Celebrating IMSA—The 2019 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

September 2, 2019
Images by Shawn Glad

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, held from August 15-18, broke from its tradition of celebrating a single marque. Instead, it honored the 50th anniversary of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The celebration included an 8,000 square foot heritage display that showcased IMSA’s legacy and history. This display highlighted cars from IMSA’s past and present, featuring manufacturers such as Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, and Toyota.

In addition to the heritage displays, my other two favorite activities this year were, wandering through the paddock, learning about the cars and their respective histories, and photographing them at speed as they navigate the Corkscrew.

Notable cars in the paddock included a 1984 Lancia Martini LC2, driven by Zak Brown (also featured in the lead image of this post), a 1984 Porsche 962 wearing the Coca Cola sponsorship livery driven by Bob Akin, Hans-Joachim Stuck, and Paul Miller, and the 1971 Porsche 914/6 GT that clinched Porsche’s first sports car title in IMSA’s inaugural season. I’ve included them along with some more of my favorites in the gallery below.

The Corkscrew, ever spectacular, featured several significant cars. Among my favorites were the 1964 904 Carrera GTS Coupe, driven by Sandra McNeil, and the 1991 Nissan NPT90, driven by Dwight Merriman. It was the first time I had witnessed either of these cars at speed on a track — both looked and sounded incredible. Photos of both cars are included below.

1984 Lancia Martini LC2

This 1984 Lancia Martini LC2 secured pole position and the fastest lap at the 1984 Le Mans and achieved an 8th place finish, along with a 7th place in 1985 and a victory at the 1984 Kyalami 1000km.

Also in the photo is the 1988 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo, with its 2.1-liter five-cylinder engine producing 510 horsepower, driven by Richard Dean to Trans-Am championship in 1988. A little further back is the 1981 Porsche 935, with 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: 5
Driver: Zak Brown
Group 7A
IMSA Prototypes – GTP/WCS/LMP/ DP

1984 Porsche 962

This 1984 Porsche 962, built for its 1984 debut season, was delivered to Bob Akin, a New York industrialist and racer. Previously racing Porsche 935s from 1980-84, Akin switched to the 962, painted red with Coca Cola sponsorship. It secured a fourth-place finish at the 1985 Daytona 24 Hours with Akin, Hans-Joachim Stuck, and Paul Miller.

Chassis: 962-102
Driver: Lee Giannone
Group 7A
IMSA Prototypes – GTP/WCS/LMP/ DP

1971 Porsche 914/6 GT

This 1971 Porsche 914/6 GT, competed in the first GT season of the race series founded by Bill France Sr. and John Bishop in 1971. Brumos Racing drivers Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood dominated by winning the first five races of the six-race season in their orange No. 59 Porsche 914, leading the GTU class. This performance secured Porsche’s first sports car title in IMSA’s inaugural season. Porsche has since participated in every IMSA race, earning 569 race wins.

Porsches in the Paddock

Porsches in the Paddock
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1967 Porsche 911S

This is the well-known Michael Keyser/Bruce Jennings 1967 Porsche 911S. It was the first in the line of Toad Hall race cars, a name inspired by the children’s book “Wind in the Willows.” Keyser first drove the car at a 1969 driver’s school and, in 1970, handed it to Jennings and Bob Tullius for FIA events, achieving notable finishes. Keyser returned to racing the car in SCCA events in 1970 and FIA events in 1971 with Jennings and Bob Beasley.

Chassis: 308472S
Driver: Kevin Buckley
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1965 Porsche 911

1965 Porsche 911
Chassis: 301172
Driver: Mathew Goetzinger
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1964 904 Carrera GTS Coupe

This 1964 904 Carrera GTS Coupe, was first sold to a privateer, delivered to Otto Zipper at Precision Motors in Beverly Hills, California, in February 1964. Scooter Patrick raced it in twenty events during 1964 and 1965, securing eleven class victories and a 3rd overall at the 1965 Sebring 12-hour.

