CFRA History

1994

Ed Kornegay meets Charlie Puckett and Pete Beckham through Pantera club. CFRA is founded in September 1994 by Ed Kornegay, Pete Beckham, Charlie Puckett, and Erik Belter. The original intent was to create a club that would travel together to different open track events. Our first event was held the following month on October 23rd. The group participated in NASA's event at Thunderhill. Five CFRA drivers attended. There were also 7 members there to cheer the others on.

1995

Fortunately for CFRA, Thunderhill opened at about the same time the club was gaining momentum and was willing to host small club track events. On September 17, 1995 CFRA held its first track event with only 15 cars in attendance. The event was held on the 1.9 mile course, which was all that existed at the time. Scott Dernek facilitated the event that had 20 cars split into two run groups. Ed Kornegay set the fast lap at 1:37 in his 1992 Miata and Pete Beckham was 2nd with 1:40 in his Pantera.

1996

CFRA held its first drag race series. The series consists of two races. Ed Kornegay won first at both events in his Miata and Don Wild set quick time in a NSX with 13.84.

In September 1996 CFRA held its 2nd sponsored track event at Thunderhill. 28 cars attend and only 11 of the 28 were CFRA members. Pete Beckham and Charlie Puckett tied for fastest lap at 1:30 driving their Panteras (Unlimited class). In the street classes the results were:

1 | 1:33 | Mike Fertitta | 300ZX Twin Turbo
2 | 1:34 | Ed Kornegay   | Miata
2 | 1:34 | Erik Belter   | Pantera
4 | 1:38 | Rick Gaan     | 911 RSA
4 | 1:38 | Larry Para    | Pantera

1997

Soon autocross was added to the CFRA event schedule. The first autocross events were held at Sears Point in the upper paddock. This was the same course used by Skip Barber to teach their students. The cones for the event had to be borrowed from the driving school. Unfortunately, the course was only available during the week, and so in 2000 the CFRA autocross program was moved to the Petaluma Fairgrounds. CFRA invested in their own cones and started holding weekend autocross events.

CFRA takes over organization of Las Vegas Speed Trials event (DE and racing) for the Pantera Owners Club of Northern California.

1998

In 1998 CFRA ran the newly expanded Thunderhill 3 mile course for the first time.

1999

Laguna Seca was added to the schedule and was the 8th track event that CFRA sponsored.

2000

2000 was the year that CFRA hosted its 10th track event. It also saw the inclusion of Sears Point Raceway on our schedule as our 13th CFRA track event ever. More significantly, CFRA started sanctioning its own race series. The first season consisted of 3 races; two at Thunderhill and one at Sears Point. Frank Howard Allen Reality was added as race sponsor. The race classes were just for fun and had cars broken into Street, Modified and Unlimited. The street class had sub-classes based on Kelly Blue Book Value.

2001

Sears Point Raceway recognizes CFRA race license, permitting CFRA race license holders to attend open test days at Sears Point. CFRA becomes a registered non-profit group.

CFRA hosts its final season of autocross competition, with 5 events throughout the year at the Petaluma Fairgrounds, and 44 drivers competing.

2006

CFRA changes competition classing to be based on power-to-weight ratio and tire selection. No more street, modified or unlimited classes. Racing is still non-contact and considered friends racing against friends.

2012

CFRA establishes a forum based communications system.

2013-2018

CFRA continues a full schedule of track days each year, with DE and racing.

2019

CFRA holds its 25th Anniversary celebration at the Blackhawk Museum.

The CFRA race structure is modified to run two races per day instead of one.

2020

The pandemic cuts into the availability of track days, but CFRA still manages to run 5 of the originally scheduled events.

2021

Still going strong!