Some 550 vintage racecars competing in 15 race groups filled the paddocks at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for last weekend’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, as the event marked the 100th anniversary of BMW, this year’s featured marque. What raceway officials called a record four-day crowd of 70,525 spectators partook of the celebration of motorsports history spotlighting not only the featured marque, but also the 50th anniversaries of both the Can-Am and Trans-Am series.
Sunday evening’s award ceremony showcased the best of the best from throughout the weekend on the historic 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course, with the award recipients and race winners listed below.
A 60-minute program of the event is scheduled to air Thursday, September 22, at 8 p.m. Eastern time on The Enthusiast Network (TEN).
The 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, to be held during Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s yearlong 60th anniversary celebration, has been set for August 17-20. The featured marque will be announced in the coming months.
2016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Race Winners
Group 1A – pre-1940 Sports Racing & 1927-1951 Racing cars
Derek Hill – 1927 Delage ERA (36)
Group 1B – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars
Bernard Juchli – 1955 Jaguar Hageman Special (86)
Group 2A – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc
David Swig – 1958 Scarab Mk I (16)
Group 2B – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc
Gregory Campbell – 1955 Devin Porsche 356 (356)
Group 3A – 1955-1962 GT cars
Chris Cox – 1962 Ferrari 250GTO (112)
Group 3B – 1963-1973 FIA Manufacturers Championship Cars
Bob Earl – 1972 Ferrari 312PB (87)
Group 4A – 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GTU Cars
Gunnar Jeanette – 1980 Porsche 935 (0)
Group 4B – 1961-1966 GT Cars under 2500cc
Fred Della Noce – 1966 Ginetta G12 (18)
Group 5A – 1963-1968 USRRC and Can-Am Cars
Marc Devis – 1967 Lola T70 MkIIIB Spyder (47)
Group 5B – 1981-1991 FIA Manufacturers Championship IMSA GTO/GTP Cars
Bruce Canepa – 1986 Porsche 962C (10)
Group 6A – 1970-1984 Sports Racing cars under 2100cc
Wade Carter – 1972 Lola T294 (74)
Group 6B – 1963-1966 GT Cars over 2500cc
Thomas Steuer – 1965 Chevrolet Corvette (75)
Group 7A – 1968-1974 Can-Am Cars
Kirt Bennett – 1974 Shadow DN4-Chevrolet (101A)
Group 7B – 1967-1984 Formula One Cars
Dan Marvin – 1974 Brabham BT44-Cosworth (82)
Group 8A – 1966-1972 Historic Tans-Am Cars
Ken Epsman – 1971 AMC Javelin (2)
Rolex Awards
Best Paddock Display
Presented to the best paddock display representative of the era
Winner: Pre-War Alley
Stand 21 Award
Awarded to the Most Period Authentic look
Winner: Ed Archer (1915 Ford Model T in Group 1A)
Ken Miles Trophy
Presented for the representation of a vintage car under 1500cc
Winner: Don Martine (1950 MGTD Von Neumann Special in Group 1B)
Can-Am Spirit Award
Presented to the competitor who showed the most persistence and performance all weekend
Winner: Johan Woerheide (1965 Lola T70 Mk II in Group 5A)
Henry Ford Trophy
Presented to the most significant Ford-powered entry
Winner: Lynn Park (1963 Shelby Cobra 289 in Group 6B)
The John Fitch Corvette Excellence Award
Presented to the most significant Chevrolet Corvette
Winner: Jeni Yeakel-Swanson (1964 Chevrolet Corvette in Group 6B)
The Phil Remington Award
Presented to the mechanic who demonstrates exceptional skill
Winner: Terry Forland (BMW)
Bonhams Cup Awards
Presented to participants in the featured morning races who best exemplify the spirit of the event
Race 4A – Steve Walker (1973 BMW CSL)
Race 4B – Bill Kirkwood (1961 Elva Courier MkII)
Race 5B – Richard Dean (1985 Ford Mustang)
Race 7A – Brian Blain (1967 McLaren M6A)
The Chairman’s Award
Presented to the entrant whose car has historical significance to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Winner: Jeffrey Abramson (1959 Morgan Baby Doll in Group 3A)
The Founders Trophy
Presented to the person who richly personifies historic racing
Winner: Jim Adler (1952 Jaguar XK120 in Group 1B)
The Spirit of Monterey Award
Presented to the driver or entrant who excels in the spirit of the weekend
Winner: Jim Bartell for entering two incredible UOP Shadow Can-Am cars
The Rolex Awards for Excellence
Presented for Overall Excellence in each race category as determined by an independent panel of judges are as follows:
Saturday Race Recipients:
Rolex Race 1A – Craig Barto driving a 1931 Bugatti Type 51
Rolex Race 2A – David Swig driving a 1958 Scarab MkI
Rolex Race 3A – Peter Smith driving a 1958 Austin Healey Sprite
Rolex Race 4A – Jean Bernard Bouvet driving a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette
Rolex Race 5A – Marc Devis driving a 1967 Lola T70
Rolex Race 6A – Tim de Silva driving a 1978 Osella BMW PA8
Rolex Race 7A – Emmett Murphy driving a 1972 McLaren M8F/P
Rolex Race 8A – Terry Lawlor driving a 1967 Shelby Mustang
Sunday Race Recipients
Rolex Race 1B – Kevin Adair driving a 1959 Austin Healey 3000S
Rolex Race 2B – Jacquelyn Mincheff driving a 1956 Lotus Eleven
Rolex Race 3B – Bob Earl driving a 1972 Ferrari 312PB
Rolex Race 4B – Craig Taylor driving a 1966 BMW 2002
Rolex Race 5B – Bill Ockerlund riving a 1991 Chevrolet Duracell Camaro
Rolex Race 6B – Sandra McNeil driving a 1963 Shelby Cobra 289
Rolex Race 7B – Greg Thornton driving a 1976 Lotus 77
