Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2014

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2014 was held August 9-10 at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. Formerly known as Monterey Pre-Historics, the event is held the weekend before the much larger Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The 2014 running of the Monterey Pre-Reunion was again open to the public, allowing spectators to enjoy a more relaxed paddock environment and a glimpse of the following weekend.

The Pre-Reunion is designed to give Monterey Motorsports Reunion entrants — many of whom have never raced on the technical Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca — track time before the green flag officially drops the following weekend. Typically about 50-75% of the cars that race in the Reunion also attend the Pre-Reunion and this year was no different, with approximately 300 historic racing cars on track compared to 550 scheduled for the 2014 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

Maserati is this year’s featured marque and will officially celebrate its 100th anniversary at the motorsports gathering. Therefore it was no surprise to see a great selection of the Italian manufacturer’s finest such as Tipo 60 and 61 Birdcages and even a 3500GT. Rarer still was the 1962 Maserati Tipo 151 entered by Fratelli Auriana Racing from the collection of Lawrence Auriana. Since its restoration, chassis 151.006 has competed in three successive Goodwood Revivals and last year in the 2013 Le Mans Legend. This was the car’s first visit to Monterey and the challenging Laguna Seca road course.

In addition to the Maserati racers, other notable and interesting entrants at the 2014 Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion included the Greg Whitten’s 1957 Aston Martin DBR2 and 1935 ERA Type B; Gunnar Jeanette’s 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta; Greg Mitchell’s 1967 Shelby King Cobra; Lawrence Stroll’s 1970 Ferrari 512M; Chip Connor’s 1980 Porsche 935J; Peter Giddings’ 1926 Delage 15-S-8 and 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35; Erickson Shirley’s 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3; Chris MacAllister’s 1971 McLaren M8F; Bill Ockerlund’s 1974 Porsche 911 RSR and James Lawrence’s 1977 Porsche 934.5; among many others.

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Similar to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, Senior Photographer Dennis Gray also documented the 2014 Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion with the following gallery that highlight entrants enjoying their track time at Laguna Seca. 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.

Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery

1975 Porsche RSR driven by Alan Benjamin.

Derek Hill’s 1962 Maserati Tipo 151 in The Corkscrew.

Sandra McNeil in her 1963 Shelby Cobra 289

1970 Ferrari 512M driven by Lawrence Stroll.

John Morton in Gunnar Jeanette’s Ferrari 250LM Berlinetta GT.

Under gray skies Rob Kauffman’s 1959 Lister Costin enters the Corkscrew.

Dyke Ridgley’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage in The Corkscrew.

Terry Hefty’s 1959 Cooper Monaco T49 in The Corkscrew.

John Hurabiell’s 1956 Lotus Eleven in The Corkscrew.

Craig Taylor’s 1958 Maserati 3500GT in The Corkscrew.

Robert Williams in his 1952 Siata Daina in The Corkscrew.

The Alex Curtis 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing warms up in the pits prior to Sunday’s practice.

Never walk by a transporter with out taking a peek inside. In this case the Porsche 917K was just inside the rollup.

Lawrence Stroll’s 1970 Ferrari 512M – 1040 in turn two Saturday.

John Morton in Gunner Jeanette’s 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta GT 6217.

A quick team, Harindra DeSilva and his 1965 Elva Mk.8 80-04 in turn two Saturday.

David Swig in his 1957 Monsterati Special in The Corkscrew.

Stan Anderes in his 1956 Lotus Eleven, Le Mans 212 and John Stafford’s 1959 Birdcage Maserati Tipo 61 2454 in The Corkscrew.

Stu Hanssen’s 1951 Ford/Ardun powered Baldwin Special.

Peter Giddings in the howling
1926 Delage 15-S-8 18488 in turn five Saturday.

1974 Shadow DN4 this one driven by Craig Bennett.

1971 McLaren M8F-1 driven by Chris Macallister.

Richard Griot’s 1967 McLaren M6A in turn two Sunday.

Richard Jeffery in his 1935 Riley Brooklands Special.

Nathanael Green’s 1925 Bugatti Type 35 in turn two.

