Report and photos by Dennis Gray
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012 was held August 16-19 at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. The field of 550 historic race cars were divided into 17 groups according to age and engine capacity and chosen for their period-correct presentation.
Formerly known as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races or Monterey Historics, the 2012 edition of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra. Record crowds watched in appreciation as 45 competition Shelby Cobras battled during the feature race on Saturday, won by Jim Click in his 1964 Cobra 289, followed closely by the 289 Cobras of Lorne Leibel and James Farley.
With Cobras stealing the show on Saturday, the final races on Sunday brought thrills of different kinds to those who watched. The most exciting race was offered up by the event’s fastest cars, the 1981 to 1989 FIA Manufacturers Championship and IMSA GTPs. Zac Brown’s pole sitting 1986 Porsche 962 led flag-to-flag, but Brown conceded, nevertheless, that it was all hard work.
Brown commented, “I was worried about Rick Knoop in the Group 44 Jaguar, because he won last year. With these older cars you want to get as much of a lead as you can, because you never know when you might have a mechanical or electrical glitch. I’ve had this car for three years, and last year I put the ex-Formula 1 driver Stephan Johansson in the car, and he won, so it is currently undefeated at this event.”
In addition to the headline Cobras, notable entries at the 2012 Monterey Motorsports Reunion included the 1957 Maserati 250F and 1953 Siata 208CS of Jeffrey O’Neill; Rob Walton’s 1964 Ferrari 250 LM and 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB; 1960 Porsche RS60 and 1927 Bugatti Type 35B driven by Bill Lyon; Jon Shirley’s 1934 Alfa Romeo P3; 1930 Alfa Romeo P3 of Peter Giddings; 1960 Maserati Type 61 Birdcages of Jonathan Feiber and Carl Moore; Greg Whitten’s 1957 Aston Martin DBR2; 1974 Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12 of Joseph DiLoreto; and Jim Gallucci’s 1964 Troutman and Barnes Special; among many others.
The Spirit of Monterey award for the driver who excels in the spirit of the weekend was presented to Lynn Park of La Canada, California. Frequently known as “Mr. Cobra”, Park is well versed in everything Cobra, which made him the obvious choice for selecting and assuring the provenance of the 45 Cobras that raced in Saturday’s feature. Park drove one of his 14 personally owned Cobras while his sons drove two of his others.
“If you look up the term ‘labor of love’ in Webster’s Dictionary, you will find me and a Cobra in a picture there,” said Park, who has owned 50 Cobras over his lifetime. “I love this, and I live and breathe Cobras all day long. We worked really hard to get this event done just this way, and in fact when the organizers said they were going to turn the Cobra end of it over to me, I said okay, beautiful, we’ll get it done. All the Cobra guys are so cooperative, and they’re just the nicest bunch of people you are ever going to see. We crowded all those Cobras into that paddock, and what a show!”
As if the races were not enough, Ford’s Shelby Cobra Heritage Display — a giant tented attraction at the center of the race paddock — featured Cobra serial number CSX2000 and CSX2001 among the 12 historically fascinating Cobras that mapped the heritage of the iconic marque.
Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012 – Photo Gallery (photos: Dennis Gray)
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012 – Race Results
Group 1A – Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring Cars
1. John Fitzpatrick Redding, CA – 1939 BMW 328
2. John Kerridge Del Mar, CA – 1926 Frazer Nash Boulogne
3. Richard Jeffery Hillsborough, CA – 1937 Triumph Special
4. Noel Park Rancho Palos Verdes, CA – 1917 Chevrolet Speedster
5. Linda Mountanos Ukiah, CA – 1935 Shaw Pirrung Indy Car
Group 1A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 2A – 1927-1951 Racing Cars
1. Paddins Dowling Sausalito, CA – 1939 Maserati 4CL
2. Jeffrey O’Neill Larkspur, CA – 1957 Maserati 250F
3. Peter Giddings Danville, CA – 1930 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3
4. Joseph S. Freeman Boston, MA – 1952 Kurtis-Kraft 500A
5. Mark Sange Bolinas, CA – 1948 Kurtis Midget
Group 2A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 3A – 1962-1967 Shelby Cobra Cars
1. Jim Click Tucson, AZ – 1964 Cobra 289
2. Lorne Leibel Willowdale, CAN – 1964 Cobra 289
3. James Farley Jr. Orchard Lake, MI – 1965 Cobra 289
4. Erich Joiner Torrance, CA – 1964 Cobra 289
5. Donald Lee Portola Valley, CA – 1965 Cobra 427
Group 3A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 4A – 1955-1962 GT Cars
1. Rob Walton Scottsdale, AZ – 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB
2. Leonard Turnbeaugh Markleeville, CA – 1958 Porsche 356A
3. Ranson Webster Reno, NV – 1960 Porsche Abarth
4. Alec Hugo Mill Valley, CA – 1962 Porsche 356B
5. Ned Spieker Menlo Park, CA – 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB
Group 4A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 5A – 1960-1968 Sports Racing USRRC Cars
1. Robert Ryan Avila Beach, CA – 1968 McLaren M6B
2. Byron Defoor Ooltewah, TN – 1965 Lola T70
3. Harindra de Silva Palos Verdes, CA – 1965 Elva MK8
4. Johan Woerheide Atlanta, GA – 1965 Lola T70
5. A.C. D’Augustine Breckenridge, CO – 1965 Genie MK10B
Group 5A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 6A – 1973-1982 IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GTU/GTO Cars
1. Bruce Canepa Scotts Valley, CA – 1979 Porsche 935
2. Fred Kaimer Austin, TX – 1980 Porsche 935 K3
3. John Watkins Anderson, CA – 1970 Ford Mustang
4. Ranson Webster Reno, NV – 1976 Porsche 935 K3
5. Jeff Lewis Newport Beach, CA – 1976 Porsche 934.5
Group 6A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 7A – 1963-1966 GT Cars over 2500cc
1. Terry Gough Reno, NV – 1965 Chevrolet Corvette
2. Rob Walton Scottsdale, AZ – 1964 Ferrari 250 LM
3. John Bowe East Brighton, AUS – 1965 Chevrolet Corvette
4. Jeff Abramson Alamo, CA – 1965 Shelby GT350
5. Olga Reindlova New York, NY – 1969 Porsche 911
Group 7A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 8A – 1974-1980 Formula Atlantic Cars
1. Wade Carter III Woodinville, WA – 1976 March FA
2. Daniel Marvin Berkeley, CA – 1976 March 76B
3. Danny Baker San Francisco, CA – 1979 Ralt RT-1
4. John Hill Seattle, WA – 1975 March 75A
5. Patrick Orosco Monterey, CA – 1979 March 79B
Group 8A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 9A – 1966-1971 Historic Trans-Am Cars
1. Jim Hague Santa Clara, CA – 1972 AMC Javelin
2. Chad Raynal San Jose, CA – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
3. Ken Adams Gilroy, CA – 1969 Ford Mustang
4. Jim Halsey Los Angles, CA – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss
5. Bruce Canepa Scotts Valley, CA – 1970 AMC Javelin
Group 9A Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 1B – 1955 -1961 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc
1. Cameron Healy Portland, OR – 1953 Cooper Porsche Special
2. Herbert Wetanson New York, NY – 1960 Lola M I
3. Brian Orosco Monterey, CA – 1959 Lola Mk I
4. Ron Federspiel Bend, OR – 1961 Crusader Sports Racer
5. Richard Goldsmith Gilroy, CA – 1958 Lotus 11
Group 1B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 2B – 1958-1963 Formula Junior Cars
