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Group 12 – 1947 to 1960 Front Engined Sports Racing and GT saw Lotus providing nine of 29 entries five Lotus XI and two Lotus XI LeMans, two Lotus 17s, Kevin Adair in his Elva Mark 1 and Jeff Abramson in his John Von Neuman MG TD adding to the delight. These light weight car racers dicing it up and sweeping into tight corner with great aplomb. Greg Meyer took the win with his 1959 Sadler Mark IV, but Meyer did not go unchallenged as second and third place finishers Al Arciero in his 1958 Lister Knobbly and Brian MacEarchern in his 1956 Lotus XI presented some serious competition throughout the race.
Saturday Group 1 saw Horatio Fitz-Simon in his 1964 Elan 26R taking the checkered flag with Rob Walker in his 26R taking fourth with Dennis Adair in his Lotus Elite coming in at 28th out of 34 finishers. In Group 11 Kevin Weeda took a very respectable sixth in his Lotus 91 with Chris Locke coming in eighth of 20 finishers in his Lotus 77. In Group 12 Brian McEachem in his Lotus XI took third with nine other Lotus racers coming in mostly mid-pack of the 29 cars racing. In Group 14 1955 to 1969 Saloon racing first was taken by Todd Willing in his 1968 Ford Escort with the Mark Owen in his 1967 Lotus Cortina Mark 2 and Jonathon Feber in his 1963 Lotus Cortina Mark 1 placing 12th and 27th.
Historic racing has really changed. Twenty-five years ago it was not uncommon to see bright red, pontoon-fendered full-race Ferrari roaring over Los Lorales Grade to or from a social event, no plates, ear to ear grin on the driver’s face, and not a care in the world. Today trailers pour into the pits with nearly full-machine shops on board, support staff to prepare meals, several techs to keep the cars purring and lots of money spent.
Stewart Smith was out there with his wife, tinkering on his 1958 Lotus XI Club Racer. 1200CC, solid rear axle Lotus is one of the few cars present not seriously updated and beyond. This Lotus Eleven Club was first purchased by Bill Burnett in 1957 and raced at Laguna Seca in second year of racing at the new track in 1958. “This is my 26th Reunion” race, “I have been coming here since 1979.” “It gives me great pleasure to build my own motors. I get a strong sense of accomplishment after completing the weekend. I have a lot of great friends I know through racing and it is a great seeing them every year.” Stewart knows that he is fifteen seconds off the pace and came in 22nd out of 29 cars. But it was far more fun simply watching Stewart out there having a splendid time in car where he does it all himself. The reality is that cubic money has changed historic racing. There was a fellow with a corral of cars out there with a rare Lotus and a rare Morgan, both gleamingly clean. The driver had broken an axle on Thursday, but knew so little about his Morgan and the Morgan Community that no one on his team ever called the local Morgan repair shop or even a local Morganiste who raced Laguna Seca from time to time. BOTH had spare rear axles that they would have lent or sold in the spirit that Stewart Smith so wonderfully exemplified. When I asked the fellow about the history of his cars he was clueless and had an appointment with a very well-dressed woman and he had no time to chat.
Saturday would see more racing at Laguna Seca, but there were several shows beckoning. Concorso Italiano was elegant and fun, with lots of people spreading out blankets and enjoying a meal or a snack, a bit of wine or champagne with old friends and fun cars. As noted, this was the inaugural event for Monterey Motorsports Festival. With a great spread of vehicles from ex-military, old emergency, hot rods, street rods, rebodied Mazda RX-7s and Porsche 911s. But the really interesting part of the show were the Japanese retrorods. Lots of youth with lots of time and not a lot of money and some really cool and enthusiastic “builds.”
With time available before dinner we puttered over to RM auctions to see what the fuss was about concerning a few burnt, crumpled, flooded and wrecked Ferraris. Yes, we saw them, yes, one we viewed was an extremely rare 1954 Ferrari Mondial Spider that went for $1.875 million. We even met the new owner looking at the car and figuring out the steps required to bring it back. Dinner was at the Fishwife and definitely a better value.
On Sunday at O-dark-thirty the penetrating cold fog was still drifting over the roads as we approached Pebble Beach. But we were soon blessed with moderate weather. Located in the quadrangle above the Lodge was the upper field where the latest and greatest prototypes were lined up for review behind roped-off areas. That was where we found Simon Lane, Director – Lotus Advanced Performance and Hannah Ritchie of Lotus Cars with the gleaming Lotus Type 66! One wild beast. Following the interview we headed down to the main field. Not only were the cars spectacular as usual, but many people like Benjamin Tice Smith were out in period costume or in Ben’s case, full Scottish regimental kilt. Rare cars such the one of only two Freestone and Webb “honeymoon car,” were amazing to see. Fascinating to listen to Lee Carr discussing “the correct chrome” restoration issues he had to fathom with his electric blue 1953 Cadillac Ghia Coupe. In a nearby section, one of the docents explaining how the 1935 Duesenberg JN had a set of headlights that turned with the steering, beating Audi to the market by some fifty years or so.
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