36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races

Tuesday, 14 April 2009 19:58

Wimbledon. Super Bowl. America’s Cup. Indianapolis. Le Mans. Daytona ... each the epitome of sporting excellence. Add to that list the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Since 1974, the Rolex Monterey Historics have showcased the world’s passion for vintage racing cars and has risen to a preeminent place on the international motorsports calendar, held at the beautiful Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

This General Racing event is a multi-day showcase of the cars and people of motor racing history from the beginning of the sport to the present day, showcasing over 400 of the finest vintage racing cars in the world, while encouraging their preservation so present and future generations can see them perform as they once did.

Those who have attended the event in past years have seen legendary Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix cars, Le Mans-winning Porsches and Jaguars, diminutive MGs, roaring Shelby Cobras, supercharged Bentleys, all-American Corvettes and Cunninghams, BMWs, Millers, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, Allards, Lotuses and the finest gatherings of Ferrari race cars on the planet.

Great drivers have always been a part of the event; men like American Grand Prix Champion Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Niki Lauda, Brian Redman and three knighted drivers, Sirs Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and Jack Brabham. And who can forget the high-speed laps driven in Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo GP cars by the late Juan Manuel Fangio, or the reunion of World Champion Mario Andretti with the 1978 Lotus 79. This year's Rolex Monterey Historic promises to be another exceptional event.