Wayne Stanfield

Bryce Alderton

This year will be a little different for Costa Mesa resident Wayne

Stanfield.

The racing guru will not be driving a car along the course of The

Great Race, a vintage car rally, which has criss-crossed the country

for 21 years. This year will be the 21st installment, beginning June

21 in Livonia, Mich. and ending July 5 in Daytona, Fla.

The five-time champion of the event is now on the other side --

hustling as chief operating officer of the race -- helping to

organize pit stops, lunches and hotel stays along the route.

Stanfield is part of an 11-member company charged with staging the

race.

“To be there each day and not have to worry about losing is nice,”

Stanfield said. “It was difficult to step away from something I’ve

loved to do so much. The success doesn’t just happen. There was a lot

of preparation that I won’t miss.”

Preparation hasn’t taken a back seat for Stanfield in his new

role.

Speaking in mid February, before leaving to attend the Daytona

500, Stanfield elaborated on the work leading up to the race in June

that has 120 vehicles, all of which must be at least 45 years old.

Stanfield and his colleagues schedule hotel stays for the racers

and spectators along the route, position the 60 volunteers and

delineate pit stops and lunches each race day.

More than 40 cities host the race, with free public access that

includes festivals, parades, car shows and coloring contests for

children.

“Racing always comes back to the people,” said Stanfield, who

attended Costa Mesa High and Orange Coast College before transferring

to Northern Arizona University. “You don’t have to pay $50 to watch

it and there are no signs saying ‘Do not touch.’ People have these

wonderful cars they bring in for everyone to see.”

Some of the nostalgic vehicles set to roll on the pavement this

summer include a 1917 Hudson Indy car, a 1949 Volkswagen convertible,

a 1934 Ford Indy car, a 1953 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1925

Rickenbacker.

“We add another year for each race,” Stanfield said. “So next year

you can bring something from 1960.” This year racers could enter any

car 1959 and earlier. All spots are full, Stanfield said.

Competitors must pay for lodging, fuel and food. Approximate cost

for a driver and navigator is about $2,750.

A highlight for Stanfield was getting to drive a 1934 Indy car

last year.

No matter the make or model, racing has been in Stanfield’s blood

since childhood.

“I began racing quarter midgets when I was 7 (and continued) to

about 11, then I got into go-carts before they were big,” Stanfield

recalled of his racing heritage. “My dad was always into cars.”

Stanfield also raced motorcycles for 15 years before getting

involved with The Great Race. He has never suffered any broken bones

as a result of racing.

When he is not on the road, which is rare, the former co-owner of

Stanfield Plumbing in Costa Mesa (along with parents, Wayne and

Barbara) works out of his home in Tustin or from his office in Costa

Mesa. His parents still live in Costa Mesa and no longer operate the

plumbing business.

A member of the Great Race Legends Hall of Fame, he has been

married to wife Terri for 35 years and has two daughters and three

granddaughters.

One of Stanfield’s goals is to increase the “national prominence”

of the race.

“We’re working toward television coverage and different means to

bring (the race) to people,” Stanfield said. “We’ve crossed the U.S.

20 times the last 20 years, so you go through some of the same

cities.”

Stanfield is even seeking a reporter to ride along for the

two-week duration of this year’s race.

The course changes each year and has finished in Costa Mesa,

Huntington Beach and Disneyland.

“We try to finish with a venue that typifies Main Street U.S.A.,”

Stanfield said. “A lot of cities use the race as a prelude to July 4

celebrations.”

No beer or alcohol is served at the stops, adding to the

“family-style atmosphere.”

The Great Race has a firm hold on Stanfield’s heart and he remains

as passionate as when he first became involved 20 years ago.

“The Great Race is one of those things that came along and became

a passion,” Stanfield said. “It’s one of those events where you do it

once and you are hooked.”