Story and photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Nissan was the featured make at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and this is the first time that a Japanese automaker has been so honored.
More than 550 race cars were entered in the 15 groups, ranging from a 1911 National in Group 1A to a 1995 Nissan 240 SX in Group 7B.
The Formula 5000 group was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the series. This drew participants from around the world including 14 from New Zealand.
Also, two-time F1 world champion Mikka Häkkinen performed exhibition laps for the second year, this time behind the wheel of a 1995 McLaren GTR.
The announcement was also made that the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) will be the featured marque next year, on August 15-18, 2019, for their 50th anniversary.
Here is a small selection of the 550…
Three iconic cars of the Datsun/Nissan racing history were celebrated on the official poster.
John Morton, now 76, was the SCCA National Champion in 1970 and 1971 driving a Datsun 240Z. He was here reunited with a similar car in Grid 5A for 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA, GT cars. He finished 8th in a grid of 39 cars.
When he won his championships, John Morton was driving for this man, Peter Brock, who was running the BRE team between 1969 and 1972. Peter Brock is mainly known for having drawn the Shelby Cobra Daytona coupé in 1965.
Still on the subject of Japanese manufacturers, Mazda, although no longer being the main sponsor at Raceway Laguna Seca, entered this 767B model of 1989, followed by the 1991 RX-7 IMSA GTO.
In 1982, the Mirage M12 was the result of an initiative to revive the glorious days of the Gulf Mirage, taking opportunity of the new Group C regulations. Entered at Le Mans the same year, the car was already on the starting grid when it was excluded and pushed back to the pits. It never came back to Le Mans.
The value reached by old racing cars, mainly the Ferraris, has encouraged the construction of replicas that are less risky to damage during racing activities. This is the case of this faithful recreation of the Ferrari 312PB.
There was a strong field of F1 cars, ranging from 1967 to 1984.
Despite this ‘moment’, the 1979 Ligier JS11-Cosworth dominated the F1 race.
No, although the helmet is similar, this is not Niki Lauda driving this 1976 Ferrari 312 T2, but Indianapolis collector and faithful Motorsports Reunion entrant Chris MacAllister.
MacAllister was also driving this Jaguar D-Type in Group 3A for 1955-1961 Sports Racing cars over 2000cc, finishing 10th.
Winner overall in Group 3A was the 1959 Sadler Mk 4 of Greg Meyer.
Despite much less power, the 1960 Piranha of Frank Zucchi managed to finish in 4th position.
1957 Maserati 450 S of David Swig, San Francisco.
Listed as a Ferrari TR61 Spyder, this car is based on a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 chassis.
Second in Group 3A was the 1957 Proctor Special, here followed by the 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’, third.
In Group 2A, for 1947-1955 Sports Racing cars and GT cars, a rare Mistral fiberglass bodied special. It seems that one Mistral has been powered by Jaguar engine. This one was equipped with a Chevrolet engine.
Greg Whitten, whose Ferrari 250 GTO sold for a record sum at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey, entered this 1953 Lancia D24 at the Pre-Reunion.
Group 2A was won by the 1953 Tatum GMC Spl.
The 1964 Abarth 2 Mila Corsa, powered by a 2-liter Simca engine, was entered by the Revs Institute in Group 3B for GT cars under 2500cc.
In this 1914 Mercer 45, the co-driver indicates to the driver that they will be overtaken by another car…important information as there are no mirrors on these pre WWI racing cars.
Not much information about this Bugatti, listed as a 1938 Bugatti Monoposto …
On the contrary, this 1950 Talbot T26-C is well known, as part of the Mullin collection, driven by Dutchman driver Hans Hugenholtz.
Another regular entrant at the Monterey historics is the 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza of Peter Giddings.
In Group 1A for Pre-1940 racing cars, the overall victory went to the 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B of Erickson Shirley.
The 1964 Abarth 2 Mila Corsa, powered by a 2-liter Simca engine, was entered by the Revs Institute – you certainly should know better! The only Simca parts are the chassis and the gearbox. It is very well known that the motor was a twin cam of Abarth design equipped with twin 58 DCOEs putting out some 270 bhp.
Adrian,
You must have read my mind…or my book, “The Abarth Buyer’s Guide”, in which the author (me) clearly states that the engines were Abarth, not Simca. Thanks for catching this and we stand corrected!
Pete