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The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is an annual event held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Its purpose is to provide an event in which historic racecars can compete. It takes place over the course of one weekend every mid-August. It was first established by Steve Earle in 1974 as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Earle organized the meeting for his friends to race their cars at Laguna Seca.[1] The event, known as the Monterey Historics until 2010, acts as a part of Monterey Car Week, which includes the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and other events.[2]

Approximately 550 cars participate in the event.[3]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 event was canceled.[4]

Sponsorship

2018 Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The first company to sponsor the event was the Chrysler Corporation.[5] Later, the event added a sponsorship from Rolex. The Chrysler sponsorship was replaced with one from Toyota, who sponsored the event from 2006 to 2008.[6]

Awards

Although celebrities and professional drivers do attend, the Reunion is not a professional event, and has no awards or prizes for finishing position. Each Saturday and Sunday afternoon race has a Rolex Award winner voted by committee. Two of the morning races each day honor a Bonham's Cup winner similarly chosen. There are special Awards for best paddock display, best Ford-powered car, outstanding craftsmanship, etc. The highest honor is the Rolex Spirit of Monterey Award, A Rolex watch and original Bill Patterson painting, presented to the entrant who best embodies the spirit of the event in his presentation and competition drive.

In magazines

The Reunion has been featured in Autoweek magazine. It was featured in an online article in early August 2008[7] and in the September 2008 issue. The 2003 event was featured in an issue of Popular Mechanics.[8] Popular Mechanics also documented the 2000 event.[9] The 2009 event was also featured.

The 2010 event was featured in an issue of Road & Track.[10] The 2004 event was also featured in an article on the R&T website.[11]

Telecasts

For many years television network Speed Channel provided coverage of the event. For a few years the coverage consisted of several different episodes featuring the major groups (IMSA, Trans Am, F1, and Can Am). In later years the event was abridged to one episode combining behind-the-scenes coverage with coverage of select races. The races covered were a mix of the major groups and some of the GT groups for better interest. If the featured a one-time race group, that race may be covered. The Reunion was for a while covered by Fox Sports 1, which replaced Speed in August 2013.

Internet

In recent years the Reunion has been livestreamed by Motor Trend magazine, with the coverage being shown on YouTube.[12]

Race groups

Various race groups from multiple eras and types of automobile racing are featured at the Monterey Reunion. The groups often contain vehicles that competed against one another during that point in history.[13]

Race Group Year Range Notes
Sports, racing, and touring cars 1900–1939 Formerly also included a race group featuring grand prix and Indianapolis 500 vehicles.
Grand touring cars 1947–1969 Formerly also featured general production sports cars not originally used in motorsport. Divided into under and over 2 or 2.5 liter race groups.
Sports racing cars 1947–1969 Prototype racecars and racing specials divided in the same format as the GT cars.
Trans Am Series 1966–1972 Over two liter class. Occasionally features a few under two liter vehicles.
Can Am Series 1966–1974 In recent years has been combined with other prototype groups.
FIA Manufacturers Championship 1962–1979 Endurance prototypes. Sometimes combined with other prototype groups. Usually divided into two separate race groups, one for the 1960s and one for the 1970s.
Formula One 1966–1984 The three liter era.
IMSA GT Championship 1971–1992 Divided into IMSA GT/GTX/AAGT/GTU, IMSA GTO, and IMSA GTP. Also features a few GT cars from before 1971 of similar technology. Sometimes combined with 1970s prototypes. The GTOs will often be combined with the GTPs due to their greater performance. Cars of the Trans Am Series from 1973 to 1992 (called "SCCA") are combined with the IMSA GTO cars due to similar technology.
IndyCar 1963-1978
Formula Junior 1958-63 A group featuring low displacement formula cars, sometimes including Formula Vee, Formula Ford, and Formula 2
Formula 5000 1968-1976 The original SCCA-sanctioned series based on F1 cars but using the five liter maximum instead of F1's three liter.
IMSA Prototypes 1981-2007 Includes a combination of IMSA GTPs, Daytona Prototypes, and American Le Mans Series prototypes

Combined class

Occasionally the schedule will feature combined-class races, such as the sports racing cars competing alongside the GT cars. While these two groups race simultaneously, they do not compete against each other, much like in professional racing.

