Amid the craziness of Monterey Car Week, there’s one place where you can truly immerse yourself in motorsports history.
Every late summer at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, automotive legends come to life, racing around the iconic circuit for four days at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
There aren’t many places where you can take in the sights and sounds of legendary race cars like Niki Lauda’s 1976 Ferrari 312, plus ’60s and ’70s Ford Mustangs, GT machines, just about every vintage Porsche, and even the McMurty Spéirling, as they run laps around the track. But those cars and more – 400 in total – lined up to compete at this year’s event.
Every car has a storied past, from the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Formula 1 to other international and domestic racing series.
The paddock resembles a living museum, enhanced by drivers and teams dressed in period-correct attire. The vibe feels very similar to a grassroots racing event; you can watch the cars on track for their sessions, and then walk into the pits for a closer look and even strike up conversations with the crews.
There’s something magical about standing at the bottom of the famed Laguna Seca Corkscrew, watching these legendary machines thunder by lap after lap.
The plentiful crowd fills the vantage points with chairs and coolers, savoring every moment.
The unmistakable sounds of Mazda 4-rotor racing engines downshifting into the Corkscrew and accelerating out bring a smile to my face every time.
Seeing this ex-American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Saleen S7R – a car I read about in middle school – driven hard on this track was a childhood dream come true. Until then, I had only ever seen an S7 in road car form at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Watching these cars compete against their contemporaries is an experience unto itself. Despite their collector status, they are driven wheel-to-wheel hard, giving Reunion attendees a stunning show.
Nostalgia flows for those who remember these cars in their era, while younger visitors can learn and appreciate the rich history of motor racing at one of the world’s most famous racetracks. There really is nothing quite like the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
Daniel Baxter
Instagram: danielhasacamera
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