“It’s Back”—The 2021 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

August 30, 2021
Images by Shawn Glad

We can all breathe a sigh of relief. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, a highlight of the year for many automotive enthusiasts, has officially returned. After its absence in 2020, this event was even more special for those, including myself, who eagerly anticipate its arrival each year. So, for one week in August, this year from the 12th-15th, the Reunion has once again showcased an impressive collection of historic and authentic race cars, drawing world-class cars and drivers from around the world.

About the Featured Marque
This year’s event focused on Ford in the Trans-Am series. This celebration was especially noteworthy as it also commemorated the 55th anniversary of the inception of the Pony Car Wars which spawned competition from countless manufacturers. Racing legends George Follmer and Parnelli Jones served as Co-Grand Marshals, a fitting reunion for two of the most competitive drivers during the early years of the Trans-Am series.

About the Photos
I tried to capture more motion in my photographs this year. To that end, I reduced the shutter speed to about 1/100 on average, and as slow as 1/40th for run groups like the pre-1920 cars. Admittedly, this approach was a blend of hits and misses, with some photos capturing cars in a blur or missing the center of frame altogether. However, considering my limited track access, the challenging lighting conditions, and the fact that photography is not my day job, I’m pleased with the outcome.

Cheers!

1966 Shelby GT350

This 1966 Shelby GT350 was raced by Marv Tonkin for two seasons in the Pacific Northwest in 1966-67 with moderate success. Sold to dealership service manager Jim Fluge, who secured Gold Nugget Hotels sponsorship in 1977, it was repainted gold and black. Fluge achieved notable success, including the 1977 CSCC B-Production Championship, with numerous top finishes until retiring in 1979.

Chassis: SFM 6S2134
Driver: Peter Reed
Group 2A
GT over 2500cc
1963-1966

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/100 sec., f/11, ISO: 100

1961 Porsche RS-61L

This 1961 Porsche RS-61L was among Bob Holbert’s final cars for winning the SCCA E Sports Racing Championships in 1961 and 1962, and the U.S. Road Racing Championship in 1963. This time period was unremarkable for Porsche in Europe, as the company focused on Formula I, leaving the 718 series with minor updates from RS-60 to RS-61. Upon delivery of his new RS-61, Holbert found it had been extended four inches in the engine bay to fit Porsche’s new race engine. It had been developed alongside a 1.5-liter eight-cylinder for Formula I and a two-liter version for sports racing, meant to replace the older Fuhrmann four-cam.

Despite the flat eight’s introduction at the 1961 Targa Florio, Holbert never raced his RS-61L with it, preferring the performance of the Fuhrmann four-cam in his car’s extended configuration. The car is currently equipped with the engine it was designed for but can be converted back to Holbert’s configuration.

Revs Institute, “About the 1961 Porsche RS-61L”
https://revsinstitute.org/the-collection/1961-porsche-rs-61l/

Chassis: 718 048
Driver: Gunnar Jeannette
Group 1A
Sports Racing under/over 2000CC
1955-1961

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/125 sec., f/8, ISO: 100

1952 Glöckler-Porsche

This 1952 Glöckler-Porsche, built by VW dealer and racer Walter Glöckler with Porsche’s support, has a 1500cc rear-engine layout making about 86hp, aluminum body, and weighs about 1,130 pounds. It competed in the 1952 German Car Championship and SCCA racing in the United States. Driven by Glöckler’s cousin Helm, it set a class record at Nurburgring, winning the championship. Sold to Max Hoffman in the U.S., it was raced by Johnny Von Neuman, gaining notable publicity and finishes. Eventually owned by Fred Proctor, Jr., it continued to perform well in hill-climbs and road races.

Chassis: 10447
Driver: Jeff Wysard
Group 4A
Sports Racing & GT
1947-1955

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/160 sec., f/8, ISO: 100

1932 Studebaker Indy Car

This 1932 Studebaker Indy Car is one of five factory team cars from 1932-1933, and was driven by Albert Jacob “Pete” Kreis in the 1932 race.

Chassis: E2948
Driver: James Cleary
Group 3B
Racing Cars
1920-1951

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/50 sec., f/16, ISO: 100

1967 Vollstedt Indy Car

This 1967 Vollstedt Indy Car is hard to miss as it was the first Indy car to be fitted with an adjustable rear wing — the lens flare from my camera highlights this feature.

Chassis: 67B
Driver: Michael McKinney
Group 7A
Indy Car
1963-1978

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/40 sec., f/22, ISO: 100 (top)
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/60 sec., f/16, ISO: 100

1971 Ferrari 312 P Sparling Special

1971 Ferrari 312 P Sparling Special
Chassis: 872
Driver: John Goodman
Group 5B
FIA Manufacturers Championship

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/50 sec., f/20, ISO: 100

1973 Lola T-292

1973 Lola T-292
Chassis: HU 78
Driver: Jim Bouzaglou
Group 5B
FIA Manufacturers Championship

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/50 sec., f/22, ISO: 100

1973 Chevron B26

1973 Chevron B26
Chassis: B26/003
Driver: Gray Gregory
Group 5B
FIA Manufacturers Championship

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/50 sec., f/22, ISO: 100

1967 Porsche 910

This 1967 Porsche 910 notably achieved a 4th place finish in 1967 at the 12 Hours of Sebring with drivers Hans Herrmann and Jo Siffert. It also claimed a 2nd place finish that same year at the Norisring, driven by Alex Soler-Roig. It still wears its 1967 Sebring livery.