Former groups

  • Previously the event featured a mixed "GT and production cars" race group in which professionally raced grand tourers competed against unmodified sports cars of the same era.[14] The unmodified cars have since been phased out.
  • In the past the prewar groups were divided into two types: production (sports, racing, and touring) and single-seater (Indy roadsters and grand prix).[14] The latter has since been merged with the racing cars. The sports and racing cars were also merged and ultimately combined with the touring cars.
  • United States Road Racing Championship- a former name for the sports racing cars

Special race groups

The Reunion also features special or expanded race groups in an attempt to generate greater interest from its spectators. These often one-time groups have included Grand National[15] and Winston Cup Series[16] stock cars, an under two liter Trans Am Series race group,[17] and a Formula Atlantic[18] group. Single-marque spec groups have also been featured. In 2011 an all Jaguar XKE race[19] was featured to commemorate that model's fiftieth anniversary. The same was done in 2012 for the Shelby Cobra, featuring small block AC Cobras racing against the big block Shelby 427 Cobras. In 2013 an all Porsche 911 "Weissach Cup" was featured to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the 911.[20]

Event Year Race Group Year Range Notes
Bugatti Grand Prix 1900–1939 Featured several times in lieu of having a proper Bugatti tribute, as the only Bugatti vehicles available are prewar cars.
2007 Ferrari 1956–1971 One race featuring those with drum brakes and another featuring those with disc brakes.
2008 Formula Junior 1958–1963 Several races commemorating Formula Jr.'s "golden jubilee".[21]
2009 several race groups featured a large amount of Porsches, the featured marque
2010 Grand National Stock Cars 1966–1972 With drum brakes.
2010 Trans Am Series 1966–1972 Under 2000cc group.[22]
2010 Formula One 1966–1984 Expanded group in commemoration of F1's sixtieth anniversary.[23]
2011 Jaguar E-Type 1961–1970 Commemorating the model's fiftieth anniversary.
2012 Winston Cup Series 1974–1990 Those with disc brakes. A continuation from the previous Grand National group.
2012 Cobra 1962–1969 289 AC Cobras racing alongside 427 Shelby Cobras in tribute to the Cobra's fiftieth anniversary.
2013 Porsche 911 1964–1974 In commemoration of the 911's fiftieth anniversary and coinciding with the Rennsport reunion. Called the "Weissach Cup".
2014 Formula Atlantic 1974–1980
2015 Formula 5000 1968–1976
2015 Shelby GT350 1965–1970 In commemoration of the model's fiftieth anniversary.
2016 Trans Am 1966-1972 Expanded group in commemoration of the series' 50th anniversary. This includes the addition of a Ford Falcon and a Pontiac Tempest.[24]
2016 Grand Touring Cars Under 2500cc 1961-1966 Expanded to include a notable amount of under two liter Trans Am cars in commemoration of the series' 50th anniversary. These include BMW 2002s, 1960s Porsche 911s, Lotus Cortinas, and Alfa Romeo Giulias.
2016 IMSA GT 1971-1991 Expanded to include later model IMSA racecars, including those used in the American Le Mans Series, in commemoration of BMW's centennial. This included the addition of a BMW V12 LMR to compete against the GTPs.
2017[25] Formula Junior 1958-1963 Divided into 1958-60 and 1961-63 race groups. The former features front-engined cars with drum brakes and the latter features cars with disc brakes. Expanded class commemorating the "diamond jubilee" of Formula Jr.[26]
2018[27] Formula 5000 1968-1976
2018 IMSA GT 1973-1981 Expanded to include a large amount of Datsuns, as Nissan was the featured marque.
2018 GT Cars under 2500cc 1961-1966 Expanded to include a large amount of Datsuns, especially the Datsun 510. Other under two liter Trans Am cars were also featured.
2019[28] Formula Ford 1967-1981 Resembles their usual Formula Jr. group
2019 Sports Racers 1969-1984 Resembles their usual FIA Manufacturers Championship groups
2019 Formula One 1966-1985 Featuring competitors from a "Masters Championship" of historic racing
2022 IMSA GTO & GTP 1981-1991 combined group
2023 IMSA 1981-2009 Mixture of IMSA GT Championship, American Le Mans Series, and Rolex Sports Car Series cars
2023 open wheel racecars 1927-1955 Includes cars previously used in prewar grand prix and Indy roadster groups

