Monterey Motorsports Reunion

File:2018 Monterey Historic Car Races 10.jpg

The first company to sponsor the event was the Chrysler Corporation.{{cite web|title=Image of 2005 event|url=http://www.classicshowcase.com/newsletter/Fall2005/Chaparral.jpeg|publisher=Classic Showcase|date=2005|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} Later, the event added a sponsorship from Rolex. The Chrysler sponsorship was replaced with one from Toyota, who sponsored the event from 2006 to 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/toyota-scion-and-lexus-news/67406-toyota-announces-presenting-sponsorship-rolex-monterey/ |title=Toyota Announces Presenting Sponsorship For the Rolex Monterey Historic Auto Races |publisher=Tundrasolutions.com |date=2006-07-22 |accessdate=2013-08-18}}

Although celebrities and professional drivers do attend, the Reunion is not a professional event, and has no awards or prizes for finishing position. Each Saturday and Sunday afternoon race has a Rolex Award winner voted by committee. Two of the morning races each day honor a Bonham's Cup winner similarly chosen. There are special Awards for best paddock display, best Ford-powered car, outstanding craftsmanship, etc. The highest honor is the Rolex Spirit of Monterey Award, A Rolex watch and original Bill Patterson painting, presented to the entrant who best embodies the spirit of the event in their presentation and competition drive.

The Reunion has been featured in Autoweek magazine. It was featured in an online article in early August 2008{{cite web|url=http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/peninsular-pleasures-weekend-monterey?AID=/20080806/FREE/537275095/1025/FREE|title=Peninsular pleasures: A weekend in Monterey|date=August 5, 2008|accessdate=2014-08-07|work=autoweek.com}} and in the September 2008 issue. The 2003 event was featured in an issue of Popular Mechanics.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WM8DAAAAMBAJ&q=2003+Monterey+Historics+Popular+Mechanics&pg=PA6-IA6|title=Popular Mechanics issue from Google Books|date=November 2002|publisher=Hearst Magazines}} Popular Mechanics also documented the 2000 event.{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/1267151 |title=The 2000 Monterey Historics Automobile Races |publisher=Popular Mechanics |date=2004-12-07 |accessdate=2013-08-18}} The 2009 event was also featured.

The 2010 event was featured in an issue of Road & Track.{{cite web|author=John Lamm |url=http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion?cid=192 |title=Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion - Road & Track |publisher=Roadandtrack.com |date=2010-08-05 |accessdate=2013-08-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020023855/http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion?cid=192 |archivedate=October 20, 2012 }} The 2004 event was also featured in an article on the R&T website.{{cite web|author=Jim Hall |url=http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/2004-monterey-historics |title=2004 Monterey Historics - Road & Track |publisher=Roadandtrack.com |date=2004-08-19 |accessdate=2013-08-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308234018/http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/2004-monterey-historics |archivedate=March 8, 2012 }}

For many years television network Speed Channel provided coverage of the event. For a few years the coverage consisted of several different episodes featuring the major groups (IMSA, Trans Am, F1, and Can Am). In later years the event was abridged to one episode combining behind-the-scenes coverage with coverage of select races. The races covered were a mix of the major groups and some of the GT groups for better interest. If the featured a one-time race group, that race may be covered. The Reunion was for a while covered by Fox Sports 1, which replaced Speed in August 2013.

In recent years the Reunion has been livestreamed by Motor Trend magazine, with the coverage being shown on YouTube.{{cite AV media |url-status = live |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/EtBxGjKQXZs |archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtBxGjKQXZs&t=59s&list=LLHGuy53jvYr5KXR1k0JxzlQ&index=2 |title = Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion 2018 – Day One Replay |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Various race groups from multiple eras and types of automobile racing are featured at the Monterey Reunion. The groups often contain vehicles that competed against one another during that point in history.{{cite news|last=Woodyard|first=Chris|title=Vintage Corvettes rule historic races in Monterey|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/08/17/chevrolet-corvette-monterey/2667847/|accessdate=18 April 2014|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 18, 2013}}

Occasionally the schedule will feature combined-class races, such as the sports racing cars competing alongside the GT cars. While these two groups race simultaneously, they do not compete against each other, much like in professional racing.

