Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 2014
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the 'museum in motion', has become a cornerstone of Monterey's annual Classic Car Week. This year was the 40th anniversary of the annual event, with 550 historically- and period-correct racing cars competed over four days within 15 different race groups. The featured celebration were the Maserati centennial celebration and the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. For its 40th year, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion once again proved to be one of the world's premier historic racing events and a centerpiece of the Monterey Classic Car Week.

'Many different shapes and sizes' could be considered the theme for most of the racing groups. Every group showed ingenuity in mechanical prowess and aesthetic design, and gave a glimpse into the evolution of motorsports. With so many different racing categories spread over several days, there are racing groups to satisfy many different racing addictions. Group 1A housed pre-1940 cars, with the earliest being a 1911 National 40. This was a very diverse group of cars, from foreign to domestic, and from a 4 door Lagonda 2 Litre Speed Touring car to a 3 wheeled Morgan Super Aero. The fastest car in this group was the 1929 Bentley 4.5-Liter LeMans driven by Bruce McCaw. Richard Jeffery came in second with his 1936 Triumph Special 9; his best lap time was a second faster than McCaws best lap, which made for some very spirited racing. Jeffery's fastest lap average was 54 mph, which was much different than the speeds seen in other groups, such as the CanAM cars, which had several cars averaging speeds of over 90 mph. The fastest car in this group was the ex-John Follmer Shadow DN4 driven by Craig Bennett. Sharing similar decibel levels were the TransAM cars which was overrun by Chevy Camaros and Ford Mustangs. Three AMC Javelins, a Ford Falcon, Dodge Challenger, a Pontiac Firebird, and two Mercury Cougars made up the remained of the 41 car field. Although the Mustangs and Camaro's were mighty in numbers, it was an AMC Javelin driven by Ken Epsman which finished in first place. He was followed by 3 Mustang Boss 302's taking the next three spots, followed by 4 Chevy Camaros taking 5th - 8th place.

On and Off the Track
The legends of motorsport is not solely reserved for the track, as many legendary drivers were often seen throughout the reunion, some racing while others were spectating. Sir Stirling Moss, one of the sport's greatest drivers and most recognizable names, made a stir as an honored guest. 'It's wonderful to come to events like the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and be surrounded by like-minded people,' said Moss, who retired from racing (vintage cars) when he was 83 and turns 85 in September. 'There are many people here who weren't even born when I stopped racing (professionally), yet they are so polite and respectful; it makes me feel very good.' Moss and recently retired Scottish driver Allan McNish (three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, most recently in 2013) entertained enthusiasts at a lunch break 'picnic', telling stories and taking questions from the audience.

Maserati Centennial Celebration
This year's Monterey Motorsports Reunion celebrated the 100th anniversary of Maserati with a special display in front of the Rolex Driver's Club. The display featured a new MC12 competition car with a special livery, along with many classic models from the company's past. Maserati's also took to the track, competing in several classes. Most of the Maseratis could be found in the 1950s and early 1960s sports car category, which included no fewer than three Tipo 61 Birdcages, two 300Ss and a 450S Maserati. The Maserati 300S owned by Jon Shirley was driven at this year's event by legendary racing driver Derek Bell, who won Le Mans five times, the World Sportscar Championship twice and the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona three times.

'Maserati is a definition of not only luxury road cars, but some of the most remarkable sports cars and Grand Prix cars ever constructed,' says Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 'Additionally, it is the 60th anniversary of the sleek Maserati 250F that first competed in the 1954 Formula One season with Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss dueling behind the wheels of their respective 250Fs.'

'Maserati is celebrating its anniversary at key venues around the world, and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in Monterey is unquestionably one of the highlights on the international calendar,' says Peter Grady, President and CEO of Maserati North America, Inc. 'We look forward to showcasing the modern Maserati in the context of a heritage of century of building inspired automobiles that break the norm and define 'The Absolute Opposite of Ordinary.''

In 1926, Maserati produced its first car - a race car named Tipo 26. It made its debut in the 1926 Targa Florio which it won, the first of many wins for the company, which later included victories at the Indianapolis 500, 9 wins in Formula One and the 1957 F1 World Championship.

2015 Edition
The 2015 Edition of the Rolex Monterey Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Shelby GT350 Mustang, one of the most recognizable road racing cars of the 1960s. 'The immediate success of the Shelby GT350 helped catapult the entire Mustang program onto the worldwide stage through its pure performance and reliability,' said Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 'We're thrilled to honor such an iconic American racing brand at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. We are also adding a special 1965-1972 Shelby GT350 Mustang race group to the schedule as a way to further highlight the marque.'

