Mozart Becomes First Woman to Win at Jaguar Wine Country Classic

Mozart piloted her 1965 Alfa-Romeo to the checkered flag in the 10-lap main event for Group 4 (1955-1962 Production Sports Cars). Mozart had just returned to competitive racing in December after a five-year layoff to take care of her daughter.

“This was just my second time in the car in five years so I’m pretty happy,� said Mozart, 39. “Once I took the checkered flag I could hear all the people in the stands yelling and clapping. That was pretty flattering.�

Mozart qualified fourth for the feature race, but eventually passed leader Brian Howlett, who was driving a 1961 Morgan, on lap 8. Mozart held on over the final two laps for the victory.

“I passed the Morgan exiting the Carousel (Turn 6),� Mozart said. “I wasn’t sure I could make it but my car ran strong.�

Ukiah’s Linda Mountanos won an exhibition race during the 2004 Jaguar Wine Country Classic, but this marked the first time a female won an official main event.

“I don’t look at it as me being a woman,� Mozart said. “I just appreciate all the support I get out here. Everyone is great and I really enjoy coming out here and racing.�

Santa Clara’s Jim Hague took the victory in the premier class of the weekend, 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars. Hague (1969 Camaro) started on the pole and traded the top spot with Saratoga’s Ken Epsman (1971 Javelin) several times before taking the win.

Main events were contested in nine different racing groups on Sunday, with Ross’ Tom Byrnes taking the victory in Group 6 (1957-1963 Formula Cars). Byrnes is also the mayor of Ross. Other Northern California winners included Portola Valley’s Rodney Smith (Group 1, 1934 ERA); Sunnyvale’s John Buddenbaum (Group 2, 1949 Jaguar); Monterey’s Don Orosco (Group 3, 1958 Lotus); and Pacifica’s Fred Cziska (Group 8, 1971 Shadow).

Jaguar Wine Country Classic

SONOMA, Calif. – Final results Sunday from the Jaguar Wine Country Classic Vintage Car Races at Infineon Raceway. All qualifying races were contested on Infineon Raceway’s 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course. Car and hometown in parentheses:

GROUP 1 (10 laps)

Pre-War and Post-War Sports and Racing Cars to 1952

1. Rodney Smith (1934 ERA, Portola Valley);
2. Charlie Shalvoy (1926 Bugatti, Atherton);
3. Bruce Trenery (1932 Alfa-Romeo, Martinez);
4. Jan Voboril (1924 Ford, Topanga);
5. Brian Barrington (1949 Porsche, Aptos);
6. Scott Renner (1952 Jowett Jupiter, Venice);
7. Laurie Fraser (1935 MG, Langley, Canada);
8. John Kerridge (1926 Frazer Nash, Del Mar);
9. Marty Stein (1952 Siata, Jackson);
10. Gary Winiger (1954 Siata, Mountain View).

GROUP 2 (10 laps)

1948-1955 Sports Racing Cars

1. John Buddenbaum (1949 Jaguar, Sunnyvale);
2. Bernard Juchli (1955 Jaguar, Sierra Madre);
3. Terry Larson (1952 Jaguar, Mesa, Ariz.);
4. Jim Herlinger (1949 Baldwin, Portola Valley);
5. Noel Park (1955 Corvette, San Pedro);
6. Steve Earle (1953 Jaguar, Santa Barbara);
7. Dean Meiling (1954 Maserati, Incline Village, Nev.);
8. Bill Perrone (1952 OSCA, Huntington Beach);
9. Franklin Rudolph (1965 Miller-Crosley, Templeton);
10. Robert Manson (1952 Schaghticoke, Carmel).

GROUP 3 (10 laps)

1955-1960 Sports Racing Cars

1. Don Orosco (1958 Lotus, Monterey);
2. Patrick Orosco (1960 Lola, Monterey);
3. Pete Lovely (1959 Lotus, Tacoma, Wash.);
4. Tom Malloy (1958 Lister, Villa Park);
5. John Mozart (1958 Lister-Chevy, Palo Alto);
6. Richard Goldsmith (1958 Lotus, Gilroy);
7. Tom Hollfelder (1959 Devin, Covina);
8. Kurt Del Bene (1960 Lola, Medina, Wash.);
9. Thor Johnson (1957 Lotus, Kirkland, Wash.);
10. Bill Janowski (1957 Monsterati, Reno).

