Lee Talbot, who at age 87 is much older than the 1967 Ginetta G4 sports car he races, received The Spirit of Monterey award at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion during the recent Monterey Car Week.
Talbot, a professor of environmental science and policy at George Mason University in Virginia, was honored for “the same spry enthusiasm” he has exhibited throughout his racing and scholarly careers, according to the race organizers at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Talbot’s Ginetta finished 22nd among the 42 cars that started the race for 1961-1966 GT cars with engines of less than 2,500cc displacement. The race was won by Porsche factory racer Patrick Long in a 1968 911 T/R
The Reunion actually was a two-weekend event that started August 11 with 27 vintage racing cars driving from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to Alvardo Street in downtown Monterey in advance of the Pre-Reunion racing program that drew 300 cars the weekend before Car Week.
More than 500 vintage racing vehicles then participated in the Reunion, where additional highlights included demonstration laps by Tom Kristensen in an Audi R8 LMP1 and by Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren M23B that Emerson Fittipladi drove to the 1974 Formula One championship.
Featured during the Reunion was the Diamond Jubilee World Tour of Formula Junior cars, with 64 of the cars running in two separate race groups.
Showcased in the Laguna paddock were 12 cars pertinent to the 60-year history of the track, including the Ferrari Testa Rossa that Pete Lovely drove to the overall victory at the track’s inaugural event in November 1957.
Race winners were:
Pre-1940 sports racing and touring cars: Luca Maciucescu, 1934 Ford Granite State Special
1927-1951 racing cars: Paddins Dowling, 1934 ERA R2A
1955-1961 sports racing cars over 2,000cc: Dyke Ridgley, 1960 Chaparral I
1974-1981 FIA, IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT: Bruce Canepa, 1979 Porsche 935
1947-1955 sports racing and GT: Dave Zurlinden, 1953 Tatum GMC Special
1970-1984 sports racing cars under 2,100cc: Timothy de Silva, 1978 Osella PA8
1963-1973 FIA manufacturers championship cars: Chris MacAllister, 1973 Gulf Mirage
1981-1991 IMSA GTP: Charles Nearburg, 1989 AAR Eagle MkIII
1955-1962 GT: Kevin Adair, 1959 Austin Healey 3000 S
1958-1960 Formula Jr. (front engine/drum brakes): Chris Drake, 1961 Elva 300
1961-1966 GT cars under 2,500cc: Patrick Long, 1968 Porsche 911 T/R
1963-1966 GT cars over 2,500cc: Lorne Leibel, 1965 Cobra AC
1961-1963 Formula Jr. (disc brakes): Danny Baker, 1963 Lotus 27
1955-1961 sports racing cars under 2,000cc: Cameron Healy, 1953 Porsche Cooper Pooper
1973-1991 IMSA GTU, GTO: Bill Ockerlund, 1991 Chevrolet Duracell Camaro
HSR and Stand 21 launch raceway line
Historic Sportscar Racing and Stand 21 of France have announced a partnership to produce custom HSR, Classic 24 Hour at Daytona and Classic 12 Hour at Sebring “Pistons and Props” branded race wear.
Shoes, gloves, racing suits, shoes and other race wear was designed to exceed safety and medical standards required by FIA, SFI and Snell Foundation, Stand 21 and HSR said in a news release.
Stand 21 also produces such special gear in conjunction with the Le Mans Classic, Monaco Formula One Historics and the Rolex Monterey Reunion, among others.
The third Classic 24 at Daytona is scheduled for November 8-12 with the second 12 at Sebring November 29-December 3.
Lotus 49 lives again at Beaulieu Autojumble
To celebrate the 50th calendar-year anniversary of the huge International Autojumble (swap meet) at Britain’s National Motor Museum, the famed 1967 Lotus 49 that is part of the museum’s collection will rev its 2,993cc V8 engine for all to hear.
The Formula One car is chassis No. 3 and was driven by Graham Hill. The Lotus 49 is a late replacement for the 1950 BRM V16 which was supposed to roar back to life but has some technical issues yet to resolve. The 51st Autojumble takes place September 2-3.
