• British racing legend, Formula One television analyst, 2009 Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, businessman and all-around raconteur David Hobbs will share his escapades as the highlighted guest speaker during the annual Picnic in the Park at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion on Saturday, August 20. The annual picnic is traditionally a fan favorite at the event, which will take place August 18-21 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, beginning at 1 p.m. Hobbs will be joined on stage by noted motorsports historian Murray Smith, who will moderate the session.
• Jim Travers, who first rose to prominence along with his partner Frank Coons as the “Whiz Kids” behind Bill Vukovich’s success at Indianapolis, and later founded famed engine house Traco Engineering, has died at the age of 95. Collaborating with constructor Frank Kurtis, Travers and Coon built a special Kurtis Kraft KK500 for oilman Howard Keck, and after nearly winning in 1952, Vukovich swept to dominant victories in ’53 and ’54 with developed versions of the car. Traco subsequently came into being and served as one of American racing’s premier engine shops for many years in a variety of categories. In recent years Travers lived in Utah where he worked regularly in his machine shop. To all his family and friends Vintage Racecar extends its sincerest condolences.
• L.A.’s Petersen Automotive Museum hosted February’s Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) 50th Anniversary Reunion. The legendary team, featuring principal Peter Brock and driver John Morton, claimed back-to-back SCCA C Production Championships in 1970-1971 and then 2.5 Trans-Am Championships in 1971-1972 with Datsuns. A large standing room only crowd in the Petersen’s Mullin Grand Salon enjoyed great stories as told by all the team members, including Trevor Harris, Mac Tilton, John Caldwell, John Knepp, Joe Cavaglieri, Jeff Schoolfield and Kirk Allegro.
• The Historic Motor Sports Association is inviting Formula B cars to take part in its annual Spring Club Event at California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on April 9-10, the first time FB machinery will be included. All cars must conform to Monoposto regulations and/or period SCCA rules, and drivers must have a current medical card. HMSA membership, however, is not a requirement for participation. As the event will be subject to sound control, a 103dB limit will be enforced. For complete information, please visit www.hmsausa.com
