A mid-year Sting Ray lights up the 2021 RMMR (Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion) Report/Observations
Robert Kelley in his 1966 red roadster celebrated his Group 2A victory against a stack of Cobras and Mustangs with a burnout at the granddaddy of vintage racing events. https://www.facebook.com/684600100/videos/pcb.10159918477110101/593443635010574
The organizers awarded the Group 2A Rolex Cup to Gay Bentley and her 1966 blue coupe, 20th.
Entry fees for the RMMR border on the exorbitant given the limited amount of track time; and the pretentions might not be to everyone’s liking yet folks show up to be seen at the historic Laguna Seca races.
Some familiar drivers in the Group 2A Saturday race for 1963-66 Production cars include # 8 Dan Haney, 1963 coupe 24th, # 65 Chris Springer 1965 roadster, DNS, # 67 Jeni Swanson 1964 roadster 16th, # 31 Craig Carter 1965 roadster 4th and # 73 A.C. D’Augustine 1965 Roadster 8th.
This # 33 Wes Abendroth 1965 Fiberfab Centruian DNS has a Sting-Ray inspired kit-body.
Floridians Will Hubbell in his # 90 2009 C6 DP Corvette and Dante Tornello in his # 09 2014 C7 DP Corvette scored a commendable 4th and 5th among 27 entrants in a special Masters Historic Group 6B Sunday race for prototypes and pro sports cars.
Some of the classes for “aged-out” cars have been replaced, making way for IMSA and Trans Am cars from the mid 1970’s to early 1980’s. Chris Springer # 25 was 12th in his ex-Larry Park 1979 Stingray.
Same for IMSA and Trans Am cars from the 1980’s to 1991. # 5 John Goodman was 10th in this Pratt & Selix ex Wally Dallenbach 1988 GT1 tube frame Corvette.
Cooper Dubois # 61 C1 Straight Axle 7th Group 1B could become an example of the “aged out”.
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“Monterey Car Week” spans an intense 10 days from what Steve Earle started in 1974 as the Monterey Historic Races for vintage race cars; and what Sterling Edwards and John Morse began in 1950 as the Pebble Beach Concours for the elite.
In a relentless quest to capture more revenue from Car Week, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors brought in a professional company formed by John Narigi, a well-connected hospitality and travel executive. Finally dislodged is SCRAMP, (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula) a non-profit overseen by local residents.
Narigi turned operations over to HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing) from Clearwater FL to spice up the competition. Pressed for time, they wisely relied on the experience of Chris Van De Griff, head HMSA (Historic Motor Sports Association).
The cars are required to appear in their original liveries, even though today they are far better equipped than purely original.
Attendance was off due to spreading fears of “the Delta variant” and hesitancy to travel by some as forest fires hit northern California.
Conceding to Tourism, racing next year will be moved to Weds thru Sat allowing more time to take in the area’s famed attractions and hob nob at the famed Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance.
What lies ahead for the RMMR itself is anyone’s guess.
Photos are courtesy of Adam Hosey (www.adamhoseyphoto.com) and Dennis Gray, Bill Wagonblat and Rex McAfee via other media.
Results compiled by Jan Hyde, courtesy of Barry Toepke, Director of Communications.