1. Mark Gillies Round Hill, VA – 1962 Lotus 22
2. Jimmy Domingos Carmel, CA – 1962 Cooper T-59 FJ
3. Douglas Mockett Christiansted, USVI – 1961 Cooper T-56
4. Robert Hoemke Abilene, TX – 1962 Cooper T-59
5. Phil R Trenholme Los Gatos, CA – 1962 Lotus 22
Group 2B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 3B – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc
1. Donald Orosco Monterey, CA – 1958 Lotus 15
2. Erickson Shirley Vail, CO – 1959 Lister Costin
3. Carl Moore Alamo, CA – 1960 Maserati Typo 61
4. Butch Gilbert Westley, CA – 1958 Hagemann-Sutton Special
5. Tom Malloy Corona, CA – 1958 Lister Knobbly
Group 3B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 4B – 1970-1979 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc
1. David Vegher Petaluma, CA – 1979 Chevron B36
2. Keith Frieser St Alberta, CAN – 1972 Lola T290
3. Scott Emerson W Vancouver, CAN – 1971 Lola T212
4. Alex MacAllister Indianapolis, IN – 1971 Chevron B19
5. Eddie Lawson Upland, CA – 1975 Osella PA 3/5
Group 4B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 5B – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars
1. David Swig Sausalito, CA – 1957 Monsterati Special
2. Steve Schuler Capistrano Beach, CA – 1950 Allard J-2
3. Noel Park Rancho Palos Verdes, CA – 1955 Chevrolet Corvette
4. Thomas Claridge Los Gatos, CA – 1953 Kurtis 500S
5. Bernard Juchli Sierra Madre, CA – 1955 Hagemann Jaguar Special
Group 5B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 6B – 1981-1989 FIA Manufacturers Championship and IMSA GTP
1. Zak Brown Carmel, IN – 1986 Porsche 962
2. Wade Carter Lake Oswego, OR – 1981 Lola T600 GTP
3. Rick Knoop Laguna Beach, CA – 1984 Group 44 Jaguar GTP
4. Tom Malloy Corona, CA – 1988 Porsche Kremer 962C
5. Eric Edenholm Scottsdale, AZ – 1991 Porsche 962C
Group 6B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 7B – 1961-1966 GT Cars under 2500cc
1. Ernie Spada Jr. Lake Oswego, OR – 1970 Chevron B8
2. John Hugenholtz Schilde, BEL – 1964 Lotus Elan 26R
3. Andre Lara Resende Sao Paulo, BRA – 1965 Lotus 26R
4. Win Seipp Portola Valley, CA – 1964 Lotus Super 7
5. Kent Morgan Monrovia, CA – 1968 Chevron B8
Group 7B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 8B – 1974-1990 Stock Cars with Disc Brakes
1. Tom Klauer Sacramento, CA – 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2. Jim Hague Santa Clara, CA – 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix
3. Mike Cesario Campbell, CA – 1989 Ford Thunderbird
4. William Daffron Simi Valley, CA – 1987 Ford Thunderbird
5. Gary Sousa Pleasanton, CA – 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Group 8B Results – 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
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[Source: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca; photo credit: Dennis Gray]
Thanks Dennis-
Really enjoyed this event….thanks for the reporting and the photo! Fun!
http://sportscardigest.com/monterey-motorsports-reunion-2012-report-and-photos/?nggpage=9
Sure. But its easier to say thanks if I know who I am talking with. Seriously keep checking back as we are updating the story every few hours with 80 images added today and maybe another 40 tomorrow. Plus more articles and galleries.
Cove Britton…forgot to fill in below…so not anonymous anymore!
Dennis, Some of the results shown appear to be from the morning “heat race” sessions and not from the afternoon “feature” race sessions.
What a pleasure to have extended captions with Dennis Gray’s beautiful photos. The extra information makes the pictures so much more valuable…and entertaining! Thanks much.
Great photographs from what must have been a very memorable event. Dennis really knows how to capture the moment and then tell us what it is that we’re looking at. The racing must have been terrific fun for these car enthusiasts. Thanks Dennis…
I could almost feel the California air while looking and these photos. Lovely job of capturing the feel of the track, as well as the wonderful cars.
Dave