The Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2019 was held August 10-11 at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. Staged the weekend before the larger Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the Pre-Reunion serves as the kick-off to the week of everything automotive that is the Monterey Car Week.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of the most challenging circuits in North America. Featuring the most famous corner in American motorsport, the Corkscrew, the track requires ultimate performance from both man and machine with abrupt hairpins, blind crests and steep elevation changes. Accordingly, the Pre-Reunion afforded enthusiasts a great way to preview and enjoy the vintage car racing action, while allowing the drivers time to get familiar with the road course and sort out their race cars for the much larger Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
The historic race cars that participated in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) events were featured this year, as the Association celebrated its 50th anniversary at the motorsports gathering. Therefore it was no surprise to see a great selection of the IMSA machines on track during Monterey Car Week. Spectators enjoyed a wide range of vintage race cars, grouped together in 10 race classes from 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT, 1967-1984 Formula One and Endurance Legends from the 1990s to 2013. For complete race results, click here.
Similar to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Sports Car Digest also documented the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2019, with Senior Photographer Victor Varela highlighting the entrants enjoying their precious track time at Laguna Seca.
Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2019 – Photo Gallery (photos: Victor Varela)
1953 Lancia D24 Sport
1984 Jaguar XJR5
Mirror, mirror…
Sandra McNeil – 1964 Porsche 904 GTS
Chevrolet Corvette
Shelby Mustang GT 350
Gunnar Jeannette – 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta GT
Shelby Mustang GT 350
Gunnar Jeannette – 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta GT
All lined up and ready to go!
Michael Doyle – 1962 Jaguar E-Type
Chevrolet Corvette
Lorne Leibel – 1964 Shelby Cobra
Thomas Parmentier – 1971 Hawke DL2B
Taz Harvey – 1991 Acura Spice SL91
Joe Robillard – 1986 Porsche 962
Lee Giannone – Porsche 962C
1986 Porsche 962
James Hagan – 2011 Oreca FLM09
Brad Briscoe – 2003 Chevrolet Corvette C5R
Charles Nearburg – 2007 Chevrolet Corvette C6R
Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Into turn 11
Tom Plucinsky
– 2011 BMW M3 GT
Making adjustments
Ernie Spada – 1976 Porsche 934
Zak Brown
Ranson Webster – 1976 Porsche 935 K3
42 lead 5 into 11
William E Connor – 1980 Porsche 935J
Zak Brown – 1981 Porsche 935
1982 Williams FW08 F1
JPS
Mirror… check.
John McKenna – 1982 Williams FW08 F1
Charles Warner – 1979 Shadow DN9
Bud Moeller – 1979 Ensign MN179
Chris Bender -1983 Arrows A6
James Hagan – 1982 Tyrrell 011 Blue
James Hagan – 1982 Tyrrell 011 Blue
Patrick Byrne – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Corsa
Porsche 911
Alfa Romeo
Porsche 356 Speedster
Into turn 3
Alec Hugo – 1962 Porsche 356B
Morgan
1955 Mercedes‐Benz 300 SI Gullwing
Lorne Leibel – 1964 Shelby Cobra
John Linfesty – 1966 Shelby GT350
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Shelby Cobra
Gunnar Jeannette – 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta GT
Kyle Kelley – 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
Laurent Parmentier – 1970 Crossle 16/20F
Nicolas Hunziker – 1969 Lotus 51
Formula Ford
Thomas Parmentier – 1971 Hawke DL2B
1984 Jaguar XJR5