• Previously the event featured a mixed "GT and production cars" race group in which professionally raced grand tourers competed against unmodified sports cars of the same era.{{cite journal|last=George|first=Robin|title=Robin's Nest|journal=Miatatudes|date=August 2010|page=1|url=http://www.sacramentoareamiata.org/files/Miatatudes.August.2010.pdf|publisher=Sacramento Area Miata Owners Association}} The unmodified cars have since been phased out.
• In the past the prewar groups were divided into two types: production (sports, racing, and touring) and single-seater (Indy roadsters and grand prix). The latter has since been merged with the racing cars. The sports and racing cars were also merged and ultimately combined with the touring cars.
• United States Road Racing Championship- a former name for the sports racing cars

The Reunion also features special or expanded race groups in an attempt to generate greater interest from its spectators. These often one-time groups have included Grand National{{cite web|title=Historic Stock Cars to Rumble at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion|url=http://www.weathertechraceway.com/press-release/historic-stock-cars-rumble-rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|accessdate=August 6, 2014|date=May 12, 2010}} and Winston Cup Series{{cite web|title=Historic Stock Cars To Rev Up Their Engines At Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion|url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/news/historic-stock-cars-rev-their-engines-rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513093520/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/news/historic-stock-cars-rev-their-engines-rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 13, 2014|date=June 21, 2012|accessdate=August 7, 2014|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca}} stock cars, an under two liter Trans Am Series race group,{{cite web|title=Sports Sedan Revival Set|url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/press-release/sports-sedan-revival-set|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513044439/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/press-release/sports-sedan-revival-set|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 13, 2014|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date=June 2, 2010|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} and a Formula Atlantic{{cite web|title=2014 Event Schedule|url=http://www.weathertechraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/2014_rmmr_schedule_3.27.14.pdf|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} group. Single-marque spec groups have also been featured. In 2011 an all Jaguar XKE race{{Cite web|title=Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2011 – Results and Photos|url=http://www.sportscardigest.com/monterey-motorsports-reunion-2011-results-and-photos/|date=August 22, 2011|publisher=Sports Car Digest|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} was featured to commemorate that model's fiftieth anniversary. The same was done in 2012 for the Shelby Cobra, featuring small block AC Cobras racing against the big block Shelby 427 Cobras. In 2013 an all Porsche 911 "Weissach Cup" was featured to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the 911.{{cite web|title=Official Rolex Race Results|url=http://www.weathertechraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_8b_sun_rolex_race_w_times.pdf|publisher= Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date= 2013|accessdate=August 7, 2014}}

In 1975, the event introduced the tradition of honoring a "featured marque" each year.{{cite web|title=FEATURED MARQUE HISTORY|url=http://www.weathertechraceway.com/event-news/featured-marque-history|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date=2011|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} This tribute is done through various ways. These include an increased number of entered vehicles from that marque, special displays of the marque's history and some of the brand's vehicles (past and/or present, with the former sometimes featuring entered vehicles), and sometimes spec races only featuring vehicles from the marque being tributed. Occasionally the event will have special one-time tributes. These have included Can Am team Chaparral Cars and racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio.

Because of the high value of many of the cars used, the Reunion committee has established a severe punishment for avoidable contact. The driver convicted will be unable to participate in any further events, but can appeal the judgement one year after the incident.

In contrast to the Goodwood Revival, the races at the Monterey Reunion tend not to feature hard competition due to the high value of the cars.

In the prewar groups the drivers can be seen waving as a signal to other drivers to pass. This is to avoid any potentially-severe or costly damage to the vehicles.

Although the event features many groups of different types of racecars, it does not strictly place entrants in their most appropriate groups. For example, a 2.1 liter Morgan can be placed in an under two liter class despite being over the specified displacement. This is done due to the over two liter groups often featuring vehicles with at least five liters (a la SCCA). Certain postwar cars have been known to compete with the prewar cars due to technological similarities (e.g. the MG T-Series). Some drivers will enter themselves in the wrong class either as a late entry or if they were unable to qualify for their more appropriate class.{{cite web|title=OFFICIAL ROLEX RACE RESULTS|url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_5b_sun_rolex_race_w_times_0.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426212215/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_5b_sun_rolex_race_w_times_0.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 26, 2014|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date=2013|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} The Trans Am Series race group, despite being predominantly five-liter cars, occasionally features an under two liter car.

Formerly, some races were held on Saturday and some on Sunday, with qualifying being held on Friday. For 2022 this was changed so that all groups were on Saturday.

In recent years there have been multiple instances in which contemporary racecars have been included in the race groups despite having been manufactured much later than even the most contemporary racecars regularly featured. In 2009, when featuring Porsche, an American Le Mans Series Porsche 911 was entered in the IMSA GT race group.{{cite web|title=36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races|url=http://generalracing.com/2009-race-results|publisher=General Racing|date=2009|accessdate=August 7, 2014|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811190333/http://generalracing.com/2009-race-results|archivedate=August 11, 2014}} That group was chosen due to the technological similarities between the IMSA GT cars and the modern ALMS cars. In 2012, an ALMS Corvette competed with the IMSA GTO race group.{{cite web|title=OFFICIAL ROLEX RACE RESULTS|url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_6b_sun_rolex_race_w_times.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211650/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_6b_sun_rolex_race_w_times.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 26, 2014|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date=2013|accessdate=August 7, 2014}} The event was featuring split IMSA groups that year: IMSA GT/GTX/AAGT/GTU and IMSA GTO. The latter was chosen due to the Corvette's more powerful engine. For 2016, the event featured contemporary BMW racecars such as those used in the ALMS in commemoration of that brand's centennial. In recent years a mixed race group of ALMS and GTP cars has been featured.