GROUP 4 (10 laps)

1955-1962 Production Sports Cars

1. Heather Mozart (1965 Alfa-Romeo, Palo Alto);
2. Brian Howlett (1961 Morgan, Hacienda Heights);
3. Al Leake, Jr. (1957 Alfa Romeo, Boulder Creek);
4. Peter Read (1961 Aston Martin, Berkeley);
5. Ron Cressey (1959 Corvette, Sherman Oaks);
6. Chuck Hart (1961 Lotus, Big Oak Valley);
7. Richard Emerson (1963 Elva Courier, San Francisco);
8. Robert Kann (1958 Porsche, Seal Beach);
9. John MacIntyre 1956 Porsche, Sparks, Nev.);
10. Paul Reinhart (1957 Corvette, Twain Harte).

GROUP 5 (10 laps)

1962-1967 Production Sports Cars

1. Terry Gough (1965 Corvette, Reno);
2. Don Lee (1964 Cobra, Portola Valley);
3. Art Hebert (1963 Jaguar, Larkspur);
4. Fred Galloway (1963 Cobra, San Diego);
5. Geoff Mattei (1966 Ginetta, Shorline, Wash.);
6. Don Roberts (1966 Shelby, Glendale, Ariz.);
7. Bruce Leven (1964 Corvette, Renton, Wash.);
8. Rich O’Brien (1966 Shelby, San Jose);
9. John Morton (1964 Sunbeam Tiger, El Segundo);
10. Tom Georgalos (1965 Shelby, Salinas).

GROUP 6 (10 laps)

1957-1963 Formula Cars

1. Tom Byrnes (1962 Cooper, Ross);
2. Tom Claridge (1962 Lotus, Fremont);
3. Chris Locke (1963 Lotus, San Anselmo);
4. Skip Streets (1960 Mallock, San Clemente);
5. Pete Ball (1963 Lola, Dallas);
6. Jimmy Domingos (1962 Cooper, Carmel);
7. Doug Mockett (1961 Cooper, Chistiansted, St. Croix);
8. Reg Howell (1963 Brabham, Corona del Mar);
9. David Zurlinden (1962 Brabham, Carmel Valley);
10. Tupper Robinson (1961 Lotus, Gardnerville, Nev.).

GROUP 7 (10 laps)

1973-1980 IMSA GT and FIA Cars

1. Jeff Lewis (1971 Chevron, Newport Beach);
2. Bruce Canepa (1979 Porsche, Santa Cruz);
3. Ken Epsman (1976 Dekon Monza, Saratoga);
4. Brian Groza (1975 Sauber, Salinas);
5. Jonathan Feiber (1971 Chevron, Atherton);
6. Brian Barrington (1966 Lola, Aptos);
7. William Cotter (1977 Porsche, Seattle);
8. Tom Malloy (1969 Lola, Villa Park);
9. John Mozart (1972 Chevron, Palo Alto);
10. Jules Moritz III (1967 Lola, Corvallis, Ore.)

GROUP 8 (10 laps)

1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars

1. Fred Cziska (1971 Shadow, Pacifica);
2. Wade Carter (1972 McLaren, Woodinville);
3. John Delane (1971 McLaren, Redondo Beach);
4. Mac Archer (1974 Sting, Carmel Valley);
5. James Freeman (1967 Matich, New York);
6. Jules Moritz Jr. (1971 McLaren, Gilroy);
7. Steve Cook (1968 McLaren, Santa Clara);
8. Tom Armstrong (1969 Lola, Issaquah, Wash.);
9. Bruce Miller (1969 Lola, Danville);
10. David Hankin (1967 McLaren, Redding).

GROUP 9 (10 laps)

1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars

GROUP 9 (10 laps)

1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars

1. Jim Hague (1969 Camaro, Santa Clara);
2. Steve MacDonald (1967 Camaro, Puyallup, Wash.);
3. Ken Epsman (1971 Javelin, Saratoga);
4. Dan Walters (1970 Camaro, San Bernadino);
5. Jim Click (1969 Boss Mustang, Tucson, Ariz.);
6. Terry Miller (1977 Camaro, Simi Valley);
7. Jamey Mazzotta (1970 Boss Mustang, Newport Coast);
8. Bruce Canepa (1970 Javelin, Santa Cruz);
9. Linda Mountanos (1970 Camaro, Ukiah);
10. Tom McIntyre (1968 Camaro, Burbank).