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Photos: Vintage car racing brings sports back to California amid coronavirus restrictions

A lone spectator watches a vintage car drive by during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday. The Vintage Auto Racing Assn. held the races over the weekend as California slowly reopens after coronavirus shutdowns.
A lone spectator watches a vintage car drive by during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday. The Vintage Auto Racing Assn. held the races over the weekend as California slowly reopens after coronavirus shutdowns.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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The Vintage Auto Racing Association held the first publicly sanctioned auto race since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Buttonwillow. The event, British Extravaganza, was held at Buttonwillow Raceway and maintained a COVID-19 safety protocol in order to receive clearance from the racetrack and Kern County. The president of the club hopes the event will be a model for other races to reopen across the country.

A team member prepares a race car before a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
A team member prepares a race car before a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A race car makes its way around the track at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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Race car team members help keep shade on their drivers before a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
Race car team members help keep shade on their drivers before a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Vintage race cars make their way around the track at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Vintage race car drivers get the green flag during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
Vintage race car drivers get the green flag during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A small crowd watches during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
A small crowd watches during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Dennis Howland climbs into his race car before a practice run at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A race car loses control during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
A race car loses control during a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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James Kuhns, 78, who has been racing since 1968, prepares his car before a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
James Kuhns, 78, who has been racing since 1968, prepares his car before a race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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