My new favorite race car driver.
Mia Lovell!
I happened upon the Trans Am/SVRA Sonoma weekend yesterday and I can’t wait to watch the feature events later today on SpeedTour TV.
The first stop of this combined series takes place at Sebring in February. I’ve never been but I got halfway there a few years ago before my BMW overheated (What? A BMW overheating?) but I WILL be there in 2026.
You know what convinced me? The promotional videos created by the – deep breath – “Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, International GT (IGT) and Prototype Sprint Series Association (PSSA)” marketing department!
Wow! Talk about flowing juices!
In one segment, Adam Andretti describes driving these 900 hp raw muscle cars compared to “GT3s with AC, ABS and traction control where you can just slap a license plate on one and drive it to the grocery store. THESE are REAL race cars!” His take recalled in vivid detail the Scott Pruett/Robby Gordon/Willy T. Ribbs shows I enjoyed watching in-person at Lime Rock so many years ago. Another promotional video that held my rapt attention was the one about 18 year-old Mia Lovell. What a story! Great stuff!
I’ve always rooted for underdogs in racing. I jumped off the couch as Willy T. pulled himself up from his cockpit, waving with both hands off the wheel, after qualifying for the Indy 500 – his race car still traveling at triple-digit speed heading back to the pits. Here’s his biopic:
Trans Am and early IMSA were among may favorite series in the sixties through the eighties. I still get to as many IMSA events as I can each year but I’m now sold on Trans Am… and I haven’t even seen today’s race from California yet! I won’t miss another Trans Am race weekend when the series is back in my neighborhood! 😎
Semi-Related Video:
