SALINAS – There is no shortage of cars at the numerous Car Week shows. However, one event is the only one where these wonderful machines are in motion and compete against each other for glory, the Rolex Motorsports Reunion, which takes place annually at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The four day event ended on Sunday.
This year over 550 cars competed in a total of 14 categories, from 1920-51 racing cars, 1963-78 IndyCars, 1947-55 Sports Racing and GT to the more modern 1983-2016 Masters Endurance Legends. Entrants are accepted to showcase and compete based on the racing heritage, authenticity, and historical correctness of a car.
This year’s marquee was Ford, celebrating the 55th anniversary of its debut and dominance in the newly formed Trans Am class in 1966.
Developed and directed by Carroll Shelby, the Ford Mustang GT350 and GT500 were created to compete in the new Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) series, which divided the car into two categories depending on its displacement: over two liters and under two liters Displacement.
The Fords had large V8 engines and were very similar in appearance and performance to the street versions sold, which gave the expression “win on Sunday, sell on Monday”. Shelby’s Mustangs won the first two over-two-liter manufacturers’ championships and set the stage for the pony car wars of the 1970s between the three major American auto companies Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.
Ford had a large display setup in the paddock next to the pits. Here they showed famous racing cars driven by legends of the past. The flawless No. 2 Shelby American Boss 302 from 1969. Built by Kar Kraft of Detroit and Shelby as one of two development vehicles for the 1969 Trans-Am season, this car was driven by celebrated driver and founder of the celebratory champagne shower Dan Gurney alongside Peter Revson and Horst Ketch.
The French manufacturer of high-performance engine oils and industrial lubricants Motul presented a number of vintage Indy cars right behind the Ford stand. Spectators were mesmerized by the visceral exhaust noises as engineers fired up the engines, performed diagnostics and maintenance in the open demonstration.
In contrast to the classic cars, there was a Red Bull Racing 2021 RB16B F1 development chassis without an engine in front of the pit. Paired with a Honda 1.6-liter turbo hybrid drive, it currently leads the F1 championship with Dutchman Max Verstappen at the helm and delivers the first competitive championship race in several years against champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes F1- Automobile.
Before the start of the official races, Pagani invited the owners to take their Italian super sports cars with Mercedes AMG engines to the track for parade laps. Valued at over $ 1 million each, most have never seen one in person, let alone tear up a famous track.
A handful of original Pebble Beach Road Race winners were on hand to celebrate the historic races that ran along a small section of the 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach. The competitions ran from 1950 to 1956, with the winner taking home the famous Del Monte Trophy. However, the event was deemed too dangerous after driver Ernie McAfee lost control of his Ferrari, hit a tree and tragically died. In 1957, a new line, later known as Laguna Seca, was built on old Fort Ord military base property for $ 1.5 million.
Four owners took to the track in their Del Monte Trophy winners with a certain local vintage Ferrari from the collection of Patrick and Carolyn Ottis of Berkeley and gave everyone present a speed show. This 750 Monza Spyder Scaglietti was built in 1955 and saw its first use at the Sebring 12 Hours, in which Phil Hill and Shelby were crowned overall winners.
Hill then went on to drive the Ferrari to winning ways at the Pebble Beach Road Races in April 1955. Shelby took the lead in 1956 and again won the Pebble Beach competition, repeating the overall win from last year.
For the participants in the races this weekend, training and qualification took place on Thursday and Friday, with the fastest drivers in each class taking the top positions for the races on Saturday and Sunday. Former professional drivers and private owners competed against each other in 20-minute class races. No official winners will be selected as many of the car’s legacies are invaluable and drivers take great care to avoid any incidents on the track. Any person who carelessly causes an avoidable crash will be banned from future events until reviewed by the committee.
After the parade laps, the vintage F1s of 1966-85 began the races, screeching down the revered corkscrew, fans cheering the participants as they drove in and out of the corners. Some of the cars from the early 1980s were difficult to handle, boasting over 1,000 turbo horsepower and not the most advanced aerodynamics or tire compound. Compared to modern F1s, the classic cars were not as fast, but much more dangerous, and the safety of the designers was very low.
Sports Racing & GT followed in 1947-1955, whose small engines, narrow tires and low costs contrasted greatly with the formula cars before them. The drivers darted across the course, which looked massive compared to their petite stature. British manufacturers such as Jaguar, Lotus, Austin-Healey and MGA were strongly represented in the group. Speed and agility were found by removing everything that wasn’t strictly necessary, including most of the interiors, so cars can turn corners at high speeds.
Other competitive classes this weekend are: pre-1920 exhibition races; 1920-51 racing car; 1955-64 GT; 1963-66 GT over 2500 cc; 1973-81 FIA, IMSA, GT, GTX, GTU, AAGT; FIA Manufacturers Championship; 1981-91 IMSA GTO, GTP, Trans-Am; 1955-61 sports races under / over 2000 cc; 1961-66 GT under 2500cc; 1966-72 Trans-Am; 1983-2016 Masters Endurance Legends; and 1963-78 IndyCar.
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