Photos by Chris Stone

The 17th annual Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival started with a roar of engines and applause Saturday at NAS North Island on Coronado as car enthusiasts satisfied their need for speed.

Thousands of people watched from the stands, got a close-up look at military aircraft and vehicles, gawked at their dream cars at the car show and children played games in the the sunny, breezy weather. Food vendors are present.

The two-day event includes racing, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, and tours of the Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, destroyer USS Pinckney and amphibious transport dock USS Somerset.

On Sunday, practices runs start at 8 a.m., and racing begins at 1:10 p.m. Super Trucks events will be held throughout the day as well as military pit crew challenge and BMW test drives. Competitions conclude with Trans-AM races at 4:55 p.m.

The races, which use the air base’s runways, are ticketed events. The ship tours are part of a free open house at the base.

Because of the location, people who plan to attend will not be allowed to bring weapons, food or drinks, metal objects, defensive sprays or chemicals, flammable liquids, camera tripods or lenses greater than 100mm, or large bags or backpacks, among other things.

No liquid containers are allowed other than baby bottles, and no pets are permitted entrance except for service dogs. A complete list of what is banned from the base is online at https://www.fleetweeksandiego.org/events/fleet-week-coronado-speed-festival.

Attendees are required to carry identification.

The Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival is produced by the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation and hosted by the Naval Base Coronado and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program, which benefits military personnel and their families.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Dream cars caught a lot of attention
Speed and noise fueled excitement.
A car show in Coronado is reflected in a highly polished Ferrari. Photo by Chris Stone
Families gathered on Coronado to take in the excitement and noise.
Aircraft displays gave people a close-up look at military equipment.
An official signals with a flag.
Many children enjoyed checking out the Humvees on display
A woman adjusts a Go Pro camera before a race.
A young boy enjoys speeding a remote control car.
Fleet Week’s seventh annual car show attracted thousands. First and second prizes will be awarded in each class.
Children enjoyed paintball, slides, zip lines and inflated toys.
Fleet Week’s seventh annual car show attracted thousands. First and second prizes will be awarded in each class.
Ear protection was encouraged at the speed festival.
Drivers wait in a line for their practice runs.
Children enjoyed paintball, slides, zip lines and inflated toys.
Drivers wait in a line for their practice runs.
Drivers take practice runs as the heat rises off of the runway that’s turned into a speedway.
Drivers took practice runs in the morning before the nine races got underway in the afternoon on North Island Naval Air Station. Heat rises from the track.
Drivers took practice runs in the morning before the nine races got underway in the afternoon on North Island Naval Air Station.
Drivers took practice runs in the morning before the nine races got underway in the afternoon on North Island Naval Air Station.
Drivers took practice runs in the morning before the nine races got underway in the afternoon on North Island Naval Air Station.
Drivers took practice runs in the morning before the nine races got underway in the afternoon on North Island Naval Air Station.
Car enthusiasts watched from the grandstands.
Fleet Week’s seventh annual car show attracted thousands. First and second prizes will be awarded in each class.
Fleet Week’s seventh annual car show attracted thousands. First and second prizes will be awarded in each class.
Fleet Week’s seventh annual car show attracted thousands. First and second prizes will be awarded in each class.
Fleet Week’s seventh annual car show attracted thousands. First and second prizes will be awarded in each class.
Drivers took practice runs in the morning before the nine races got underway in the afternoon on North Island Naval Air Station.
Religious services are held Sunday morning.
Nine race groups from sports to formula to NASCAR autos sped across the Navy runway Saturday. (FIle photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)