Robert Kaufman – 1990 AAR Toyota Eagle HF89
Bruce Canepa – 1989 Porsche 962C
Tom Dooley – 1988 Porsche 962
Charles Nearburg – 2007 Chevrolet Corvette C6R
Exiting turn 2
Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP
2011 BMW M3 GT
Into turn 2
Into turn 2
Bob Kullas – 1969 Chevron B16
Richard Goldsmith – 1976 DeKon Monza
Bradley Briscoe – 1976 Chevrolet Greenwood Corvette
Datsun 280ZX
Chandler Briscoe – 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
William E Connor – 1980 Porsche 935J
Porsche 911
Zak Brown – 1981 Porsche 935
Ranson Webster – 1976 Porsche 935 K3
Steve Hartley – 1982 Arrows A4
Charles Nearburg – 1980 Williams FW07B
Dalmo De Vasconcelos’ Tyrrell 010
Ron Goodman – 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A
Gunnar Jeannette
Chip Fudge – 1961 1968 Bizzarini GT
John Linfesty – 1966 Shelby GT350
Peter Reed – 1966 Shelby GT350
Formula Ford
Formula Fords
Formula Ford
Spencer Trenery – 2006 Riley Daytona Prototype Gen 1
Past the Michelin bridge
Steven Zacchia – 2002 Ferrari 550 GT1
Audi R8
BMW M3
Into turn 5
Tom Dooley – 1982 Mirage M12
Running up the hill
Racing towards turn 6
Racing towards turn 6
Racing towards turn 6
Into turn 5
Into turn 5
Chevrolet Corvette
Porsche 911
Datsun 280ZX
Doug Stevens – 1975 Dekon Monza
Alan Benjamin – 1975 Porsche RSR
William Lyon – 1970 Porsche 914/6 IMSA
Porsche 911
Ernie Spada – 1976 Porsche 934
Steve Walker – 1973 BMW CSL
Porsche 911
Charles Nearburg – 1980 Williams FW07B
Gregory Thornton – 1982 Lotus 91
Exiting turn 6
Steve Hartley – 1982 Arrows A4
Uphill towards the Corkscrew
Chris Farrell – 1982 March 821
Mercury Capri
Mercury Capri
Ross Myers – 1988 Ford Roush Merkur Coupe
Porsche 911
1957 Maserati 200SI
Doug Brower – 1960 Sorrell Larkin Spl
Through the Corkscrew
Wes Abendroth – 1955 Chevrolet Mistral
Cameron Healy – 1953 Porsche Cooper Pooper
Arthur Conner – 1961 Porsche Devin
Through the Corkscrew
Through the Corkscrew
Chris MacAllister – 1955 Jaguar D-Type
Nick Colonna – 1958 Devin SS
Greg Whitten – 1960 Witton Special
Through the Corkscrew
1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage
Through the Corkscrew
Greg Meyer – 1959 Sadler MkIV
Lotus
Porsche 356 Speedster
Down the Corkscrew
Down the Corkscrew
Porsche 911
Alfa Romeo Spider
Randall Smalley – 1968 Porsche 911S
Datsun
Porsche
Patrick Byrne – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Corsa
1955 Mercedes‐Benz 300 SI Gullwing
Paul Christensen – 1956 Porsche 356A Speedster
Henry Moore – 1962 Lotus Elite
Matthew Goetzinger – 1965 Porsche 911
Brandon Adrian – 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA
Chevrolet Corvette
Down the Corkscrew
1964 Jaguar E‐Type
Jeni Yeakel-Swanson – 1964 Chevrolet Corvette
Sandra McNeil – 1964 Porsche 904 GTS
Gunnar Jeannette – 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta GT
Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Taz Harvey – 1991 Acura Spice SL91
Into Turn 11
AAR Toyota Eagle
Porsche 962
Bruce Canepa – 1989 Porsche 962C
Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Lee Giannone – Porsche 962C
Bruce Canepa – 1989 Porsche 962C
Joe Robillard – 1986 Porsche 962
Racing down the front straight.
Steven Zacchia – 2002 Ferrari 550 GT1
Audi R8
Steven Zacchia – 2002 Ferrari 550 GT1
Group 5B heading towards turn 11
Racing down the front straight.
Racing down the front straight.
Bob Kullas – 1969 Chevron B16
Porsche parade
Chandler Briscoe – 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
Follow the leader
Williams in the front
Into turn 11
Gregory Thornton – 1982 Lotus 91
1980 Tyrrell 010
1982 Williams FW08 F1
Charles Nearburg – 1980 Williams FW07B
Nissan 240SX
Chevrolet Camaro
1991 Nissan 300ZX
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