HomeNews and EventsVintage Indy cars on display and on track at Rolex event

Vintage Indy cars on display and on track at Rolex event

Bobby Rahal scheduled to unveil his recently restored 1966 Eagle

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Historic Trans Am series pony cars are the featured marque this month at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, but they aren’t the only special category taking to the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“For the first time, a dedicated historic Indy Car group – which originally competed between 1963 and 1978 – will be running in an exhibition all four days of the August 12-15 annual Monterey gathering,” the track has announced. 

“The introduction of rear-engine Indy Cars, starting in Indianapolis in 1963, changed the game. From 1965 on, there would not be another front engine winner of the Indianapolis 500.”

Bobby Rahal recently posted on Facebook this photo of his car nearing the end of its restoration

Among the cars entered is a recently restored 1966 Eagle that will make its post-restoration debut at the event. The car is owned by former Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, who won three consecutive races at Laguna Seca from 1986-88. As a result, the track renamed a section of its circuit the Rahal Straight.

Three cars that won the Indy 500 are entered. They include the 1964 Watson driven at the Speedway by A.J. Foyt, the 1970 Colt, formerly raced by Al Unser Sr., and the Eagle that Gordon Johncock drove to victory in 1973.

Also appearing will be the McLaren M16E-001 that Johnny Rutherford drove to second place at Indy in 1975, and the 1968 Eagle Mk IV with which Team Penske launched its Indy racing program.

On display will be the 1964 Lotus Type 34 that Parnelli Jones drove to victory at Trenton in 1964, and A.J. Foyt took to seven poles and three victories in 1965.

Fans will be treated to a quality collection of Indy Cars all under one tent,” said Ellen Bireley, curator of the historic Indy Car heritage display. “They will be able to view these historical jewels up close. I personally am grateful the owners agreed to share these treasures with the fans.”

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion also will feature new family fun activities, among them a go-kart track in the Hagerty Marketplace. 

Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

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