Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION MARKS 60TH OF LAGUNA SECA AUGUST 17−20 by David M. Brown photos: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
More than 500 historic cars will help celebrate the 60th anniversary of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 17−20.
The largest event during Monterey Car Week, the annual weekend get-together also celebrates the 70th anniversary of Ferrari with a showing of prominent ones that have run at the circuit, led by the two-liter Ferrari Testa Rossa that Pete Lovely drove to the first win in 1957. Also being honored during the event is the 60th anniversary of Formula Junior.
The Monterey Pre-Reunion, a Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula( SCRAMP) Special Event, begins the week of celebration, August 12 and 13, offering hundreds of classic cars on the track in a less crowded setting.
On Saturday, August 19, Racing Through the Decades, displaying cars prominent to the history of the circuit, will feature a Picnic in the Paddock, 12:45−1:30 p. m., during which nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen will be part of a discussion. Past Formula One champ Jenson Button will also be making exhibition laps on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the 1974 McLaren that Emerson Fittipaldi drove to the F1 championship.
Laguna Seca Raceway opened in 1957 on Fort Ord property transferred to Monterey County by the 62 companies and individuals who formed SCRAMP.“ The track was to pick up where the Pebble Beach Road Races left off after that circuit was deemed unsafe,” says Brad Littlefield, public relations manager at the track.
Several changes have occurred, including lengthening the circuit from the original 1.9 miles to today’ s 2.238-mile form. Numerous world-class motorsports events and highlights have occurred here, including“ The Pass,” in 1996, when Alex Zanardi did so at“ the Corkscrew” on the final lap of the CART event to win the race and stun the leader, Bryan Herta.
Fourteen classes of racing are offered: Pre- 1940 Sports Racing and Touring Cars; 1927−1951 Racing Cars; 1955−1962 GT; 1963−1966 GT over 2500cc; 1973−1981 FIA, IMSA, GT, GTX, AAGT; 1963−1973 FIA Manufacturers Championship; 1981−1991 IMSA GTP; 1955−1961 Sports Racing over 2000cc; 1955−1961 Sports Racing under 2000cc; 1970−1984 Sports Racing under 2100cc; 1947−1955 Sports Racing and GT; 1961−1966 GT under 2500cc; 1973−1991 IMSA GTU, GTO / Trans-Am; 1958−1960 Formula Junior – front engine & drum brake cars; and 1961−1963 Formula Junior – disc brakes.
In Group 6A, television and radio star Adam Carolla will be driving the 1979 Porsche 935 that actor and driver Paul Newman drove in the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1979.
“ The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a museum springing to life. You see cars drenched in motorsports history that can still be driven on the race track in their original form,” Littlefield says, noting that, out of more than 1,000 applying, 550 cars are selected, based on period correctness, race provenance and authenticity.“ It is this country’ s version of the Goodwood Revival in England.”
Gates open daily at 7 a. m. For more information, see Mazdaraceway. com or call 831.242.8200.
42 Highline Autos 2017 Monterey Car Week Guide | www. Highline-Autos. com