Velocity Invitational Recap and Interview with Founder Jeff O’Neill

As I drove through the sprawling hills and valleys up to Laguna Seca for the 2022 Velocity Invitational, I had been listening to a podcast on the great American driver Parnelli Jones. On the final day of the event I was at turn 11 watching the roaring American cars dive into the slow corner kicking dust up as they went by when I realized that one of the cars had been driven by Parnelli Jones when he raced in classic Trans-Am. This small story to me tells the wider story of Velocity Invitational.

The Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale, Ferrari 250 GT SWB, and Ferrari 250 GTO wait patiently in their paddock.

Nothing seems to me to replicate the feeling of viewing and hearing historic cars on iconic raceways. It is a privilege in the modern world that few are able to experience. As car prices rapidly rise and fewer cars see the light of day, events like Velocity Invitational are an absolute gift to the modern car enthusiast. And unlike some of these events, Velocity caters to every type of automotive enthusiast regardless of age or preference.

Lewis Hamilton’s 2011 Mclaren MP4-26 streaks down the starting straight.

This year it was quite common to see a Mclaren F1 followed 20 minutes later by a Ferrari 250 GTO followed by the ever brave Ragtime Racers with their cars from 1900-1930 each tearing the track up to their absolute limits. At no other place in the world can you watch a car that was meant solely for dirt racing take the eight story drop of the Laguna Seca corkscrew. As with these historic automotive events, one of the best parts for any sort of attendee is the encompassing atmosphere that the event produces. Being around groups of people who come far and wide for the sole purpose of keeping history alive produces a strong-knit yet freely open community that is approachable to all. Accompanied by the fact that all cars at Velocity are displayed where every visitor can walk around them and approach the owners and drivers freely, there is a quite comforting and inviting feeling that exists despite differences in car related interests. Even with the wine tasting field that founder Jeff O’Neill provides, Velocity does not inflate itself with a pretentious feeling that could come out of such an event. No driver will ignore you and no one will see you as less no matter your interest in cars.

The Gulf Mclaren F1 GTR gets final checks during a foggy morning

 I was able to witness kind owners allowing young children in their ultra rare cars just for that feeling that the child will remember forever. Eighty plus year old enthusiasts and their pre-war cars interact with younger enthusiasts and their modern Mclarens. Though moments like watching Mika Hakinen drive Prost’s Mclaren around the Historic Laguna Seca Raceway or seeing Mario Andretti becoming the oldest person to ever drive an F1 car are what draw many to the event, the interpersonal and open environment of Velocity Invitational work alongside these moments to create an environment and weekend that is unlike any other. 

The Ragtime Racers are a quintessential part of any California track day.

Fortunately, I was able to sit down with owner and founder Jeff O’Niell before this year’s event to understand more about Jeff himself and what makes Velocity such a unique experience. 

What is your favorite car of all time, and who is your favorite driver of all time?

“If I had to pick one, it would be the Shelby Daytona Coupe because that was the slot car that I had in 1968. It was the coolest car. My favorite driver would be Mark Donohue or Bruce Mclaren. They were so impressive because they pushed the limits of everything so hard as individuals. I have to throw Jim Hall in there too. Those three guys were revolutionary.”

The 1946 Delage D6 takes time to itself after its race.

Do you have an event or memory that got you into cars, and do you have an event or memory that made you want to start Velocity?

“No, but when I was a kid my dad loved cars too. He never had race cars, but we went to all the local and tiny tracks including Laguna Seca. Between Trans-Am and the Can-Am series in the late 60’s, those were the best events. The first time I ever went to Goodwood, I was on a business trip to London and was reading a newspaper talking about the second Goodwood Revival. I got on the train and went down and was blown away. I was walking through the parking lot and people were parking their DB4 Zagatos and left the keys in them. They were not even a part of the show. Then you get inside, and it was even more spectacular with all the cars that never see the light of day. I would say the inspiration for what we do comes from Goodwood because it made the experience amazing for the spectator. You did not have to be a total gear head to love that experience. We’ve gotten so far away from that in the United States. To educate spectators, we need to really bring organization to it along with entertainment. 

The 2 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossas enjoy a cool down lap together

What aspects of Velocity draw non car enthusiasts?

“First, everybody has a car story. I don’t care how old you are, you have some experience of going on a trip or seeing a car, but what I want to make sure of is that everybody is entertained. The whole thing is geared around cars, but that does not mean when you come that all you care about is what the spark plug gap on a 250 short wheel base is, so I think our job is to educate. There are so many people interested in what the latest technology is and we want to show that to everybody. Everybody appreciates the beauty of design, and all of those elements make up the experience.”

Velocity is open to all ages

Why are car enthusiasts so passionate?

“For a lot of people, cars mean freedom and expression. If you go back to the early 1900s, it was transformational for people. All of a sudden, that mobility gave people access to everywhere. Unknowingly the association and that passion is that freedom that mobility gave everybody. And for some reason, a lot of us have this passion about speed, acceleration, and handling. Similar to the wine business, it is about bragging rights and the joy of having the best of the best. Take the Minis for example. All the big car guys looked at the Minis thinking oh they are just Minis. Once everybody saw these Minis screaming around big fat Mustangs at a hairpin corner, people went crazy.”

V8’s take the corner at turn 11 on the line

For someone who has never been, why should they go to Velocity Invitational and what should they know?

“We have nine races a day so there is plenty to see. One thing I think is really the foundation is we are bringing cars to that event that people rarely see: Ferrari GTOs, Daytona Coupes, Mclaren F1s.  The way we curate the grids, it will give everybody the feel of what it was like to be at a race in 1960 because the cars are matched for that period. We spent hundreds of hours curating grids and making phone calls saying we need that car because we want to make this grid look and feel exactly as it did in period. And then we want to showcase new technology. We have Hennessey, Czinger, Mclaren; a lot of the latest and greatest technology. One of the things we are trying to show is that this is not just going to see a bunch of old cars race around. There is a progression of technology through the ages.

The sun sets across the paddock on the last day of Velocity Invitational

What is the race that you have to see at Velocity?

Well, I am going to race four cars, so fortunately I get to go wherever I want to go. I will be racing a Ferrari GTO, a Maserati Birdcage, a Parnelli Jones Boss Mustang, and a type 57 Bugatti, so I will be on the track quite a bit. Obviously I am in the wine business, so we have a great wine pavilion with sixteen wineries displaying wines and food. Of course, Mclaren is coming so Zak Brown, Miki Hakinen, Mario Andretti are coming, so we will have a lot of energy around the Mclaren pit. They are bringing the new Artura to run as well.

The Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale takes the long straight up to Turn 5

If you had to pick a car past or present to see at Velocity what car would you pick?

I would probably pick one of the Chaparral cars just because in their day they were so crazy with Jim Hall, the history, the Texas renegade. We have had a couple of the early Chaparrals, but we have not had anything out of Jim Hall’s time.

Mika Hakkinen prepares for his first laps in Alain Prost’s Mclaren MP4/2