Text: Ralf Bernert

Photo: Ralf Bernert/Alexander Reinhardt

A combination of history, tradition and awesome scenery make the curves near Monetery in West California a major hit amongst spectators. And the thought of the likes of Sir Jack Brabham or Phil Hill joining the more than 350 drivers at the starting line is enough to make any motor sports fan’s day.

The Super Bowl of vintage racing

The 27th Monterey Historic Automobile Races are not just any old motor sports event in the United States. Between Friday and Sunday, Formula 1, GT and pre-war sports cars of all makes drive round the roughly 6 kilometer long course. This is no mean feat for some of the cars even though each race comprises only ten laps.

The glory days of motor sports

Sir Jack Brabham wanted to show the world what he was still capable of. His 1960 Cooper T-53 F-1 was rearing to go, the track was in ideal condition and the competitors showed the necessary respect. The result was the pole position on the winners’ podium, another trophy to add to his collection and rousing applause from the 15,000 spectators around the track. That’s how to have fun with motor sports aged 71!

The boomerang from Italy

Maserati, one of this year’s sponsors, did not come empty-handed to Monterey. A tent, plenty of vintage sports cars and a prototype, which it was very hard to catch a glimpse of, outside the front door. The Maserati Boomerang was a real eye-catcher and – quite unintentionally – the doorkeeper: to get to the other Maseratis, you first had to “fight” your way through the crowds.

The rest of the family

In perfect harmony as seldom seen before: the 3500 Vigniale Spider, Ghibli Spider, 5000 GT and 5000 Scia di Persia, to name but a few. While Bruce McCaw from Redmond driving a Maserati 250 S was being overtaken by Peter Read in his Aston Martin DB3S outside, the other members of the “family” patiently faced up to the photographers.