It was announced earlier this year that the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula would continue to manage Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for at least another three years. Now, the senior management structure has been reorganized less than four weeks before the eighth annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, scheduled August 17-20 during Monterey Car Week.
This year marks the track’s 60th anniversary season.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors had considered other groups to take over the track, including the International Speedway Corporation, an arm of NASCAR.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that a group known as Friends of Laguna Seca, comprised of several prominent racing enthusiasts, still seeks a role in the track’s management and had just met with county supervisors.
Meanwhile, SCRAMP announced that its board president Michael Smith will assume chief executive duties on a temporary basis after long-time track general manager Gill Campbell takes a new title as senior vice president of event operations.
According to Smith, the move is a response to the operation agreement with the county.
“It will enable SCRAMP to address the increased demands of running the entire Laguna Seca Recreation Area while staying focused on an ambitious plan for racing and non-racing events at the facility” he said.
“I’m looking forward to doing what I do best, which is to organize and promote events,” added Campbell.
The Motorsports Reunion took over after the track had been the home of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races since 1974. The event attracts more than 900 entries for the 550 available positions on the various starting grids.
An economic study by California State University in 2015 reported the Reunion generated $18.5 million of direct visitor spending. The study also revealed the all track events generated $62.1 million in direct spending.
In August, the Reunion celebrates the 60th anniversary of Formula Junior and the 70th anniversary of Ferrari as an automaker.
Vintage racers head to Lime Rock for Labor Day weekend
The Lime Rock Park Historic Festival 35 takes place September 1-2 and 4 on the 1.5-mile circuit in Lakeville, Connecticut, where Sunday racing is not allowed because of noise issues.
The race groups for the event are unusual, to say the least. They are:
- Group 1. Herb’s Choice — Road-going sporting cars
- Group 2. Duncan’s Dilemma — Front-engined and drum-braked Formula Juniors
- Group 3. Tin Top Dreams — Splendid sedans
- Group 4. Eric’s Delight — Single-minded sports racing cars
- Group 5. Skip’s Nightmares — Grand Touring miscellany
- Group 6. Colin’s Apotheosis — Rear-engined Formula Juniors
- Group 7. Mostly Real Vintage — A first-half century selection
- Group 8. Formula “Very” Libre — A fast and furious mixture
- Group 9. Kent’s Domain — Not quite street legal
According to the Festival chairman Murray Smith, racing icon and Lime Rock Park president and owner Skip Barber will set the pace with “Grand Touring miscellany” while the late Eric Broadley and Colin Chapman, founders of Lola Cars and Lotus Cars, respectively, are being honored by the naming of two of the groups.
Among special guests will be Richard Attwood, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Monte Carlo Formula Junior race winner, who will put a Holman Ford GT40 brought by Lee Holman, Holman & Moody of Charlotte, North Carolina, through its paces in demo laps over the weekend.
The Park Concours d’Elegance takes place Sunday, September 3, and is set to showcase 200 rare and unique cars from the Brass Era to modern as well as motorcycles.
Vintage racing this weekend
The Silverstone Classic this weekend in England is set to feature a 22-race program that celebrates 50 years of Formula Ford and marks the return of the Pre-War Sports Cars to the event, starring Bentleys, Bugattis and Frazer Nashes from the 1920s and ‘30s.
Some 140 cars will participate, including those competing in the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Race Series and in FIA Masters Historic Sportscars. Over More than 50 pre-1961 sports racers will race for the actual cup Stirling Moss won in his first GP victory in 1955. Other significant trophy’s to be given include the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy, and the Group C Racing and Super Touring Car trophies.
On the infield, race fans will be able to watch eBay’s Restoration Live team, led by Fergus Walkinshaw, bring a 33-year-old Ford Capri back to life using parts sourced on eBay. If completed before the conclusion of the event, the finished car will be shown as part of Mike Brewer’s Car Clinics scheduled for Sunday afternoon and then will be auctioned on eBay. Proceeds will benefit the event’s official chosen charity, Prostate Cancer UK.