Although the Reunion is an amateur event and features predominantly non-professional competitors, some current and former professionals do attend. They are especially found in the IMSA groups.

Notable entrants include:

• The Edelbrock family.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/8.2._entries.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-15 |archive-date=2016-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909043918/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/8.2._entries.pdf |url-status=usurped }}
• Randy Pobst
• Boris Said
• Bruce Canepa
• Brian Redman{{Cite web |url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_6b_sun_rolex_race_w_times.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-05-12 |archive-date=2014-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211650/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/grp_6b_sun_rolex_race_w_times.pdf |url-status=usurped }}
• David Hobbs{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsport.com/vintage/photo/main-gallery/david-hobbs-in-a-1977-bmw-320/|title = David Hobbs in a 1977 BMW 320 Turbo at Monterey Historics High-Res Professional Motorsports Photography| date=6 August 2023 }}
• Leh Keen
• David Brabham
• Jim Hall
• Tommy Kendall
• Marshall Teague

Prior to 2010, the event was affiliated with the Wine Country Classic at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. The event is now known as the Sonoma Speed Festival. The event also featured Formula 5000 in 2008.{{cite web|title=Historic Formula 5000 race cars at Infineon - V8 sounds|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PycV_gBKhcQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PycV_gBKhcQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|work=MajorDiscomfort|date=Mar 27, 2011|accessdate=August 7, 2014}}{{cbignore}} Prior to 2010 the event was organized as a doubleheader, after which the event was redone to be more like the Monterey Event. The inaugural year of this new event had Saturday rained out, forcing all the race groups to be contested on Sunday. This became the format thereafter. The event also often features 1980s Trans Am Series cars racing alongside the IMSA GTO cars due to their technological similarities (IMSA GTO vehicles were often also used in Trans Am, similar to the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge street tuner vehicles being able to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge touring car classes). This event also features classic NASCAR vehicles from both the Grand National and Winston Cup Series eras due to the event held there.

In May, 2017, a smaller event at WeatherTech Raceway debuted known as the Spring Classic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/spring-classic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125113624/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/spring-classic|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 25, 2017|title=Spring Classic}}

After the 2009 event, General Racing Ltd. (GRL), who created and owned the event, and the Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) announced that GRL would no longer sanction the event and that a new event would be organized by SCRAMP that would be more economically viable.{{cite web|url=http://www.racer.com/scramp-and-general-racing-part-company-for-monterey-historics/article/146639/ |title=SCRAMP and General Racing part company for Monterey Historics |date=August 17, 2009 |publisher=Racer |work=racer.com |accessdate=January 2, 2014 |quote=On September 5, 2008, I [Steve Earle] was advised that the economic terms for the agreement between General Racing and SCRAMP were no longer commercially viable for SCRAMP. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103034523/http://www.racer.com/scramp-and-general-racing-part-company-for-monterey-historics/article/146639/ |archivedate=January 3, 2014 }} After the 2010 event, the new event would be called the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The original name was still owned and copyrighted by GRL, who would retain the sister event at Sonoma Raceway. SCRAMP recognizes the Historics and the Reunion as two separate events.

Despite the reorganization, change of management, and SCRAMP's observance of the "new event" as separate from the original Historics, the Reunion does not feature any notable differences from the original event aside from the new name. The Reunion uses exactly the same structure as the Historics and features the same regular race groups.

In 2013, the Reunion was nominated for the Motor Sports Event category at the International Historic Motoring Awards.{{cite web|title=ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION NAMED A FINALIST FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD|url=http://www.mazdaraceway.com/event-news/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion-named-finalist-prestigious-award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017115427/http://www.mazdaraceway.com/event-news/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion-named-finalist-prestigious-award|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 17, 2013|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date=2013}}

In 2017, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion won the FIA Founding Members' Heritage Cup for Motorsport Event of the Year, the first event at an American venue to receive the prestigious award.{{cite web|title=SCRAMP AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS FIA AWARD FOR ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION|url=http://www.weathertechraceway.com/event-news/scramp-awarded-prestigious-fia-award-rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion|publisher=Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|date=2017}}

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Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1974

Category:Sports competitions in Monterey County, California

Category:Historic motorsport events

Category:Tourist attractions in Monterey County, California

Category:Motorsport competitions in California

Category:1974 establishments in California