Planners gear up for Coronado Speed Fest

The Historic Motor Sports Association (‘HMSA’) has won the award for the 12th annual event scheduled for September 26 and 27.

The event will be held on Naval Air Station North Island, in Coronado, a small, picturesque community of San Diego.

San Diego Fleet Week is a one-of-a-kind event, and the only race car and military tribute event in the United States.

“We have a vision. The vision is to move the Coronado Speed Festival to a higher and elevated state, to increase awareness of the event, but more significantly, to pay tribute to our nation and our community’s military, and their families,” Jim Philion, Founder of the Coronado Speed Festival, emphatically stated. “The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation will rely on this world-class partnership to provide strategy and execution excellence to help us achieve our mission.”

Cris Vandagriff, President of HMSA, will organize and stage race production of the Speed Festival, and he comments on HMSA’s involvement, “The purpose of HMSA is to encourage the restoration, preservation and use of historic sports and racing cars. I see tremendous potential in both vintage racing and the event. I cannot imagine a more prestigious event and location than the Coronado Speed Festival.”

His group promises to work diligently to support the Fleet Week San Diego’s mission: to honor and celebrate the men and women of the military. “I intend to work collaboratively with the Foundation and the U.S. Navy in helping them achieve their objective including benefiting and saluting a great cause, the men and women of the military and their families.”

“The Coronado Speed Festival has a tremendous following of participants, sponsors, vendors and fans. We are delighted to have HMSA as our partner moving forward. Vandagriff and his team share our mission of honoring and celebrating the military and providing unparalleled excitement to everyone who attends the event,” says Alexandra Squires, Executive Director of the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation.

About Historic Motor Sports Association (‘HMSA’)
The Coronado Speed Festival is sanctioned by HMSA. Established in 1977, HMSA specializes in race events with historic cars, emphasizing the preservation and proper use of historic race cars.

About The Coronado Speed Festival & Fleet Week San Diego
The Coronado Speed Festival is Fleet Week San Diego’s marquee event. The event features auto racing and exhibitions for car enthusiasts of all ages at one of the most distinctive race track locations - Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of Naval Aviation, with racing on a live runway used by the U.S. Navy.

This is the only Navy Open House on the West Coast. Naval Base Coronado is home to over 20, 000 active duty military and over 4,000 civilian employees. Visitors to the festival can climb aboard and tour an active Navy ship berthed at NASNI, visit command displays, watch F-18 flyovers and see military vehicles in action.

At the Coronado Speed Festival you will see top race cars from today and tomorrow including historic stock cars, as well as the restored classics. Also planned are military flyovers, drifting exhibitions, car club corral, car show, Navy ship tours and more.

The event is free for active duty military and their dependants.

For more information go to www.fleetweeksandiego.org/coronadospeedfestival

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