One key element of the burgeoning vintage racing scene that has emerged over the last 40 years has been the 1947-1955 race group, regarded by many as the soul of road racing in America. Now a Del Monte Trophy Group has been created for over- and under-two-liter Sports Racing and Production GT Cars from that era as a way to celebrate the cars that started it all in the early ’50s
The Group embraces the early Production sports cars that arrived in the U.S. after WWII, including Jaguar XK-120s and MG T-types, Allards, the early European exotics, early Porsche 356s, as well as Kurtis and other locally built Specials that were typically based on scrap yard or war surplus-sourced Ford or wrecked Jaguar or MG components.
The Group’s objective is to ensure that these cars remain a prominent and exciting feature at major vintage racing events across the U.S., and its focus for 2017 is Monterey’s Rolex Reunion in August. These are cars that would have competed at the Pebble Beach Sports Car Road Races, and 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Company, and the 60th anniversary of Laguna Seca Raceway, the permanent track built in response to the public demand for motorsports created by the Pebble Beach Road Races.
A number of activities will be organized for the Del Monte Trophy Group during next August’s Monterey Car Week, emphasizing the cars’ significance to the introduction and popularization of sports car racing in California after WWII. Anyone who has, or has interest in, these cars of the Del Monte Trophy Group can obtain further information by contacting Doug Sallen at doug_sallen@msn.com or Rob Manson at r3teknon@sbcglobal.net