In 1975, the event introduced the tradition of honoring a "featured marque" each year.[29] This tribute is done through various ways. These include an increased number of entered vehicles from that marque, special displays of the marque's history and some of the brand's vehicles (past and/or present, with the former sometimes featuring entered vehicles), and sometimes spec races only featuring vehicles from the marque being tributed. Occasionally the event will have special one-time tributes. These have included Can Am team Chaparral Cars and racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio.

Year Marque Country Notes
1974 None
1975 Alfa Romeo Italy First featured marque; 40th anniversary. First time a marque's anniversary is tributed.
1976 Jaguar Britain
1977 Bugatti France
1978 Mercedes-Benz Germany
1979 Bentley Britain 60th anniversary.
1980 MG Britain
1981 Cunningham United States First special marque
1982 Porsche Germany
1983 Ford United States 80th anniversary
1984 Ferrari Italy 45th anniversary
1985 Alfa Romeo Italy First marque to be featured more than once. 50th anniversary.
1986 Mercedes-Benz Germany 60th anniversary
1987 Chevrolet United States 75th anniversary
1988 Maserati Italy 75th anniversary
1989 Aston Martin Britain 75th anniversary
1990 Allard Britain
1991 Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina First person to be featured
1992 Jaguar Britain 70th anniversary
1993 Miller United States
1994 Ferrari Italy 55th anniversary
1995 Lotus Britain
1996 BMW Germany 80th anniversary
1997 Shelby United States 35th anniversary
1998 Porsche Germany
1999 Auto Union Germany
2000 Maserati Italy
2001 Bentley Britain In light of Bentley's return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
2002 Corvette United States First model rather than a brand to be featured. 50th anniversary.
2003 Ford United States Centennial
2004 Ferrari Italy 65th anniversary
2005 Chaparral United States First race team to be featured
2006 Cooper Britain 60th anniversary
2007 Indianapolis 500 roadsters United States Promoting a then-recurring race group
2008 Alfa Romeo Italy
2009 Porsche Germany
2010 Dan Gurney United States
2011 Jaguar Britain
2012 Cobra[30] United States In light of the Cobra's 50th anniversary
2013 Corvette[31] United States In light of the Corvette's 60th anniversary and the new Corvette C7.
2014 Maserati[32] Italy Centennial
2015 Shelby GT350[33] United States 50th anniversary
2016 BMW[34] Germany Promoting BMW's centennial
2017 None The circuit's 60th anniversary was tributed instead
2018 Nissan Japan Included cars from Datsun. 85th anniversary
2019 IMSA United States First time an organization is tributed. 50th anniversary.
2020 none Event canceled
2021 Ford in Trans Am United States celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Pony Car Wars.
2022 24 Hours of Le Mans France Event centennial.[35] First time an event has been tributed.
2023 Corvette[36] United States 70th anniversary
2024 Salute to featured marques from years past Event 50th

Rules and format

Because of the high value of many of the cars used, the Reunion committee has established a severe punishment for avoidable contact. The driver convicted will be unable to participate in any further events, but can appeal the judgement one year after the incident.

