The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 was held August 13-16 at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. The field of 550 vintage race cars were divided into 15 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 2015 running of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Shelby GT350 Mustang. Tommy Steuer’s 1966 Shelby GT350 took home the checkers in the field of 38 Shelby GT350s raced on Saturday.
Zak Brown’s Lola T332, in the hands of Richard Dean, won Sunday’s Formula 5000 race at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion: when the last professional Formula 5000 race was held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 40 years ago (October 12, 1975), it was won by Mario Andretti in the same car. The Lola T332 was awarded the President’s Cup, presented to the entrant whose car has the most historical significance to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Dean said, “This is an unbelievable car to drive, and I’m pleased that we qualified on pole position to keep up the history of this car with a win today.”
Californian Dick Deluna and his 1917 Hall-Scott The Four-A-7A was awarded the “Spirit of Monterey” prize, determined by an independent panel to honor the single driver who most “excelled in the spirit of the weekend.”
After receiving a specially engraved Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch, DeLuna said, “This 1917 Hall-Scott The Four-A-7A is just a hoot to drive and it’s a crowd pleaser. I love racing, and I love cars. For me the award is the epitome of appreciation from folks who value what I have been doing with cars.”
Rolex Awards of Excellence were awarded in each of the 15 race categories, going not necessarily to those who won but to those “most deserving.” The Rolex Awards gathering concluded with the announcement that Bavarian Motor Works, better known as BMW, will be honored on the occasion of its 100th anniversary as the special marque at next year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, scheduled for August 18-21, 2016.
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Similar to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2015 Monterey Motorsports Reunion, with Senior Photographer Dennis Gray producing the following outstanding images from this year’s event. We split up Dennis’ pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and race results can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Dennis, visit HistoricMotorPrints.com/.
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015 – Race Results
Group 1A – Pre 1940 Sports Racing and Touring
1. Conrad Stevenson, 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport
2. Joe Harding, 1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans
3. Richard Morrison, 1939 Lagonda V12
Group 2A – 1955-1962 GT
1. Joe Colasacco, 1963 Alfa Romeo TZ-1
2. Ron Goodman, 1954 Porsche 356
3. Mark Colbert, 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Competizione
Group 3A – 1965-1970 Shelby Mustang
1. Tommy Steuer, 1966 Shelby GT350
2. Terry Lawlor, 1966 Shelby GT350
3. Jeffrey Abramson, 1965 Shelby GT350
Group 4A – 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA GT-GTX, AAGT, GTU
1. Bruce Canepa, 1979 Porsche 935
2. Didier Andr, 1977 Greenwood Corvette
3. Ken Epsman, 1976 Dekon Monza
Group 5A – 1955-1961 Sports Racing over 2000cc
1. Derek Hill, 1962 Maserati Tipo 151
2. Greg Meyer, 1962 Dailu MK2
3. Joseph Diloreto, 1961 Dolphin Sports Racer
Group 6A – FIA Manufacturers Championship
1. Wade Carter, 1974 Lola T294
2. Keith Frieser, 1972 Lola T290
3. Chris MacAllister, 1973 Gulf Mirage
Group 7A – 1981-1991 FIA/IMSA GTP, GTO
1. Bruce Canepa, 1990 Porsche 962C
2. Parker Johnstone, 1991 Acura Spice GTP Light
3. Pieter Baljet, 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
Group 8A – 1967-1984 Formula One
1. Charles Nearburg, 1980 Williams FW07
2. Erich Joiner, 1983 Williams FW08/C
3. Nicholas Colyvas, 1974 Tyrrell 007
Group 1B – 1927-1951 Racing Cars
1. Paddins Dowling, 1939 Maserati 4CL
2. Jon Shirley, 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3)
3. Peter Giddings, 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza
Group 2B – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT
1. Cameron Healy, 1953 Porsche Cooper Pooper
2. Marcus Bicknell, 1952 Streets Manning Special
3. John Buddenbaum, 1949 Jaguar Parkinson Special
Group 3B – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc
1. Donald Orosco, 1958 Lotus 15
2. Brian Orosco, 1959 Lola Mk I
3. Chris Orosco, 1959 Lola Mk I
Group 4B – 1961-1966 GT Cars under 2500cc
1. Fred Della Noce, 1966 Ginetta G12
2. Dalmo De Vasconcelos, 1965 Lotus Elan 26R
3. Michael Malone, 1965 Lotus 26R
Group 5B – 1963-1966 GT Cars over 2500cc
1. Mike McGovern,1964 Shelby Cobra
2. Jeffrey Abramson, 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
3. Jim Click, 1965 Shelby Cobra
Group 6B – 1966-1972 Historic Trans Am
1. Mike McGovern, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
2. Ken Epsman, 1971 AMC Javelin
3. Jim Halsey, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Group 7B – 1968-1978 Formula 5000
1. Richard Dean, 1974 Lola T332
2. Alan Dunkley, 1968 Lola T140
3. Paul Zazryn, 1974 Lola T332
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
[Source: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion; photos: Dennis Gray]
Dennis! great photo of my Datsun Roadster!!
Nice selection of pictures Dennis! My only wish would be to see more of the huge field.
Dennis, as always you bring the goods! Great images, thanks for bringing these to us!
Mike
Looking forward to going back for RMMR 2016. As a Turn Marshal you are “up close and not too personal ” hopefully, with the drivers !
The TR 2 is rarely photographed these days nice to see one.