Warmup in front of Bruce Canepa’s compound. (From L-R): 962-102, an IMSA AAR Toyota HF89, 962-F01 Wynn’s car, and Bruce’s Schuppan chassisIt may have taken place just over a week ago, but the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2019 was another top-drawer event that should be celebrated for the manner in which it has lifted the profile of yesterday’s great race cars. The growth in historic race reunions, revivals, festivals and the like over the last few years has offered the race-going public the opportunity to enjoy those cars that entertained many thousands of spectators around the world in decades gone by.
Typical Laguna Seca weather, early morning fogThis year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion was held over the weekend 15-18 August, where IMSA celebrated its 50th anniversary of premier sports car racing. Such an important milestone cannot go unnoticed, as our review of the book IMSA 1969-1989 written by Mitch Bishop and Mark Raffauf, will confirm. Not only were the cars to be celebrated, but on hand was IMSA driving legend Hurley Haywood, whose career successes include three 24 Hours of Le Mans titles and five Rolex 24 at Daytona wins, amongst many, many other top victories – you can read a review of Hurley’s autobiography here, Hurley – From the Beginning.
IMSA 50th celebrationSpecial guests included nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Tom Kristensen; Formula 1 Champion Mika Häkkinen; Former Formula 1 race winner and 2015 WEC World Champion Mark Webber; Scott Pruett, five-time overall winner at the Rolex 24 at Daytona; Parker Johnstone; Tommy Kendall; and, Billy Johnson amongst others. So, there was almost as much to see and hear in the paddock as there was on track.
Part of the weekend included some seminars put on by IMSA. Here is one of the best ones – Emcee was Mark Raffauf, and the discussion was on IMSA prototypesOur man at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year was regular contributor, Martin Raffauf, who has provided all of the accompanying images with the detailed captions. While we would have loved to bring you a shot of each of the 550 cars, this would not have been practical. So, we have selected a cross-section of images to give our readers a ‘flavour’ of the event…we hope you enjoy your walk through the gallery below:
Two pristine yellow cars in the paddock. A Ferrari Dino and a 1972 Porsche 911 T 2.2, both worth a lot more than when they were new!
Porsche RSR, the winning car from the Mexico City 1000 km IMSA race in 1974, driven then by Hector Rebaque, Fred van Beuren and Guillermo Rojas
Zak Brown brought several cars including this Group C Lancia which was on pole at Le Mans in 1984, driven then by Bob Wollek
Lee Giannone passes under the Michelin bridge in 962-102. This was Bob Akin’s first IMSA 962
At the Concours, judges Jerry Woods (wearing hat and with back to camera) and Mark Raffauf of IMSA (wearing hat and facing camera), get down to the business of assessing the 356 of Australian John Goodman
An original Kremer run 934 chassis #930 670 0158, the Concours winner in the race car class, went from the Concours to the track and still raced
This original 1965 Porsche 911 serial #301172 was placed second at the Concours. In period, this car was driven to class victory at Sebring in 1969 by Peter Gregg and Wilbur Pickett
At the young age of 80, Brian Redman was on hand to drive the BMW CSL that he won Sebring with in 1975 and Daytona in 1976. He said that this was one of his favourite cars to drive
Elliott Forbes Robinson drove the Riley & Scott MK III that he won Daytona with in 1999
Porsche presented their new 2019 GTLM RSR
Elliott Forbes Robinson prepares to leave the paddock in the Riley & Scott chassis #002
Mika Häkkinen was on hand to drive an ex-Dan Gurney factory McLaren M8D Can-Am car
The interior of the 1975 BMW CSL. It sat in the BMW display area and was hauled out for Brian Redman to drive in the races, then returned to the IMSA tent!
What looked to be an original, unrestored 550 Spyder! It was driven into the paddock, but not raced
Porsche 935 chassis #930 990 0032. It was purchased new by Gianpierro Moretti in 1979, and raced in IMSA by him, and subsequently Jim Busby, Tico Almeida and others
Porsche 935 chassis #000 0012. It was built by Joest from a factory chassis in 1980 and driven in IMSA by both Gianpierro Moretti and Mauricio DeNarvaezWritten by: Martin Raffauf (with Introduction by Glen Smale)
Images by: Martin Raffauf
550 Spyder is a one off replica
I had a suspicion that it might be a replica, thanks for correcting that!