In contrast to the Goodwood Revival, the races at the Monterey Reunion tend not to feature hard competition due to the high value of the cars.

In the prewar groups the drivers can be seen waving as a signal to other drivers to pass. This is to avoid any potentially-severe or costly damage to the vehicles.

Although the event features many groups of different types of racecars, it does not strictly place entrants in their most appropriate groups. For example, a 2.1 liter Morgan can be placed in an under two liter class despite being over the specified displacement. This is done due to the over two liter groups often featuring vehicles with at least five liters (a la SCCA). Certain postwar cars have been known to compete with the prewar cars due to technological similarities (e.g. the MG T-Series). Some drivers will enter themselves in the wrong class either as a late entry or if they were unable to qualify for their more appropriate class.[37] The Trans Am Series race group, despite being predominantly five-liter cars, occasionally features an under two liter car.

Formerly, some races were held on Saturday and some on Sunday, with qualifying being held on Friday. For 2022 this was changed so that all groups were on Saturday.

Modern race cars

In recent years there have been multiple instances in which contemporary racecars have been included in the race groups despite having been manufactured much later than even the most contemporary racecars regularly featured. In 2009, when featuring Porsche, an American Le Mans Series Porsche 911 was entered in the IMSA GT race group.[38] That group was chosen due to the technological similarities between the IMSA GT cars and the modern ALMS cars. In 2012, an ALMS Corvette competed with the IMSA GTO race group.[39] The event was featuring split IMSA groups that year: IMSA GT/GTX/AAGT/GTU and IMSA GTO. The latter was chosen due to the Corvette's more powerful engine. For 2016, the event featured contemporary BMW racecars such as those used in the ALMS in commemoration of that brand's centennial. In recent years a mixed race group of ALMS and GTP cars has been featured.

Professional drivers

Although the Reunion is an amateur event and features predominantly non-professional competitors, some current and former professionals do attend. They are especially found in the IMSA groups.

Notable entrants include:

Sister events

Prior to 2010, the event was affiliated with the Wine Country Classic at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. The event is now known as the Sonoma Speed Festival. The event also featured Formula 5000 in 2008.[43] Prior to 2010 the event was organized as a doubleheader, after which the event was redone to be more like the Monterey Event. The inaugural year of this new event had Saturday rained out, forcing all the race groups to be contested on Sunday. This became the format thereafter. The event also often features 1980s Trans Am Series cars racing alongside the IMSA GTO cars due to their technological similarities (IMSA GTO vehicles were often also used in Trans Am, similar to the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge street tuner vehicles being able to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge touring car classes). This event also features classic NASCAR vehicles from both the Grand National and Winston Cup Series eras due to the event held there.

In May, 2017, a smaller event at WeatherTech Raceway debuted known as the Spring Classic.[44]

Change of management

After the 2009 event, General Racing Ltd. (GRL), who created and owned the event, and the Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) announced that GRL would no longer sanction the event and that a new event would be organized by SCRAMP that would be more economically viable.[45] After the 2010 event, the new event would be called the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The original name was still owned and copyrighted by GRL, who would retain the sister event at Sonoma Raceway. SCRAMP recognizes the Historics and the Reunion as two separate events.

Despite the reorganization, change of management, and SCRAMP's observance of the "new event" as separate from the original Historics, the Reunion does not feature any notable differences from the original event aside from the new name. The Reunion uses exactly the same structure as the Historics and features the same regular race groups.

