Racers to relive history on car track

History will be relived this weekend. A series of races on Sunday at Miller Motorsports Park will spotlight classic cars introduced between the 1960s and 1990s.

The types of cars that will be competing include Formula 1 cars, Indy cars, various small-bore, open-wheel formula cars, IMSA GTP prototypes, IMSA GTO and Trans-Am coupes, Can-Am cars, NASCAR cars and production-based sports cars including examples from Porsche, Lotus, Cobra, Alfa Romeo, Corvette and Mustang, among others.

Cars will practice and qualify Friday and Saturday. Final races will begin early Sunday. Admission for all three days is free.

There will be other events tied to this race.

On Sunday, fans with cars built in 1970 or before, or particularly fun or unusual cars of any age, will be invited to park in the special Golden Oldies Car Corral in the paddock at the motor park. The Golden Oldies cars will be allowed to take parade laps on the track during the lunch hour — 11:55 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Car clubs throughout Utah will be invited to "Rally to the Track," where they will park in groups in the Midway area.

Special awards and fun activities will be developed to entertain car owners and spectators, including awards such as "Most Unusual Car," "Oldest Car," "Oldest Combined Age of Car and Driver" and "Best Car Club Group."

Those spectators who want to experience speed on the track will have the opportunity to ride with a professional driver in one of the park's track-prepared Ford Mustang GTs. The cost will be $20 per person. Sessions will be held 10:50 a.m. to noon and from 2:15 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:15 a.m. to noon and from 1:05 to 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Last year's race was, in fact, historic.

The Ford GT 40 No. 1 that crossed the finish line first was the first car to cross the finish at a historic Le Mans race back in 1966. Forty years ago it also crossed first, but it didn't win.

Prior to 1966, Ferrari had dominated Le Mans. Ford was committed to unseat the car company — and did.

Three Ford GT 40s were lined up to finish 1-2-3 back in 1966. Driving the lead car, No. 1, was Ken Miles, who was far ahead of the other Fords, which were far ahead of the closest Ferrari. Miles' crew radioed for him to slow down and wait for his teammates in order to get a now-famous photo of the three Fords, in a pack, coming to the finish together.

The race is based on the car traveling the greatest distance in 24 hours. Officials determined that the car in second started further back and therefore traveled the greatest distance, and was declared the winner.

Eleven years ago, Miller purchased the famous Le Mans car.

For more information on this weekend's races call 435-277-RACE or visit the Web site at www.millermotorsportspark.com.