American Speed Festival

Four days of motor sport magnificence at M1 Concourse saw thrilling track action, once-in-alifetime exhibits and automotive fun for all

M1 CONCOURSE RUMBLED TO THE sound of 170 racing cars across 14 classes between September 29 and October 2, 2022, as part of the second American Speed Festival presented by Comerica Bank.

It all kicked off with Thursday’s Drive & Dine Tour, which took participants on a fascinating trip from M1 Concourse around the outskirts of Detroit via the Stahls Automotive Collection. Here, a curated tour included such delights as an 1860 stagecoach and other brass-era and pre-war classics, as well as elegant post-war machines – oh, and a 1951 Wendell Mechanimal Elephant used in the presidential campaigns of both Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. This was followed by the Motor Grille, a fun evening of fine wine and exquisite food.

The Speed Ring circuit action began on Friday, with everything from vintage Indy racing cars to modern supercars taking to the track. Away from the circuit, the Garage Reveal tour allowed 100 people a behind-the-scenes peek into six garages, while in the evening the Checkered Flag Ball helped raise funds for the Pontiac Community Foundation. The organization provides multi-tier transportation solutions to ensure Pontiac residents have

PREVIOUS SPREAD Pride of place went to a ‘nest’ of Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes. THIS SPREAD On-track action, special displays, unique insights from Peter Brock and David Hobbs, fun for young and old.

Class 1: Shelby/Cobra: 1965 Shelby GT350

(Ken Costella) Class 2: Vintage Indy: 1970

Gurney Eagle (Chuck Jones) Class 3: Ferrari: 2019 488 Challenge Evo (Melissa Kozyra)

Class 4: Endurance Sports Cars: 1988 Fabcar

GTP (Dave Nikolas) Class 5: Feature Race Cars: 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix Mello Yello (Mike Haislet)

Class 6: Super Cars: 2005 Ford GT-1 (Fred Calero)

Class 7: Race Karts: 2022 UofM SAE (Michaela Fisk)

Class 8: Pontiac Firebird: 1970 Pontiac Trans Am (Keith Knudsen) Class 9: Hot Rod/Customs:

1932 Ford Three-Window (Gordie Olsen)

Class 10: Pony Cars: 1971 Ford Mustang

Mach 1 (Howard Kay) Class 11: Muscle Cars: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427 (Ron Turner)

Class 12: Modern Performance: 2016

Dodge Viper ACR (Marty Heitkamp) Class 13: Import Performance: 1978 Datsun 280Z

(Ari Katz) Class 14: American Classics: 1923 Duesenberg Model A Roadster (Peter Heydon) access to community programs and services.

The Ball brought together a who’s who of people within the Detroit motor sports and automotive community. “They had a blast,” said Dave Sherman, vice president of Signature Events at M1 Concourse. “It started with a cocktail reception in our Event Center, before moving to the ballroom for dinner, and then into our lounge and pitlane for an afterparty.”

This year’s American Speed Festival paid a special tribute to the cars of Carroll Shelby, while one of his most important team members, Peter Brock, was honored as a Master of Motorsports for his groundbreaking designs. Brock – who had just been inducted into the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame, as well as received the EyesOn Design Lifetime Design Achievement Award and Carroll Shelby Spirit Award during August’s Monterey Car Week –joined former racing driver and commentator David Hobbs for a fascinating live discussion on his life at the sharp end of the Shelby project. Many previously unknown stories were shared – a treat for the numerous avowed Shelby fans in the audience. The first new race car sold by Shelby – the 1963 Cobra CSX2154, owned by the Cobra Experience in

California – joined a star-studded line-up of machines from the stable of the pioneering driver, engineer and team owner.

Meanwhile, for open-wheel fans, two-dozenplus vintage Indy cars took to the track, with Al Unser Jr on pace-car duties. He also got a chance to meet up with a famed former steed, his 1986 Domino’s Pizza Shierson Racing Lola. Of M1 Concourse, Al said: “It’s my first time here, and it’s just magnificent – a beautiful facility.”

It wasn’t only American might on display, either; Ferraris and other supercars also had a chance to shine. Maranello machines received special recognition of Ferrari’s 75th birthday, with a wide-ranging display of Italian exotica both on-track and on static display.

Sunday’s Speed & Style saw the competition cars join 200 classic and supercars lining the circuit. There were special displays for the Pontiac Firebird and other muscle cars, plus exhibits of pony cars, hot rods, customs, modern performance machinery, pre-war classics, pedal cars and GMC motorhomes. Sunday also saw the debut of the Race Speed Track Experience,

People’s Choice Award: 2021 Ferrari Monza SP1 (Lauren Mendelson)

Car Selection Committee Award: 1964

Shelby Cobra 289 CSX 2203 (Ernie Nagamatsu)

Chairman’s Award: 1965 Shelby Daytona

Cobra Coupe (Charles Stringfellow)

M1MomentumMagazine Award: 1963

Shelby Cobra 289 CSX 2154 (Cobra Experience)

David Hobbs Award: 1966 Jaguar E-type Series 1 Roadster (Conrad Foster)

Al Unser Jr Award: 1957 Stingray (GM Heritage Center)

Peter Brock Award: 1997 Shelby Can-Am

Peter Brock Prototype X3 (William Deary)

City of Pontiac Award: 1978 GMC Royale (Karen Breen) with guests joining instructors and going for high-speed circuit rides in M1’s track cars.

Calm away from the action was provided by the gallery of leading artists’ work at the Automotive Art Expo, as well as the opportunity to race custom-made remotecontrol cars on a purpose-built circuit.

“We’re very pleased with the American Speed Festival weekend,” said Tim McGrane, CEO of M1 Concourse. “Fans enjoyed seeing race cars doing what they were designed to do, with two days of time trials on the 1.5-mile M1 Concourse circuit.”

The next event promises to be even bigger and better, with celebrations paying tribute to the Chevrolet Corvette at 70, 100 years of the Le Mans 24 Hours and 50 years of the IROC series. You can expect to find rarely seen, exclusive cars from these classes – plus a lot more besides – lining up at M1 Concourse for the American Speed Festival 2023. We can barely wait!

The next American Speed Festival is scheduled for September 28 to October 1, 2023. Please see www.m1concourse.com/asf-home for details.

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