Commendations

In 2013, the Reunion was nominated for the Motor Sports Event category at the International Historic Motoring Awards.[46]

In 2017, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion won the FIA Founding Members' Heritage Cup for Motorsport Event of the Year, the first event at an American venue to receive the prestigious award.[47]

References

  1. ↑ "Monterey - The Auctions". ferrariownersclub.co.uk. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  2. ↑ Fogelson, Jason (September 9, 2013). "Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2013". Forbes.
  3. ↑ "Selected entries at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion span 81 years of racing history". Racer. March 19, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Monterey Historics canceled for 2020". 12 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Image of 2005 event". Classic Showcase. 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Toyota Announces Presenting Sponsorship For the Rolex Monterey Historic Auto Races". Tundrasolutions.com. 2006-07-22. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  7. ↑ "Peninsular pleasures: A weekend in Monterey". autoweek.com. August 5, 2008. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  8. ↑ Popular Mechanics issue from Google Books. Hearst Magazines. November 2002.
  9. ↑ "The 2000 Monterey Historics Automobile Races". Popular Mechanics. 2004-12-07. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  10. ↑ John Lamm (2010-08-05). "Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion - Road & Track". Roadandtrack.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  11. ↑ Jim Hall (2004-08-19). "2004 Monterey Historics - Road & Track". Roadandtrack.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  12. ↑ Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion 2018 – Day One Replay. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  13. ↑ Woodyard, Chris (August 18, 2013). "Vintage Corvettes rule historic races in Monterey". USA Today. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  14. 1 2 George, Robin (August 2010). "Robin's Nest" (PDF). Miatatudes. Sacramento Area Miata Owners Association: 1.
  15. ↑ "Historic Stock Cars to Rumble at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. May 12, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Historic Stock Cars To Rev Up Their Engines At Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. June 21, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Sports Sedan Revival Set". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. June 2, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  18. ↑ "2014 Event Schedule" (PDF). Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2011 – Results and Photos". Sports Car Digest. August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Official Rolex Race Results" (PDF). Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  21. ↑ "35th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, California". All Car Central. 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion -- Trans-Am Race (under 2000cc), August 2010". PBase. 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Monterey Motorsports Reunion to celebrate 60th anniversary of Formula 1". Auto Blog. Apr 9, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca | Monterey County, CA" (PDF).
  25. ↑ http://www.weatherraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/2017_rolex_reunion_draft_schedule_11.30.16.pdf
  26. ↑ "Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca | Monterey County, CA".
  27. ↑ "Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca | Monterey County, CA".
  28. ↑ "Race Groups Announced for Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of IMSA as Featured Marque | IMSA". Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  29. ↑ "FEATURED MARQUE HISTORY". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  30. ↑ "COBRA 50TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE FEATURED AT 2012 ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. August 21, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2013 – Report and Photos". Sports Car Digest. August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  33. ↑ "ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHELBY GT350 MUSTANG". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  34. ↑ "BMW named featured marque of 2016 Monterey vintage races". Roundel. BMW Car Club of America: 40. October 2015.
  35. ↑ "2022 Monterey Reunion to celebrate le Mans, adjust schedule". 17 August 2021.
  36. ↑ "Corvette featured marque of 2023 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion". 7 June 2023.
  37. ↑ "OFFICIAL ROLEX RACE RESULTS" (PDF). Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  38. ↑ "36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races". General Racing. 2009. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  39. ↑ "OFFICIAL ROLEX RACE RESULTS" (PDF). Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2016-08-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2014-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ↑ "David Hobbs in a 1977 BMW 320 Turbo at Monterey Historics High-Res Professional Motorsports Photography". 6 August 2023.
  43. ↑ "Historic Formula 5000 race cars at Infineon - V8 sounds". MajorDiscomfort. Mar 27, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Spring Classic".
  45. ↑ "SCRAMP and General Racing part company for Monterey Historics". racer.com. Racer. August 17, 2009. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014. On September 5, 2008, I [Steve Earle] was advised that the economic terms for the agreement between General Racing and SCRAMP were no longer commercially viable for SCRAMP.
  46. ↑ "ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION NAMED A FINALIST FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2013.
  47. ↑ "SCRAMP AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS FIA AWARD FOR ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION". Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 2017.
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