Among the 450 entries for this year’s Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Toyota was an ex–Ken Miles 1960 Dolphin Formula Junior driven by Californian Phil Binks. Beyond those basic facts is the reality that the event marked Binks’s 50th anniversary of his first driving school, his first involvement in racing. The Dolphin was fresh from a recent restoration performed by his son, Dan, crew chief for Corvette Racing.
“This is my 30th year at Monterey Historics and my 50th year racing,” noted Binks. “I have my son here as my crew chief, my daughter Molly, my wife Marg, four of my grandchildren, and I don’t know how it could be better. Another thing that makes this so special is that Ken Miles was my instructor when I went to driving school, and here I am owning a car that he raced. It’s just a privilege to have the car. Danny did a beautiful job with the restoration, and when I’m done with it, it goes back to him. It’s only fair.”
Binks also earned the Rolex Award for outstanding performance in his race group.
