The sole Ferrari entered was the 1976 312 T2 of Chris MacAllister, a bit alone in this mainly Ford-Cosworth-powered field.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
If most of the events taking place during the Monterey Car Week consist of Concours d’Elegance or Car Shows on renowned fairways or in the streets of localities of the Monterey Peninsula, one of the oldest and major landmarks of the week remains the historic races at Laguna Seca Raceway.
With more than 550 cars throughout 15 races, there is something for everyone. The event which lasts four days, practice sessions included, is even preceded by what is called the Pre-Reunion the weekend before the main event. The Pre-Reunion counts less entrants and then combine different classes in the same races.
In order to not miss anything of the Car Week, I had to combine The Quail Motorsport Gathering on Friday morning and Laguna Seca on Friday afternoon and, on Saturday, Concorso Italiano in the morning with the races in the afternoon. Of course, with such a program, there is no time to rest but it is really worth it as all the cars entered in the Rolex Motorsports Reunion are of high quality and the show on track is pure racing.
But let’s see a selection of what was on hand this year
The spectacular Corkscrew corner is what makes Laguna Seca Raceway known worldwide, just as Eau Rouge for Spa-Francorchamps or the Karussell for the Nürburgring. This year, this big logo has been installed on the hill near the famous turn 8 where the cars come down from a height of nearly six stories.
Let’s start with Race 1A for Pre-1940 sports racing and touring cars. The particularity here is that some cars are equipped with a driver and a mechanic, like in the old days. Here a 1911 8-liter National.
We must admire the passenger’s courage, above all when it comes to having to go down the corkscrew with a Packard 30 of 1912.
This is a Ford Granite State Special of 1934.
The 1922 Delage La Torpille of George Wingard from Oregon, a collector specializing in early Grand Prix cars.
Race 2A, for GT cars from 1955 to 1962, saw the domination of Joe Colasacco, the appointed driver of the cars of Lawrence Auriana’s collection, here with the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ.
A regular entrant at the Monterey Motorsport Reunion, Ned Spieker and his Ferrari 250 GT SWB (2701 GT).
The Ferrari 250 GTO (4757 GT) of Tom Price is one of the few GTOs still racing today, due to the value of these cars.
This year, the special marque was the Shelby Mustang that had its own race.
Group 4A was for FIA & IMSA GTs from 1973 to 1981 and includes the 1977 Greenwood Corvette of Frenchman Didier André.
Group 4A also included some Porsche 935 K3s…
... as well as some BMW CSLs. BMW will be the featured make at the 2016 Motorsport Reunion.
Race 4B for GT cars under 2500cc was the playground of many Alfa Romeo GTAs.
And more...
But the final word for the Group was for the 1966 Ginetta G12 driven by Brazilian Fred Della Noce.
The ‘Sports Racing cars over 2500 cc’ grid included some interesting cars like this Cooper Monaco once fitted with a Ferrari Testa Rossa engine (0718 TR). Although the latter has been reinstalled in 0718 TR, the Cooper is still powered by a Ferrari engine.
Five times Le Mans winner Derek Bell was driving this Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’.
But Bell was edged by the little Corvair-powered Piranha kit car of Frank Zucchi for 8th place.
Race 5B for GT cars over 2500cc was a Shelby Cobra affair with six of them in the top ten.
Gulf liveried cars were common in the FIA Manufacturers Championship in the 70s, represented by Group 6A. Here Marino Franchitti, in the 1975 Gulf Mirage GR8, leads Chris MacAllister in the 1973 Gulf Mirage M6.
Formula 5000 cars also had their own race.
This 1974 Lola T332 is the car driven by Mario Andretti to win the last professional F5000 race forty years ago. And it won again here in Monterey in the hands of Zak Brown and Richard Dean.
With more than 30 cars entered, Race 8A for F1 GP cars from 1967 to 1984 was of high quality with many entrants coming from Europe. Here a pair of Tyrrells.
Thanks for the picks Hug of the Alfa Roméo GTA, one of my favorite sport cars…and the Tyrrells another story that I like !!!
Regarding, the two pics of the GTA’s those are both very significant Autodelta
Ex-Works factory team cars. the first pics of #102 is AR 613.883. This specific GTA 1600 Corsa won 1st in Class 2nd Overall at the 1967 SPA 24 Hr. Francorchamps, 1st in Class Trento Bondone (1968), 1st in class at Targa Florio (1971), a 2nd Cl at Monza, other 1st in Class at other FIA ETCC races all over Europe. This was one of if not Alfa Romeo’s most successful works GTA’s.
The other 1600 GTA is 613.006 a works GTA prepared by Autodelta for entry in the 1966 Sebring 12 Hr. It finished 2nd in Class. Amazing to see these two cars back out together!