent of MGOC members have expressed great interest in participating in the parade laps and we invite anyone else interested to join us. I have been in
contact with CSRG and the event is being widely promoted to numerous clubs. While they expect enthusiastic response they admittedly have no idea how many will attend. We would like to enter the track as a club group so that we can park together in the paddock and CSRG recommends arriving earlier rather than later.

So here's the plan:

We will meet at Port Sonoma on the east-bound side of Rt. 37, approximately 4.8 miles east of Rt. 101 at Novato. From there it is just a few miles to the track and we should be able to mostly remain together until we get to the gates. Directions from 101 to 37.

We will meet at the entrance to Port Sonoma by 8:30 am and will depart to the track no later than 8:45 am. We will arrive at the track at approximately 9:00 am.

For those arriving from points east or up in Napa, it is your choice whether you drive to meet up with the club or arrive at the track individually. Our hope is that we’ll arrive at the track together, park in the same area, and hopefully get on the track mostly as a group. Perhaps we’ll even get some good photographs of each other.

Hopefully it will be a fun and exciting day for all and we look forward to seeing you there!

Because CSRG has asked, please RSVP to Sam Gearhart at swg3@comcast.net if you plan to join us. I will give an approximate count to the organizers a couple of days before the event.

Finally, if you can’t join us on Saturday, the Charity Challenge is also taking place Sunday. And while the club won’t be there as a group, feel free to head to the track yourself for some laps then.

Sonoma Wine Country Tour

Saturday, October 9

Rhonert Park

Come join your MG friends for a backroads tour to a specialty foods store, the famous Coppola Winery, and a fun diner.

The first part of the tour will take us out through the backroads and pasture lands of Sonoma County and through the historic towns of Valley Ford, Freestone, Occidental, and Forestville. Our first stop will be at Kozlowski Farms, who have offered  specialty foods from the Russian River Valley since 1949. The store is filled with an extensive selection of unique gift items as well as homemade pies, tarts, and cookies from the store bakery. Family favorites include old fashioned jams, no-sugar-added fruit spreads, gourmet mustards, berry vinegars, fudge sauces, salad dressings, barbecue
sauce, and chipotle grilling sauces.

We will leave Kozlowski Farms and head north through the rolling countryside and vineyards of the Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley to the fabulous, newly refinished Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Enjoy touring the grounds and swimming pool (for kids only), and explore the Movie Gallery displaying memorabilia from Francis Coppola’s film career (including films like Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, and Tucker). The original Tucker is on display, as are four Oscars and six Golden Globe awards (and these are the real ones). For those inclined, you can enjoy wine tasting at one of the three wine tasting bars or have a drink at their full bar.

Our final destination and lunch stop is Adel’s, which is just down the road in  ealdsburg. Adel’s is a ‘50s type of diner with an extensive, reasonably priced menu and excellent food. We have reserved a special section at the restaurant for our group.

When and Where: Meet at 9:00 am at Sonoma Valley Bagel and Cafe, 350 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park. Take 101 north, exit at Rohnert Park Expressway and head west for a half mile. Sonoma Valley Bagel will be on your right.

Please RSVP: to Andy or Marla Preston at marlapreston@hotmail.com by October 5.