Laguna Seca, 11.-12.08.2012
Just before the official kick-off of this year's Monterey Classic Car
week with the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel on Tuesday the
pre-reunion at the racetrack in Laguna Seca was the prelude.
Beside all the concours, meetings, auctions and shows the Rolex
Monterey Motorsport Reunion is the sportive part of the week.
Traditionally the weekend before has some track days for all
those who arrive earlier or want to enjoy their cars on the tracks
more than just one weekend. In 12 race groups ranging from the
pre-war cars to the IMSA cars of the early 1980s both on
Saturday and Sunday a practice session and a small 5 lap race
was on the program showing what to expect next weekend. This
year 2012 is the 50th anniversary of the 250 GTO and its rival, the
AC Cobra. With the Ferrari featured last year this edition is
dedicated to the Cobra with no less than 44 cars expected at the
main race next weekend. As Carroll Shelby passed away earlier
this year the theme of the RMMR was extended to the Shelby
history so beside the Cobras a lot of Shelby Mustangs could be
seen on both occasions.
A rarer sighting on a road course outside the oval was the race of
the Stock Cars. Being built for the fast ovals the cars proved to be
a handful to drive on the mountain course, especially at the twisty
corkscrew. For some reason this year does not include a Formula
1 race so the Formula Junior race is joined by the Formula
Atlantic on both weekends.
We have now put together a small preview of the first part of the
Monterey week and after taking a breath on Monday the following
days are packed with many different events including the
Concours on the Avenue, the Concorso Italiano, the Quail
Motorsport Gathering, the auctions and the final Concours at
Pebble Beach on Sunday and its Tour on Thursday.
In the next day we try to keep you up to date with small previews
of all the events before we feature them one-by-one during the
next weeks.
Images: Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
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