2009 Monterey Historic Automobile Races – Sunday Results and Photos

The 2009 Monterey Historic Automobile Races were held August 15th and 16th at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

Held annually at the 2.238-mile and 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the Monterey Historics celebrated its 36th anniversary in 2009. Sunday at the Monterey Historics included the earth-shaking Can-Am class, FIA Mfg. Championship Cars, IMSA GT, the predominantly American muscle 1963-1967 GT Cars over 2500cc, among others.

“The field of cars is really extraordinary and not just the Porsches but all of them,” said Steve Earle of General Racing, which produces the event. “The racing (for 15 different race groups) was excellent – pretty darn clean – and as long as everybody is having a good time, then I am happy.”

Earle drove his own C-Type Jaguar in Group 1B. “It’s just sort of an old family friend now…its old reliable,” he said about the car, which he has had for 25 years. “It’s the last race for us here, so we’ll be at the back of the grid having a nice time,” he added, referring to the fact that General Racing will no longer be producing the event after this year. (Later that evening, at the Rolex Awards Ceremony, Earle was presented with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss by Doug Meine, Executive Vice President Rolex Watch U.S.A., after delivering an emotional farewell speech.)

Sports Car Digest was fortunate to have photographer Dennis Gray at the track the entire weekend to document the Monterey Historics. To see more of Gray’s work, visit www.dennisgrayphotographer.com.

(Click here for Saturday’s results and photos)

2009 Monterey Historics Sunday Results and Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture)

Group 1B – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars over 1500cc

1. 1952 Schaghticoke Manning Special, Robert Manson, Barcelona, Spain
2. 1949 Parkinson-Jaguar Special, John Buddenbaum, Sunnyvale, CA
3. 1949 Baldwin Mercury Special, Jim Herlinger, Woodside, CA

Group 2B – 1971-1976 FIA Mfg. Championship Cars

1. 1973 Lola T294, Jamey Mazzotta, Newport Coast, CA
2. 1972 Lola T290, Keith Frieser, Nisku, Alberta, Canada
3. 1975 Sauber C4, Brian Groza, Salinas, CA

Group 3B – 1961-1966 GT Cars Under 2500cc

1. 1964 Lotus 26R, John Hugenholtz, Schilde, Belgium
2. 1964 Lotus 26R, John Delane, Redondo Beach, CA
3. 1964 Ginetta G4, Robert Forbes, Emerald Hills, CA

Group 4B – 1959-1966 Sports Racing Cars

1. 1963 Huffaker Genie Mk 8, John Harden, Oklahoma City, OK
2. 1964 Lotus 23C, Dave Olson, Tiburon, CA
3. 1964 Huffaker Genie Mk 8, Mike Blackie, Prescott, AZ

Group 5B – 1963-1967 GT Cars over 2500cc

1. 1965 Chevrolet Corvette, Terry Gough, Reno, NV
2. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette, Tommy Thompson, Phoenix, AZ
3. 1965 Shelby GT350, Thomas Steuer, Bogota

Group 6B – 1966-1974 Can-Am Cars

1. 1969 Lola T163, Craig Bennett, Vancouver, B.C.
2. 1970 McLaren M8C, Jay Esterer, Edmonton, Alberta
3. 1968 McLaren M6B, Steve Cook, Yountville, CA

Group 7B – 1973-1980 IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT Cars

1. 1979 Porsche 935, Rusty French, Victoria, Australia
2. 1979 Porsche 935, Bruce Canepa, Scotts Valley, CA
3. 1975 Dekon Monza, Chad Raynal, San Jose, CA

[Source: Monterey Historics; picture credit Dennis Gray]