'23: Velocity Invitational high impact

Velocity Invitational is back in Sonoma for the ultimate weekend of multi-million-dollar cars, food, wine, and fun

There is nowhere else in the country that you can stroll through a paddock of some of the rarest cars in the world while sipping a glass of world-class wine and chatting with the most exciting drivers and owners in motorsports.

The fourth annual Velocity Invitational takes place November 10-12 at Sonoma Raceway. This year, to help celebrate McLaren’s 60th anniversary, drivers from the McLaren Formula 1 team, the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team, and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown will meet with fans and hit the track. “Velocity Invitational is a spectacle of some of the world’s most unique and special cars, and to see our McLaren drivers get behind the wheel of our heritage collection at Sonoma Raceway and bring those cars to life again is an experience you cannot get anywhere else,” said Zak Brown. “We’re excited to be part of it this year, celebrating our 60 years as a racing team.” He, Lando Norris, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, Tony Kanaan and others will participate in autograph sessions and interactive activities and tackle Sonoma Raceway’s challenging road course in historic McLaren race cars of both sports car and open-wheel varieties. It will be the largest collection of heritage cars that the team has run in the event, and many of these cars are rarely seen in North America.

Velocity Invitational is unlike any other automobile exhibition in the country, combining racing events and unprecedented access to multi-million-dollar cars with delicious food, wine, and spirits, all presented in a family-friendly environment. Jeff O’Neill is the founder of the Velocity Invitational. He is also a racer, a winemaker, and a passionate car enthusiast. When asked what attendees have said about the previous events, he answered, “What I hear is that they all love it because it’s the best family and driver event they have seen. We have beautiful food and wine, amazing people, and incredible cars that together have created the only super-luxury experience of its kind in North America.” “Sonoma Raceway is a perfect fit for the Velocity Invitational,” says O’Neill. “This track is committed to delivering a high-end, luxury experience to its guests, and they have recently invested in the facility to take it to the next level. It’s also an incredible road course for our competitors, and the proximity to wine country, Silicon Valley, and San Francisco make it accessible for visitors and locals alike.

By StoryStudio on September 23, 2023

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“What I hear is that they all love it because it’s the best family and driver event they have seen. We have beautiful food and wine, amazing people, and incredible cars that together have created the only super-luxury experience of its kind in North America.”

– Jeff O'Neill, Founder

Image: Jason Henry

"We're creating an environment that's car-centric and fun but also educational," says O'Neill. He notes how fans often have a tough time seeing much of the cars, the racers, or the action at many car events. The Velocity Invitational team makes access to everything their priority. “Picking the highlights of the last three years is hard because there are so many. Seeing the Ferrari GTO race against the Ferrari short-wheelbase car on track, there’s nowhere in America you’ll ever see cars of that value racing head-to-head. It was incredible. Having a chance to rub elbows with Formula 1 drivers and to see (and hear) a modern and classic Formula 1 car on track is right up there, too.” O'Neill says the weekend will be a fun experience for car enthusiasts and novices alike because of Velocity lnvitational’s unique setup. Guests are encouraged to cruise the paddock of rare cars and chat with legendary drivers and collectors. Then, they can enjoy a delicious meal in the Taylor Farms Sip & Savor Pavilion. All the while, racecars speed around the track, giving racing fans a breathtaking look at these innovative works of art in action. Many of the event's most popular experiences are returning for 2023, including modern hypercars, historic Formula 1 race cars, a Can-Am class, popular vintage racing groups, and the Mustangs vs. Minis enduro.

“We want the Velocity Invitational to be welcoming to all," says O'Neill of his passion project. This year, guests will also see displays of low-riders and rally cars, among other special surprises and activities. Food, wine, and spirit options abound, with participating vendors including Harken, Robert Hall, Rabble, Intercept, Ram’s Gate, Langtry Farms, Keller Estate, St. Avalo, Hall Winery, and Chase Cellars. At Velocity Invitational, there's something for everyone at every age, including a playground for the kids. That's the big difference. Not only do families have an inclusive place to learn about racing and classic cars, collectors finally have a safe forum to showcase their prized collection.

The event is shaping up to be its largest, most exciting weekend yet. A variety of ticket packages and single-day event passes are available, and kids under 15 are free! Some of the most popular packages include the Wine Experience (ages 21 and over), offering access to the Taylor Farms Sip & Savor Pavilion featuring live entertainment and tasting booths. The Suite - a climate-controlled environment with indoor and outdoor seating, elevated track views, catered snacks, and bar service. The Driver’s Experience, providing guests with luxury accommodations, food, drink, paddock entry, Driver’s Lounge access with amazing views from the Turn 11 lawn, Taylor Farms Sip & Savor Pavilion (ages 21 and over), Closing Celebration access, and VIP parking. And The Ram’s Gate Experience, where guests can savor the fine food and wines at the Ram’s Gate Winery, directly across from Sonoma Raceway. Tickets are on sale now at velocityinvitational.com.