Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012 – Shelby Cobra Race

The Shelby Cobra class was a featured race at the 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, held August 16-19 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California. The headline race offered spectators the opportunity to see 40 competition Shelby Cobras charging around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course.

The 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Shelby Cobra, and besides those signed up for racing, there were hundreds more in the paddock, surrounding corrals, and even in a museum-quality Heritage Display.

The featured Cobra race was billed as a tribute race to honor the Cobra’s originator Carroll Shelby, who had planned to be here, but, sadly, died in May of this year at the age of 89. At this dedicated race, the green flag was waved by Edsel Ford II, great-grandson of Henry Ford. For Jim Click, who drove his 1964 Cobra 289 to win, that poignant fact made his victory a significant moment in time. Back in the paddock, celebrating with his crew and race fans who had surrounded his car, he said, “I knew Carroll Shelby; he did so much for racing and for Ford, so it is an honor for me to have won this race for Mr. Shelby. This is the biggest win of my life.”

Click explained that he started third on the grid today, but the second-place car broke down. “I was chasing car #81 (also a 1964 Cobra 289) for the lead, and I knew I was faster going through the turns; he is a really good driver, but he finally made a bit of a mistake exiting a corner, so I was there to take advantage,” said Click.

Just prior to the race, 169 Cobras thrilled the crowds with “Parade Laps” that converged 50 original Shelby Cobras (2000s and 3000s) with 25 continuations (4000s and 6000s that were built by Shelby American with Carroll Shelby’s blessing 20 years after the originals), 19 replicas of the Cobra Daytona Coupe (the lead car of which the Coupe’s designer Peter Brock had command) and 75 more Cobra replicas. The Nor Cal Shelby Club was behind growing its typically 75-car Cobra Corral at this event to 315 in 2012 when Cobra was made the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion’s special marque.

As if the race and the parade were not enough, Ford’s Shelby Cobra Heritage Display featured Cobra serial number CSX2001, the very first production Cobra built, among its 12 historic Cobras that, with the help of story boards, mapped the heritage of the iconic marque.

Senior Photographer Tim Scott documented the featured Shelby Cobra historic race at the 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, offering the following pictures that highlight the wonderful selection of competition Cobras at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.

Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012 – Shelby Cobra Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

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Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012 – Shelby Cobra Race Results

1. #89 Jim Click Tucson, AZ – 1964 Cobra 289 4737cc
2. #81 Lorne Leibel Willowdale, CAN – 1964 Cobra 289 4735cc
3. #96 James Farley Jr. Orchard Lake, MI – 1965 Cobra 289 4949cc
4. #50 Erich Joiner Torrance, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4638cc
5. #19 Donald Lee Portola Valley, CA – 1965 Cobra 427 7000cc
6. #66 Bruce Canepa Scotts Valley, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4700cc
7. #04 John McKenna Auburn, WA – 1963 Cobra 289 4700cc
8. #59 Jim Bouzaglou Sherman Oaks, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4638cc
9. #10 Sandra McNeil Bayport, NY – 1963 Cobra 289 4736cc
10. #25 Tim Park Santa Barbara, CA – 1963 Cobra 289 5000cc
11. #15 Curt Vogt – 1963 Cobra 289 4737cc
12. #91 Terry Underwood Wildomar, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4737cc
13. #298 98-Gary Underwood Wildomar, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4737cc
14. #99 John Goodman Seattle, WA – 1964 Cobra 289 4736cc
15. #95 Charles Firmenich Geneva, SWI – 1965 Cobra 289 4864cc
16. #52 Gordon Gimbel Roseville, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4638cc
17. #199 Rollie Stephenson Sherwood, WI – 1964 Cobra 289 4900cc
18. #24 Forrest Straight Mountain View, CA – 1965 Cobra 427 6997cc
19. #22 John Linfesty Santa Monica, CA – 1965 Cobra 427 7000cc
20. #26 Ronald Tredway Oakdale, CA – 1965 Cobra 289 4700cc
21. #98 Jim McCashin Pacific Palisades, CA – 1965 Cobra 427 S/C 7000cc
22. #11 Bob Jordan Chicago, IL – 1965 Cobra 427 7000cc
23. #36 William Bridges Walton on Thames, UK – 1963 Cobra 289 4727cc
24. #97 Steve Park Glendale, CA – 1962 Cobra 289 4737cc
25. #16 Lynn Park La Canada Flintridge, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4737cc
26. #5 Ernie Nagamatsu Los Angeles, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 4727cc
27. #999 Les Alexander Woodside, CA – 1965 Cobra 289 4737cc
28. #68 John Russell Northridge, CA – 1962 Cobra 289 4736cc
29. #7 Phil Schmidt Rancho Palos Verdes, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 5000cc
30. #73 Robert Beede Hanford, CA – 1963 Cobra 289 4736cc
31. #88 Perry Margouleff Glen Cove, NY – 1965 Cobra 289 4737cc
32. #8 Tom McCarthy Fremont, CA – 1965 Cobra 289 4638cc
33. #92 Bill Hartman Yuba City, CA – 1964 Cobra 289 5000cc
34. #9 Rob Walton Scottsdale, AZ – 1965 Cobra 289 4736cc
35. #198 Bill Ockerlund Holland, MI – 1963 Cobra 289 4736cc
36. #3 Gregory Johnson Irvine, CA – 1966 Cobra 427 6997cc
37. #14 Chip Connor Reno, NV – 1964 Cobra 289 4736cc
38. #18 Bruce Cambern Madera, CA – 1966 Cobra 427 7000cc
39. #27 Ron Mack Grand Haven, MI – 1966 Cobra 427 7000cc

[Source: Rolex Motorsports; photo: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]