Chassis: 904-011
Driver: Sandra McNeil
Group 6A
GT Cars over 2500cc
1963-1966

1960 Porsche Abarth Carrera

This is a 1960 Porsche Abarth Carrera. Abarth Carreras were built on a 356B chassis and running gear, but distinguished themselves with an aluminum body and the legendary four-cam Carrera engine. This is one of only 21 Abarth Carreras produced.

Chassis: 1016
Driver: Ranson Webster
Group 2B
GT Cars
1955-1964

1991 Nissan NPT90

This 1991 Nissan NPT90, initially a spare and unfinished, was completed around 2010 for historic racing by Chris and Nick Randall, sporting MOMO colors. The Ascott Collection acquired it in 2017 and restored it to race-ready condition, debuting at the 2018 Espiritu de Montjuic in Barcelona.

For those interested, I captured all the photographs in this post with an older Canon DSLR equipped with a crop sensor. The lens used was a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. This series of photographs, showcasing the NPT90 working through the Corkscrew, is representative of what can be achieved. The shutter speed was set at 1/200th of a second, though it could have easily been adjusted to 1/100th to capture more motion. Oh well.

Driver: Dwight Merriman
Group 7B
Masters Endurance Legends
1983-2016

1989 FABCAR GTP

1989 FABCAR GTP
Chassis: GTP002SC
Driver: John Levitt
Group 7A
IMSA Prototypes – GTP/WCS/LMP/ DP

1965 BMW 1800TI

This is a 1965 BMW 1800TI, the sportier variant within the 1800 series. Denoted by the TI, this engine produced 110bhp, thanks to twin Solex carburetors and a higher 9.5:1 compression ratio. It dominated in motorsports, with notable victories like Hubert Hahne’s 1964 German Circuit Championship.

Chassis: 980844
Driver: Steve Walker
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1968 Porsche 911S

1968 Porsche 911S
Chassis: 11800876
Driver: Robert Smalley
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

Fiat Abarth

Fiat Abarth
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1959 Porsche 356

This 1959 Porsche 356 completed La Carrera twice, finishing fourth in class and 36th overall in 1997. In 1998, it improved to third in class and 35th overall.

Chassis: 107495
Driver: Don Tevini
Group 2B
GT Cars
1955-1964

1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ

This 1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ features a 1570cc, 175 bhp engine and was the most successful of four GTZs entered by Scuderia Saint Ambroeus in the 1964 Sebring race. Winning the 1600 GT class, it was driven by Chuck Stoddard and Jim Kaser.

Chassis: 750052
Driver: Gunnar Jeannette
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1973 Lola T-294

1973 Lola T-294
Chassis: HU78
Driver: Jim Bouzaglou
Group 5B
2-liter Sports Racers
Through 1984

1976 Porsche 934

This 1976 Porsche 934, one of the thirty Porsche 934s produced, was first owned by the Kremer brothers. This 934 has many wins, including the DRM Championship in 1979. It has also raced at Le Mans 24 Hours, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and won the Dijon 6 Hours in 1976. It has featured different liveries over the years, including Elf, Vaillant, and Jägermeister, among others.

Chassis: 9306700158
Driver: Tommy McGlynn
Group 5A
FIA/IMSA/GT/GTX/GTU/AAGT
1973-1981

1939 Alfa Romeo 6C2500 SS

This 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C2500 SS, was originally a Touring 5-seat body but has been modified to replicate a 6C 2500 SS Corsa, a competition model raced by Alfa Romeo. It features a 6-cylinder twin cam, normally aspirated engine, equipped with three single barrel side draft Weber carburetors, closely mirroring the specifications of the original race cars.

Chassis: 913213
Driver: Conrad Stevenson
Group 1A
Sports Racing and Touring Cars/Race Cars
Pre-1940

1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1

1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1
Chassis: 750062
Driver: Ned Spieker
Group 4B
GT Cars under 2500cc
1961-1966

1911 Fiat S74

This 1911 Fiat S74 was owned and raced by Caleb Bragg with a notable fourth-place finish at the 1911 American Grand Prix in Savannah. Caleb’s greatest success with the car came in 1912 when he claimed victory at the American Grand Prix in Milwaukee.

Chassis: 1
Driver: George F. Winged
Group 1A
Sports Racing and Touring Cars/Race Cars
Pre-1940