Erickson Shirley in Jon Shirley’s 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3.

Peter Giddings hustling his 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35. Great fun to watch.

Patrick Orosco’s 1979 MARCH 79B in turn two Sunday.

Keith Frieser’s 1972 Lola T290. Lap after lap Keith had the back end hung out through the turns. Look at the front wheel and his hand placement you can tell he is oversteering through the turn.

Greg Mitchell’s 1969 Lola T163 in turn two.

John Stafford’s 1959 Birdcage Maserati Tipo 61 2454 in turn eleven Saturday morning.

Jonathan Feiber’s 1960 Birdcage Maserati Tipo 61 2458 in turn eleven Saturday morning.

Bruce Canepa in traffic. 1979 Porsche 935.

1977 Porsche 934.5 driven by James Lawrence.

Chip Connor’s 1980 Porsche 935J in turn two.

1973 Abarth Osella PA1/04 driven by Richard Dean in turn five Saturday.

Jim Stengel’s 1972 McLaren M8-FP in turn five saturday.

William ‘Chip’ Connor in his 1980 Porsche 935J 00 00012 in turn five Saturday.

George Nakas in his 1988 Porsche 962 in turn five Saturday.

Mark Hamilton Peters in Lawrence Stroll’s 1980 Ferrari 512BBLM in turn five saturday.

Turn eleven Saturday morning, Greg Mitchell’s 1967 Shelby King Cobra.

Lawrence Stroll’s 1970 Ferrari 512M 1040 in turn eleven Saturday morning.

Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 2014 – Race Results

Group 1 – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars
1. Cameron Healey, 1953 Porsche Cooper Pooper
2. Thomas Claridge, 1953 Kurtis 500S
3. Ned Spieker, 1957 Maserati 200Si

Group 2 – 1955-1962 GT Cars
1. Dyke Ridgley, 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
2. Patrick Byrne, 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce
3. Jeff Abramson, 1959 Morgan Baby Doll

Group 3 – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars
1. David Swig, 1957 Monsterati Special
2. Don Orosco, 1958 Lotus 15
3. Greg Meyer, 1958 Devin SS

Group 4 – 1963-1972 FIA Manufacturers Championship Cars
1. Cameron Healey, 1970 Porsche 908/3
2. Gray Gregory, 1969 Chevron B16
3. Joshua Feiber, 1962 Lotus 23B

Group 5 – 1961-1966 GT Cars under 2500cc
1. Patrick Byrne, 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Corsa
2. Gilbert Hakim, 1967 Porsche 911
3. Michael Sweeney, 1966 Ginetta-Alfa Romeo G4R

Group 6 – 1963-1966 GT Cars over 2500cc
1. Mike McGovern, 1964 Shelby Cobra
2. Jeff Abramson, 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
3. Tommy Steuer, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette

Group 7 – 1966-1972 Historic TransAm Cars
1. Jim Halsey, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
2. Jim Reed, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
3. Walt Brown, Jr., 1970 Chevrolet Camaro

Group 8 – 1973-1989 FIA, IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GTU, GTP Cars
1. Tom Malloy, 1991 AAR Eagle Toyota GTP
2. John Hildebrand, 1978 Chevrolet Camaro
3. John Watkins, 1970 Ford Mustang

Group 9 – 1963-1973 Can-Am and USRRC Cars
1. Craig Bennett, 1974 Shadow DN4
2. Chris MacAllister, 1971 McLaren M8F
3. Thomas Steuer, 1970 McLaren M8C

Group 10 – 1970-1979 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc
1. Keith Frieser, 1972 Lola T290
2. Gray Gregory, 1973 Chevron B26
3. Martin Lauber, 1970 Chevron B19

Group 11 – 1974-1980 Formula Atlantic Cars
1. Martin Lauber, 1977 Chevron B39
2. John Hill, 1975 Chevron B29
3. Dalmo De Vasconcelos, 1976 Ralt RT-1

Group 12 – Pre-1951 Sports Racing and Touring Cars
1. Peter Giddings, 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35
2. Eric Shirley, 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3
3. Greg Whitten, 1935 ERA Type B

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[Source: Dennis Gray]