Chassis: 910-004
Driver: David Hagen
Group 5B
FIA Manufacturers Championship

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/40 sec., f/22, ISO: 100 (top)

1969 Porsche 908

This 1969 Porsche 908, was raced by the Porsche Werks team in 1969 events including Brands Hatch, Targa Florio, and Nürburgring. Drivers included Vic Elford, Richard Attwood, Rudi Lins, Gérard Larrousse, Kurt Ahrens Jr., Masten Gregory, and Pedro Rodriguez. Additionally, privateer racing history includes participation in four 24 Hours of Le Mans races, including a 9th place finish in 1973.

Chassis: 908/2 010
Driver: Richard Griot
Group 5B
FIA Manufacturers Championship

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/50 sec., f/22, ISO: 100

1973 BMW CSL

This 1973 BMW CSL dominated in the 1976 and 1977 European Touring Car Championship seasons, clinching the title in 1976 and finishing as runner-up in 1977. Over 20 races across both years, it secured seven pole positions, won nine races, and earned four additional podium finishes.

Chassis: LUIGI #001
Driver: Steve Walker
Group 3A
FIA IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GT
1973-1981

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/160 sec., f/9, ISO:100 (top/bottom)

1997 BMW M3

1997 BMW M3
Chassis: SR95020
Driver: Scooter Gabel
Group 6B
Masters Endurance Legends
1983-2016

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/50 sec., f/22, ISO: 100

1974 Porsche RSR

1974 Porsche RSR
Chassis: 12803002
Driver: Ben McGraw
Group 3A
FIA IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GT
1973-1981

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/160 sec., f/7.1, ISO: 100

Group 3A winding through the Corkscrew

Group 3A winding their way through the Corkscrew, led by the #93 Whittington Brothers’ Porsche 935 K3.

1976 Porsche 935K3
Chassis: 9306700152
Driver Steve Schmidt

Group 3A
FIA IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GT
1973-1981

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/320 sec., f/6.3, ISO: 100

1979 Porsche 935K3

This 1979 Porsche 935K3, originally delivered to racers Bill and Don Whittington, competed in various races, notably winning the Riverside 6 Hours and the 1979 Daytona Finale. They later joined Kremer Racing for Le Mans, achieving a historic victory with a 935 K3.

Chassis: 009 0004
Driver: Carlos De Quesada
Group 3A
FIA IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GT
1973-1981

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/125 sec., f/11, ISO: 100 (top)
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/160 sec., f/8, ISO: 100

1980 Porsche 935K3

Delivered new to Dick Barbour, this 1980 Porsche 935K3, driven by John Fitzpatrick with co-drivers including Barbour, Brian Redman, and Manfred Schurti, achieved significant success in the 1980 and 1981 seasons. Highlights include a fifth overall and class win at Le Mans in 1980, with Fitzpatrick securing several victories across the Atlantic.

Chassis: 23
Driver: Charles Nearburg
Group 3A
FIA IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GT
1973-1981

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/160 sec., f/8, ISO: 100

2003-2007 Porsche Crawford DP

This Porsche Crawford DP was built for the 2006 24 Hours of Daytona, where it won the pole position and finished third overall. It was driven by Patrick Long, Mike Rockenfeller, and Lucas Luhr. It claimed its first victory at Homestead Miami Speedway, followed by a second place at Long Beach. With Ruby Tuesday sponsorship, it won at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), driven by Mike Rockenfeller and went on to achieve seven podium finishes that season.

Chassis: DP03-009
Driver: Wally Owens
Group 6B
Masters Endurance Legends
1983-2016

Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm, 1/60 sec., f/22, ISO: 100 (top/bottom)

1972 Porsche 917/30

This 1972 Porsche 917/30, one of two Porsche 917/30’s used by Team Penske in the 1973 Can-Am Challenge, was its most winning car, with Mark Donohue claiming victories at Mid-Ohio, Road America, Edmonton, Laguna Seca, and Riverside. In 1974, Brian Redman drove it to a second-place finish at Mid-Ohio. The car set a closed circuit record of 211.160 mph at Talladega in 1975 with Donohue.

Chassis: 917/30-003

1981 Porsche 935

This 1981 Porsche 935, has 27 races, 9 wins, and 16 podiums under its belt, the 935 is powered by a 3.2-liter IMSA-spec motor, churning out 800 horsepower.

Chassis: JLP 003
Driver: Zak Brown
Group 3A
FIA IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT, GT
1973-1981

1967 Ford GT40 Mark IV

This 1967 Ford GT40 Mark IV, claimed victory at Le Mans in 1967. Piloted by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt, it outpaced the runner-up Ferrari by 32 miles at a record 135.48 mph average speed.

2016 Ford GT

To commemorate Ford’s 1967 Le Mans win with the GT40 Mark IV (above), this 2016 Ford GT, wears the number 67 for its entry into the 2016 running Le Mans. Piloted by Marino Franchitti, Andy Priaulx, and Harry Tincknell, the team faced an early gearbox problem, forcing them to play catch up and ultimately finishing ninth.