At the Coronado Speed Festival: Arciero races on

As American vintage racing grows in fan appeal many newcomers are surprised by the star power in the paddock, especially at more prominent meetings such as the Monterey Historics or at venues like Lime Rock, Road America or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Brickyard Invitational. The Coronado Speed Festival, well established in its 18th year, is no exception. In that time many greats have taken part either in competition or simply personal appearances.

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Among the legends at Coronado in years gone by are those sadly no longer with us such as two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward and 1961 Formula 1 champion Phil Hill. Others include 1972 Can-Am champion and former American F1 driver George Follmer as well as sports car ace John Morton and the incomparable Parnelli Jones.

Among the team owners Jones drove for in his amazingly versatile career was Frank Arciero Sr., an Italian immigrant who, in partnership with his brother Phil, is another inspiring story of the American dream. After building a fortune in the construction business just after World War II, Frank began to pursue his passion for auto racing. While Frank passed away in 2012 his racing legacy lives on through his Sons Al and Frank Jr. as well as grandson Ryan who is an off-road Trophy Truck Series racer.

The Arciero family name will be well represented at the Coronado Speed Festival – in its first year with the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). Al and Frank Jr. have entered three cars. Frank is driving a blue 1958 Lotus 11-S. The 11-S was perhaps the most successful racing Lotus of its era with class wins at Sebring and Le Mans. Al has a 1958 "Knobbly" Lister with a rare Chevy Scarab 358 cubic inch engine. Mike Follmer, nephew to George is at the wheel of the Ralt RT5 machine with which Michael Andretti won the 1982 Formula Super Vee Championship.

Frank Sr. exposed his sons to priceless experiences in racing and gave them the opportunity to meet and work with an amazing list of International Auto Racing Hall of Fame drivers such as Jim Clark, Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney, Bobby and Al Unser, Phil Hill and Billy Krause. One such driver was Roger Penske.

"People don't realize how talented Roger Penske was as a driver," Al Arciero (with the Lister, LEFT) says. "He scored several wins in sports car racing especially with the Zerex Special he used to win the 1962 United States Road Racing Championship. From 1960 through 1963 it was him and Dan Gurney in American sports car racing."

Al treasures his recollections of those early days. Reflecting on them even he can't believe the incredible talent he spent time with as a boy as young as 12 years old. The drivers were giants to him then, but also, he says, more because they were adults than gods of the sport. He was happy to sweep garage floors as well as run for parts and tools or even groceries. Like so many bitten by the racing bug he just wanted to be part of the adventure.

Among their greatest moments was Dan Gurney's victory in the first 24 Hours of Daytona driving a red Frank Arciero Lotus 19. Not only does the car still exist today but the Arcieros have kept it in the family. Of all their cars it is Al's favorite.

"It's fantastic to think of who and what I grew up with," Al says. "Those drivers were like part of our extended family and even though I enjoyed it at the time I did not fully appreciate what I was a part of until later. Some of it was the atmosphere. Really, everyone was more relaxed, more of an open community. Vintage racing is more like that today."

As Al and Frank Jr. grew into adulthood they naturally went racing themselves. They gravitated to off-road racing because, Al says, "We could afford that. Dad wasn't just giving us things. We earned our way."

The brothers were good, too. Partnering with Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, Frank Jr. even picked off a Class 2 win at the 1985 Baja 500. Both he and Al have raced trucks in the SCORE series and Frank Jr.'s son Ryan is still an active driver in Trophy Trucks. Ryan has three Baja 1000 titles.

Al took an even higher profile in race team management. The Arciero family partnered with good friend Cal Wells to form the Arciero-Wells CART team (RIGHT, LAT photo) in 1995 with Al as manager. The team raced in that year's Indianapolis 500 with Hiro Matsushita at the wheel. The Arcieros fielded cars for another generation of talented drivers including Robby Gordon, Christiano da Matta, Scott Pruett, Max Papis, Jeff Krosnoff and Oriol Servia.

Today Al and Frank Jr. enjoy their cars and confine their vintage racing to the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca and the Coronado Speed Festival where they have entered some of their vintage racecars for the last five years. They have a special fondness for Coronado because it is close to their Southern California homes and those of families and friends.

"Vintage racing at Coronado Island is great for us because we can share the experience with our friends and family," Al says. "They can bring their kids and drive back and forth between their homes or just make it a day's outing. It's a great family atmosphere. It really does remind me of being a kid and a part of my father's team."

Click on the thumbnails below for more images.

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