1910 National Speedway Raceabout  
1912 Franklin Model D  
1912 Packard Model 30  
1914 Mercedes-Benz 115HP  
1915 Ford Old Number 4 Racer  
1916 National Model AC  
1919 Ford Model T  
1922 Ford Model T  
1925 Bentley 3 Liter  
1926 Bentley 4.5 Liter  
1926 Ford Model T Racer  
1929 Lagonda 14/50 Two-Litre  
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS  
1930 Morgan Aero Super Sport  
1933 Singer Nine  
1934 MG N-Type NA  
1934 MG NE  
1934 Morgan Super Sport  
1935 Austin Seven Special  
1935 Frazer Nash TT Replica  
1935 Lagonda Rapier  
1937 Triumph Special 9  
1955 Cooper T39  
1955 Elva MKI  
1956 Cooper T39  
1956 Lotus Eleven  
1956 Maserati Lister A6GCS  
1957 Elva MKIIA  
1957 Lotus Eleven  
1957 Maserati 200 SI  
1958 Lotus Eleven Series II  
1958 Porsche 550 A  
1959 Ambro Peerless Special  
1959 Byers Volvo Special CR90  
1959 Cooper Monaco MKI Type 57  
1959 Lola MK1  
1959 Lotus 17  
1960 Centaur Piranha CRV-II  
1960 Lola MK1  
1960 Maserati Tipo 60 Birdcage  
1960 Porsche 718/RS60  
1961 Alsbury Special  
1961 GSM Delta  
1962 Elva MK VI  
1962 Huffaker Genie MK.5  
1925 Bugatti Type 35C  
1926 Bugatti Type 37A  
1926 Bugatti Type 39A  
1926 Delage 15 S8  
1927 Bugatti Type 37A  
1931 Bugatti Type 51  
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300  
1932 Studebaker Indy Racer  
1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3  
1934 Era R2A  
1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35  
1935 Bugatti Type 57  
1935 Era B Type  
1935 Miller Ford Indy Car  
1935 Railton Eight  
1936 Era B Type  
1937 Delahaye Type 145  
1938 Aston Martin 15/98  
1938 Talbot-Lago T-26 SS  
1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS  
1939 Maserati 4CL  
1946 Delage D6-3L  
1951 Morgan Plus Four  
1957 Maserati 250F  
1958 Maserati 250F  
1962 Lotus 23B  
1963 Elva MK7  
1963 Lotus 23B  
1964 Bobsy SR3  
1964 Elva MK VIIS  
1964 Porsche Platypus  
1965 Elva MK8  
1965 Ferrari 250 LM  
1965 Forsgrini Veloce  
1965 McLaren Elva M1A  
1965 Merlyn MK6A  
1966 Ginetta G12  
1966 Lotus 23C  
1967 Porsche 910  
1967 Porsche 911  
1967 Porsche 911S  
1967 Shelby Can-Am Cobra  
1969 BMW 2002  
1969 Chevron B16  
1969 Porsche 911  
1969 Porsche 911S  
1970 BMW 2002  
1970 Chevron B16  
1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Competizione  
1970 Ferrari 512 M  
1970 Porsche 908/3  
1970 Porsche 911 ST  
1971 Porsche 911  
1972 Ferrari 312 P Sparling Special  
1972 Porsche 911  
1953 Siata 208 S  
1954 Porsche 356  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1  
1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce  
1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce  
1956 Denzel 1500 International  
1956 MG MGA 1500  
1956 Porsche 356A  
1957 AC Ace Aceca  
1957 Chevrolet Corvette C1  
1957 MG MGA  
1957 Porsche 356 A  
1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta  
1958 Austin-Healey Sprite  
1958 Denzel 1300WD  
1958 Maserati 3500 GT  
1958 Turner 950  
1959 Austin-Healey 3000 MK I  
1959 Chevrolet Corvette C1  
1959 Elva Courier MKII  
1959 Morgan Plus Four  
1959 Porsche 356A  
1960 AC Ace  
1960 Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato  
1960 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite  
1960 Chevrolet Corvette C1  
1960 Lotus Elite  
1960 Porsche Abarth 356 Carrera GTL  
1960 Porsche 356B  
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ  
1961 Elva Courier  
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competition  
1961 Volvo P1800  
1962 Lotus Elite  
1962 Morgan Plus Four  
1962 Porsche 356B  
1962 Rene Bonnet DJet  
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso  
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO  
1963 Porsche 356  
1965 Toyota S800  
1964 Huffaker Genie MK10  
1964 Webster Special  
1965 Huffaker Genie MK10  
1965 Lola T70 MKI  
1965 Lola T70 MKII  
1966 Lola T70 MKII  
1967 McLaren M6A  
1968 McLaren M6B  
1969 Lola T163  
1970 McLaren M8C  
1971 McLaren M8E  
1971 McLaren M8F  
1972 McLaren M8F  
1974 Shadow DN4  
1974 Sting GW1 Can-Am  
1962 Jaguar E-Type XKE  
1962 Shelby Cobra  
1963 Chevrolet Corvette  
1963 Jaguar XKE Lightweight