Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2014 Review

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Images© and story by Michael Rockich, Contact Photographer For Information on Photos of this Event

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion took place August 14-17 at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The weather obliged nicely with sunshine that was temperate and pleasant. As usual, there was no lack of attractions on and off of the race track.

Masserati
Maserati is officially celebrating their 100th birthday in 2014. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion recognized this happy occasion by staging a Maserati Heritage Display in the race paddocks. The Heritage Display included several cars by Masserati.

This Masserati paint celebrates 100th birthday

The Maserati MC 12 GT1 with large rear wing was part of the display. This is a purpose built race car based on the MC 12 Masserati street car that sat next to it. Originally fifty MC12 models were homologated for street use to allow the MC 12 GT1 to participate in racing. The MC 12 Corsa is yet another version, one restricted to private use, but only off of public roads. Weighing in at only 2,535 lbs, the MC 12 GT1 is powered by a V12 generating an impressive 757 hp.

When I came by Sunday the MC 12 GT1 was up off the asphalt on risers while a mechanic prepared the car for track. A driver soon donned race gear, and proceeded to turn laps for the next half hour in an interesting demonstration.

Mechanic preps Masserati MC 12 GT1 race car

Masserati MC 12 street car

Masserati 2015 GranTurismo MC Centennial Edition

Buying race cars Near the Maserati heritage display on Sunday a one on one interview took place while broadcast over the public address system. The subject was how to know what you are buying when searching for a vintage race car to purchase, especially a rare one.

Bruce Canepa on left

Bruce Canepa, the interviewee, advised to employ the assistance of someone knowledgeable in vintage race cars. Over time many changes can potentially happen to the original vehicle, including engine changes, chassis modifications, and crashes with the associated rework. Traceability, serial numbers, and an audit trail are all important factors.

Mr. Canepa's business in nearby Scotts Valley includes the sales, restoration and racing of historical and collector cars, vehicle design and development, and a museum housing his extensive car collection. In competition he has raced in sports car endurance races including Daytona, historic car races, and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Can Am, the race without rules The Can Am had a huge turnout of entrants. Laguna Seca is an old home for these muscle cars on steroids. It seems to me their bellowing reverberations from the past have never completely died out here.

Can Am UOP Shadow

Enclosed wheels and two seats are the only regulations I know of governing this free for all mêlée of body slamming acceleration and rolling thunder. The Can Am, which I call the race without rules, is always one of my favorites. The modus operandi seemed to be "get there faster...just do it!" Car designs were diabolical. Back in the day, the Chaparral sliced through the turns as if locked on a rail thanks to its vacuum cleaner effect sucking it to the tarmac. Another innovator, one of the UOP Shadow models used very small wheels to enhance performance. Porsche eventually entered the series with a 12 cylinder juggernaut, later building a 16 cylinder entry that never raced, but was once on display at Laguna Seca.

On Sunday the massively engined (8439 cc, 515 cu. in.) 1974 UOP Shadow DN4 of Michigan's Craig Bennett sounded as well tuned and smoothly high revving as I have ever heard. As it rocketed down the start-finish straight its acceleration was awesome. The black streak quickly pulled away from the field, soon began gobbling up the back markers, and was the first to the checkers.

Five minute readiness check, Can Am

Umbrella eases driver in a McLaren

The Can Am pack rolls out

Marketplace The Marketplace located near the lake supplied most wants including food, automotive wares, and memorabilia. This is also an area to see auto sports personalities like this year's honored guest Sir Stirling Moss.

Cars on display are not uncommon here. I found a gem Sunday. The car had begun life as a De Tomaso Pantera. Ring Brothers heavily modified it for a client. The car was a real piece of work. Great attention to detail had been paid in uncluttered design augmented by high quality implementation.

Modified De Tomaso Pantera

From the Marketplace walk around the lake to discover more hot hardware in the car corral parking area. I have previously found winners from the 24 Heures du Mans parked out there.

Ford GT

Older cars entered The span of years covered by the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is amazing. The very old time race cars in such excellent condition are exciting to see taking to the tarmac. Not that these old cars were slow, but what would a driver from those days have thought to know that F1 pilots today would experience 5 G under braking and cornering, and walk away from 25 G crashes? Just a few of the older entries included the following - 1925 Bentley 3 Litre from Salina, Kansas, 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix from Eugene, Oregon, 1916 National AC from Visalia, California, 1922 Ford Model T Speedster from Clayton, California, and a 1935 Frazer Nash Colmore from Scottsdale, Arizona.

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