Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrates Le Mans August 17–20

written by David M. Brown

The 64th Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, joins the worldwide start of the 100th-anniversary celebration for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, August 17–20.

Every year, approximately 70,000 fans of historic racing visit the historic circuit where more than 500 periodcorrect car cars compete and are displayed. New this year, the Laguna Seca races will continue Wednesday through Saturday. Participants will race in 14 groups including 1923–1955 Le Mans, 1956–1971 Le Mans, 1972–1982 Le Mans, 1981–2005 Le Mans Prototypes & GT1, and an exhibition of Pre-1920 Ragtime Racers is scheduled.

On Sunday, the Corkscrew Hillclimb and Community Day debuts, with as many as 60 cars racing up the Corkscrew in timed stages, says Barry Toepke, director of Heritage Events and public relations at the great venue.

Several presentations and interviews will take place on stage. And, the Picnic in the Paddock on Saturday at noon will feature the event’s grand marshal and nine-time overall Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen; four-time Le Mans champion Henri Pescarolo; and Cobra legend Peter Brock.

Laguna Seca was built in 1957 on U.S. Army Fort Ord land and held its first races that year from November 9 through the 11. Today’s event originated as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races in 1974. In 2010, when SCRAMP purchased the event from General Racing, it was renamed the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Toepke explains, noting that, except for the pandemic-closed 2020 event, historic racing has been held here every August.

A number of awards are given but not to race winners. These include The Spirit of Monterey for the driver or entrant who excels in the spirit of the weekend; the Ken Miles Trophy, for a vintage car under 1500cc; the Rolex Award for Excellence in each category; the Gary Byrd Foundation award for a pre-war car; and the Henry Ford Trophy for the best of that marque.

In addition, the Phil Remington Trophy is given to the finest mechanic; the John Fitch Excellence Award for the best Corvette; and a Best Paddock Display. Finally, the Bonhams Cup is awarded to the driver who best exemplifies the spirit of the event in featured morning race groups.

“The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion celebrates race cars in a manner that they were built to do, and that’s race,” Toepke says. “No other event captures the beauty, speed and friendliness of the Rolex Reunion. Plus, it’s one of the more affordable events of Monterey Car Week, which makes it the largest attended of all the events.”

Race schedules, entry lists and ticket information are at weathertechraceway.com/rolex-monterey-motorsportsreunion. Or, call 831.242.8200 during business hours.