The 31st Rolex Monterey Historic Races were again the feature event at a very busy weekend in Northern California, where Ferrari was the featured marque, and Ferraris were to be found at all the venues as well as driving down the Monterey peninsula, through affluent Carmel, touring across the mountains, and filling the local hotel car parks.
73 Ferraris were entered in the 14-race program, as well as 10 recent Ferrari F1 cars managed by the factory’s Corsa Clienti service, which has had a very busy year. Some of these cars are driven very well, though a few of the drivers lacked the skills for a track such as Laguna Seca.
The seven-race schedule on Saturday had the Pre-1931 Sports & Touring Cars out first. Jan Voboril took his 1924 Ford into the lead but was black-flagged and called into the pits. He then went out and stormed back up the field past George Chilberg’s 1933 MGL1 to win, with the beautiful white 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 of Scott McLenahan 3rd. Laguna Seca veteran Mark Gillies won the second race for 1927–1946 Racing Cars and Indy Roadsters. This race brought out some important Alfa Romeos and Bugattis but Gillies’ ERA was in charge after a strong fight with the blue and yellow 1940 Maserati CL of Rob Walton. Several front-engine Indy roadsters raced, and raced well with Marnix Dellenius taking his 1960 Ewing roadster to 3rd and Larry Menser’s heavy 1960 Meskowski Indy car in 4th.
The 10-lap race for 1947–1957 Sports Racing Cars Over 2500-cc was next, the first for the Ferraris, but British driver Rick Hall in the very quick 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza couldn’t catch the D-type Jaguar of Nick Faure and the C-type of James Lustman. Willie Green brought an older 1952 Ferrari 340 into 4th from Peter Sachs in 5th in the 335S. Former F1 World Champion Phil Hill had another impressive run in the Alfa Romeo 6C-3000CM, and was 7th. Phil has had a successful season in Lawrence Auriana’s Alfa.
Photo: Jim Williams
The Corsa Clienti Ferrari F1 demonstration was next and Frederico Droymans had an enormous accident in his 1999 F399, tearing the front off. Jim Busby, Bertolini, Paul Osborn, Bud Moeller and Patrick van Schoote drove well but some others seemed to have difficulty getting their arms around these very hard to drive racecars.
Cameron Healey’s “Pooper” won the 1947–1955 Sports Racing Cars Under 2000-cc race, and Tom Hollfelder took his Meister Brauser Chaparral 1 to victory in the race for 1957–1962 Sports Racing Cars over 2500-cc. Tom Byrnes’ 1963 Cooper T-62 F1 beat the 1960 Ferrari 246 of Gregor Fisken in the race for 1957–1964 Formula Cars, and Carlo Vogele of Switzerland was the first Ferrari driver to win a race in the final event of the day for 1961–1964 Ferrari FIA GT Cars, the all-Ferrari race. His 330 GTO beat Rob Walton’s 1962 250 GTO with Peter Sachs’ similar car in 3rd.
On Sunday, Lola, Porsche and Corvette won the first three races, with another 10-lap demonstration for F1 Ferraris, and then Rob Walton took his 1964 Ferrari 250LM to victory in the 1962-1966 SCCA GT Cars race from three Cobras, including the 1966 Daytona Coupe driven by Derek Bell. Dan Baker won an excellent race for 1967–1980 Historic Formula 1 Cars in his 1977 McLaren 23F. Bud Moeller was superb in his ex-Villeneuve Ferrari 312T5, and John Dimmer’s Tyrrell 004 was 5th. Tom Byrnes had a second win in his Brabham BT8, and Brian Redman won the final, spectacular race for 1965–1974 FIA Prototypes and GT Cars. Redman was in the 1971 Porsche 908/3, leading Lola T-70s, Chevrons and a pack of wonderful Ferrari 512s.
By Ed McDonough
Results
1A-Pre–1931 Sports & Touring Cars
1-Jan Voboril-1924 Ford
2-George Chilberg-1933 MGL1
3-Scott McClenahan-1930 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750
2A-1927–1946 Racing Cars and Indy Roadsters
1-Mark Gillies-1934 ERA
2-Rob Walton-1940 Maserati 8CL
3-Marnix Dellenius-1960 Ewing Indy Roadster
3A-1947–1957 Sports Racing Cars Over 2500-cc
1-Nick Faure-1955 Jaguar D-type
2-James Lustman-1952 Jaguar C-type
3-Rick Hall-1954 Ferrari 250 Monza
4A-1947–1955 Sports Racing Cars Under 2000-cc & GT
1-Cameron Healy-1953 Pooper
2-Karim Marouf-1951 MG-TD Special
3-Bill Perrone-1952 OSCA MT-4
5A-1957–1962 Sports Racing Cars Over 2500-cc
1-Tom Hollfelder-1961 Chaparral 1
2-John Mozart-1958 Lister-Chevy
3-Willie Green-1960 Ferrari Dino 196S
6A-1957–1964 Formula Cars
1-Tom Byrnes-1963 Cooper T-62 F1
2-Gregor Fisken-1960 Ferrari Dino 246
3-Terry Hefty-1961 Cooper T-53
7A-1961–1964 Ferrari FIA GT Cars
1-Carlo Vogele-1963 Ferrari 330 GTO
2-Rob Walton-1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
3-Peter Sachs-1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
1B-1955–1961 Sports Racing Cars Under 2500-cc
1-Chris Orosco-1959 Lola Mk. 1
2-Dan Baker-1960 Porsche RS-60
3-Eduardo Baptista-1958 Porsche RSK
2B-1955–1962 GT Cars Under 2200-cc
1-Leonard Turnbeaugh-1956 Porsche 356A
2-Alan Frick-1961 Alfa Romeo SZ
3-Robert Kann-1958 Porsche 356
3B-1955–1961 GT Cars Over 2200-cc
1-Orwin Middleton-1957 Corvette
2-Bob Peterson-1957 Corvette
3-James Freeman-1959 Aston-Martin DB4GT
4B-1962–1966 SCCA GT Cars
1-Rob Walton-1964 Ferrari 250LM
2-Mac Archer-1965 Cobra
3-Derek Bell-1966 Daytona Coupe
5B-1967–1980 Historic Formula One Cars
1-Dan Baker-1977 McLaren 23F
2-Bruce Canepa-1980 Arrows A3
3-Bud Moeller-1980 Ferrari 312T5
6B-1962–1965 Sports Racing Cars
1-Tom Byrnes-1964 Brabham BT8
2-Chris Locke-1965 Lotus 23B
3-Don Anderson-1965 Bobsy-Porsche
7B-1965–1974 FIA Prototypes & GT Cars
1-Brian Redman-1971 Porsche 908/3
2-Brian Barrington-1966 Lola T-70GT
3-Jamey Mazzotta-1970 Chevron B-16
