2009 Monterey Historic Automobile Races – Saturday Results and Photos

The 2009 Monterey Historic Automobile Races were held August 15th and 16th at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

The 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is nestled among the hills between Monterey and Salinas and features among its 11 turns the signature Corkscrew, which drops five stories from its entrance to the challenging hairpin turn that follows it.

“Cars Are the Stars” at the Monterey Historics and this year was no different. Now 36 years old, the event is often called the most significant vintage racing event in the country, and according to famed driver Brian Redman, who joined the likes of Jurgen Barth, Derek Bell, David Donohue, Vic Elford and Hurley Haywood here this year, it is “one of the top two or three events of its kind in the world.”

Of 450 entrants, one-third of those were Porsches, which was this year’s Featured Marque. And unlike other events where spectators might be separated from stars who take the stage, crowds of car lovers milled through the 30 acre paddock area, chatting with owners and drivers; watching mechanics tinker; swapping insight with other enthusiasts and parting like the Red Sea when another engine revved up, on its way to take position on the grid.

Racing for eight of 15 groups took place on Saturday, with classes that included crowd favorite Ferraris, Porsches, Scarab and other 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars, FIA Mfg. Championship Cars and IMSA GTP. Sir Stirling Moss was in the Group 5A field racing a 1960 Lola Mk I.

Sports Car Digest was fortunate to have photographer Dennis Gray at the track the entire weekend to document the Monterey Historics. To see more of Gray’s work, visit www.dennisgrayphotographer.com.

(Click here for Sunday’s results and photos)

2009 Monterey Historics Saturday Results and Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture)

Group 1A – 1904-1940 Sporting Cars

1. 1924 Ford T Barber-Warnock, Jan Voboril, Topanga, CA
2. 1935 Austin 7 Special, Mark Sange, Bolinas, CA
3. 1926 Frazer Nash Boulogne, John Kerridge, Del Mar, CA

Group 2A – 1925-1949 Racing & Sporting Cars

1. 1934 ERA, Paddins Dowling, Mill Valley, CA
2. 1939 Maserati 4CL, Mark Gilles, Ann Arbor, MI
3. 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35, Peter Giddings, Danville, CA

Group 3A – 1948-1955 Sports Racing & GT Cars Under 1500cc

1. 1950 Porsche 550 Spyder, Bill Perrone, Huntington Beach, CA
2. 1954 Maserati A6GCS, Spencer Trenery, Emeryville, CA
3. 1954 Maserati A6GCS, Dean Meiling, Incline Village, NV

Group 4A – 1955-1961 GT Cars Under 2200cc

1. Morgan +4, Doug Sallen, Monterey, CA
2. 1961 Porsche 356B, Ned Bacon, Minden, NV
3. 1960 Porsche Abarth GTL, Ranson Webster, Reno, NV

Group 5A – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars Under 2000cc

1. 1960 Piranha Sports Racer, Frank Zucchi, Livermore, CA
2. 1959 Lola Mk I, Chris Orosco, Monterey, CA
3. 1956 Lotus Eleven, Ed Nigro, Las Vegas, NV

Group 6A – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars Over 2500cc

1. 1958 Scarab Mk I, Rob Walton, Paradise Valley, AZ
2. 1958 Lotus 15, Don Orosco, Monterey, CA
3. 1957 Monsterati Special, David Swig, Sausalito, CA

Group 7A – 1964-1971 FIA Mfg. Championship Cars

1. 1971 Porsche 908/3, Brian Redman, Vero Beach, FL
2. 1969 Porsche 917K, Bruce Canepa, Scotts Valley, CA
3. 1969 Porsche 917K, Gijs Van Lennep, Holmdel, NJ

Group 8A – 1981-1990 IMSA GTP & FIA Mfg. Championship Cars

1. 1986 Porsche 962, Mark Hotchkis, Manhattan Beach, CA
2. 1994 Kremer-Porsche K8, Gunnar Jennette
3. 1988 Porsche 962, Rudy Junco, Monterrey, Mexico

[Source: Monterey Historics; picture credit Dennis Gray]