The 2015 Rolex Monterey Historic Motorsports Reunion

The 2015 Rolex Monterey Historic Motorsports Reunion

By: Brandon O'Brien

Images: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images unless otherwise stated

Historic Motorsport racing is a unique way of seeing, in action, racing cars from the past.  Unlike regular automobile racing where the drivers are going "all out" for the prize,  historic race drivers/owners are doing this out of a love for the sport and the cars they are driving.  Don't get me wrong, most of the drivers are not just puttering around the track. Although it may seem like it when you are watching a 1912 Packard or 1916 National with their "mechanics" leaning out around curves.   They are driving the cars at somewhere around 85-90% of the cars' capabilities.

Pete Thelander in his 1934 MG NE leading Eric Ramos in the 1916 National AC and Jim Putnam in the 1912 Packard 30 prior to entering the Cork-Screw. Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Along with the older cars you may actually see old favorites like Eddie Lawson and John Morton taking their turn behind the wheel or Sir Jackie Stewart as an honored guest. The track allows 550 entrants to compete over the 3-day weekend.  This year, over 65,000 spectators were in attendance. Even with all those people in attendance it is still easy for the average photographer to get great action shots and see the cars and drivers up close in the paddock area.

1933 Maserati 4CM in the Paddock Area. Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

1971 Tyrrell 004 as seen in the Paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

The events are divided into various groups to make the racing more competitive.  Those groups are divided into sub-groups "A" and "B". For this years' event at the Rolex Monterey Historic Motorsports Reunion held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca the following groups were used:

1A - Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring Cars
1B - 1927-1951 Racing Cars
2A - 1955-1962 GT Cars
2B - 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars
3A - 1965-1970 Shelby Mustang
3B - 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc.
4A - 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA, GT-GTX - AAGT - GTU
4B - 1961-1966 GT Cars under 2500cc.
5A - 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc.
5B - 1963-1966 GT Cars over 2500cc.,
6A - FIA Manufacturers Championship
6B - 1966-1972 Trans-Am
7A - 1981-1991 FIA / IMSA - GTP, GTO
7B - 1968-1976 Formula 5000
8A - 1967-1984 Formula 1.

Each year the track honors a marque. This year homage was paid to the original Shelby Mustang celebrating it's 50th anniversary. Fifty-six cars were present during the picture taking event on Wednesday. From Turn 3 all the way to Turn 4 all you could see was row upon row of Wimbledon White and Blue Stripped Shelby's, with a few other colors thrown in. In the paddock the Ford Motor Company had a wonderful display of both historic 1965 Shelby's and also their new 2016 GT350 and GT350R's.

The Ford Motor Company Display showing both original and the new 2016 GT 350's.
Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Thirty-eight 1965 and 1966 G.T. 350's took to the track from Thursday to Saturday.  Not even in the iconic days of Carroll Shelby had that many vintage G.T. 350's been on the track at one time.  Maybe they were not fighting it out like they did in the late 1960's but it was still inspiring to say the least.

Terry Lawlor leads Forrest Straight and Tom Fry  into Turn 7 in their G.T. 350's
at the Monterey Historic Car Races.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

The awarding of trophies is not based on who actually wins an event but who is "most deserving".  They are presented on how well the cars are driven, preserved, and the drivers' "overall spirit" during the weekend. The penultimate award, the Spirit of Monterey, a specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch, went to Dick Deluna and his 1917 Hall-Scott The Four-A-7A. Dick stated, "The car is a hoot to drive and is a crowd pleaser."

Dick Luna, The Spirit of Monterey Award Winner exiting Turn 7 in his 1917 Hall-Scott The Four-A-7A.
Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Rolex Awards of Excellence were awarded in each of the 15 race categories to those drivers that were most deserving:

 Rolex Race 1A – Rick Rawlins: 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C
 Race 2A -  Clinton DeWitt: 1960 Porsche Super 90 Speedster
 Race 3A – Gilbert Hakim: 1966 Shelby GT350
 Race 4A – Didier Andre: 1977 Greenwood Corvette
 Race 5A – Fred Burke: 1962 Cooper Monaco
 Race 6A – Richard Griot: 1969 Porsche 908/02 Spyder
 Race 7A – Parker Johnstone: 1991 Acura Spice GTP Light
 Race 8A – James Hagan: 1983 Tyrrell
 Race 1B – John Kerr: 1932 Miller-Scofield
 Race 2B – Steve Schuler: 1950 Allard J-2 Le Mans
 Race 3B – Tom Trabue: 1958 Porsche 550 A
 Race 4B – Alan Benjamin: 1967 Porsche 911S
 Race 5B – Sandra McNeil: 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra
 Race 6B – Walt Brown: 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
 Race 7B – Alan Dunkley: 1968 Lola T140

Group 2A Rolex Award of Excellance winner Clinton Dewitt in his 1960 Porsche Super 90 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Group 3A Rolex Award of Excellence Winner Gilbert Hakim in his 1966 Shelby G.T. 350 in the Cork-Screw at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

The Group 4A Rolex Award of Excellence Winner Didier Andr in His 1977 Greenwood Corvette at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Group 6A Rolex Award of Excellance Winner Richard Griot in his 1969 Porsche 908/02 Spyder at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Group 7A Rolex Award of Excellence Winner Parker Johnstone in the 1991 Acura Spice GTP Light at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

The Group 8A Rolex Award of Excellence Winner James Hagan and His 1983 Tyrrell 011 At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit:  2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Group 3B Rolex Award of Excellence Winner Tom Trabue in his 1958 porsche 550 A Exiting Turn 11 At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

The Group 5B Rolex Award of Excellence Winner Sandra McNeil in her 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Braking Hard for Turn 11 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

The Rolex Awards gathering concluded with the announcement that BMW will be the honored mark next year as it will be celebrating it's 100th anniversary. If you are a BMW fan or just a plain "gear head" now is not too early to make your reservations for the 2016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion which will be held on August 18-21, 2016.

The Honored Marque at the 2016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.  Image Credit:
2015 Motor Driven Images / Brandon O'Brien

Can't wait until next year?  The Coronado Speed Festival will be held from September 18-20, 2015 at NAS Coronado Island in San Diego. Many of the cars seen at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be on hand at Coronado.


TAGS: Monterey Historic Car Races, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Motor Driven Images, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, BMW, Jackie Stewart, Formula 1, Formula 5000, Shelby G.T. 350, Ford GT350, Rolex, Monterey Classic Car Week