AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — Vintage car racers from across the region gathered for the annual Festival of Speed at the Qlispe race track near Northern Quest, marking the end of a three-day event celebrating classic automobiles and racing culture.
The Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts (SOVREN) hosted the event for the 12th year, featuring cars from 1948 to 2000 competing in groups on the track. Bill Simer, SOVREN’s vice president, said the festival is about more than just competition.
“It’s about being out here, having fun and, in a way, trying to recreate what this looked like in the 50s and 60s,” he said.
Fred Russell is the Collection Manager for a 1949 Ferrari Barchetta featured in the event.
“This car is a phenomenal car. It’s really, really fun, lightweight and fast. And in its day, it was really high tech,” he said.
Russell said although the car could sell for millions, the feeling of driving it is priceless.
“It’s got the skinny tires. Every corner you go into, it’s slipping a little bit as you break and it slides a little and every bump is around the corner. And as you accelerate out, it’s very easy to spin the tire,” he said.
The race wasn’t just for the thrill of the ride; it was also for a good cause.
All proceeds from the event support Meals on Wheels GSC, which helps feed homebound seniors across Spokane County.
For more information on the Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts visit www.sovrenracing.org.
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