Laguna's first winning seat...

With big-name drivers like Carroll Shelby, Jim Hall, and Johnny Von Newmann in the field driving machines such as Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati no one gave Pete Lovely much chance of a good finish in the inaugural race at Laguna Seca in his two year old Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa. It was the year 1957, but there was a upset to be made.

Lovely's Ferrari 500 was a 1956 model with a 4-cylinder 2-liter engine up against bigger engine cars. Lovely recounted "I always remember that race, because it was the first race at Laguna Seca. Von Newmann and I were the main survivors because Shelby, McAfee, and Ginther had all dropped out with mechanical problems. Johnny's Ferrari had the newer 2.5 liter engine."

"I could get close to Von Newmann, but with his larger engine I could not get by. I devised a scheme to drop back so he could not see me in his mirrors. I then turned it on for a couple of laps and got right behind him on the last turn of the last lap. When Johnny saw me there, he got flustered, missed a shift coming out of the turn and I passed him and finished first making history in the red Ferrari."

Pete lovely sat behind the wheel in this image of an iconic car when he made history winning the first race at Laguna. I'm planning on printing this for my shows in Monterey this coming year. It's art for people like you, that get it! If you can't wait, I'm sure you could talk me into printing one on metal for you before August. If your interested contact me here.

"Laguna's First" © John Straub

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 2015...

For those of you that like to make the trip to Monterey for the Historics, here's the latest info on this years honored marque.The Shelby GT 350.

Donn Vickery coming down from the "Corkscrew" entering turn 9 at Laguna Seca.

Laguna Seca...Happy Birthday!

As one grows older, fifty-seven years ago seems like not so far in the past. This weekend that many years past, motor racing on the West Coast was changed forever with the first race at Laguna Seca Raceway.

The official opening on November 9th. Photo, courtesy Laguna Seca

Screeching Hell on Wheels..."Road Racers"

Movie time... How about the "Road Racers" vintage, 1959. Directed by the godfather of "B" movies, Arthur Swerdloff. Wait a minute before you tune me out, it's worth tracking down just to check out the cool old cars, American '50s V-8 specials.

Maserati Hits the Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Maserati Celebrates its 100th Anniversary as Featured Marque
of Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will celebrate the rich 100-year history of Maserati, one of Italy’s iconic luxury sports car brands...that throughout the century has been deeply rooted in racing. The celebration will be held August 14-17, 2014 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

 

Breaking the Sounds of Silence...

A muffled dead quiet it was, the only thing heard was the sound of blood pulsing through his arteries. A notion of peace had fallen over him intermixed with nervous anticipation. None of the engines had been fired yet during the ten minute break.

He looked up peering through the narrow opening in his helmet after checking his lap belt, and now could see five fingers standing at attention as the Grid Marshall raised his hand. The sensation of the soft suit brushing against his arm could be felt as he stretched forward aiming his leather covered index finger for the starter button. The right foot began to massage the accelerator, all the while his left foot pushed the clutch to the stop. The slow motion sound of silence was then broken, and life was now to proceed at a quickening pace for number 6.

Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours 2013...

Imagine a hunk of aluminum on a lathe...it turns and turns, more times that can be remembered. It comes out a beautiful and functional piece of art, a piston. For years, that's how Doug Freedman thought about and worked his "Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours On The Avenue" before the first car was shown the street.

In the last six years of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours, it has been said that this is the perfect Concours, boasting gorgeous and exotic micro cars to "full on" race machinery, and open to the public to view between 10:00AM to 5:00PM. There seems to be no way to make this event better, but Doug has touched this event over and over through the years, again and again to create a subtle but better show including fantastic branding partners, the likes of Tiffany & Co., Meguiar's, and the beautiful Cypress Inn in Carmel. One could say he has put constant inspiration into this competitive display so the party is familiar when you show up, but you can count on each year becoming a little bit better. Last year the Trans Am cars that were going to be running at Laguna the following weekend were invited to drive onto Ocean Boulevard sans mufflers to rock the street. I was lucky enough to be the official photographer last year, and with the next event drawing closer while I'm polishing my camera lens, I thought it about time I shared some of my images, to get you in the spirit for this year, or if you would like to become involved with this event in the future.

Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2013 ...Update

You can say you heard it here first, well, maybe not. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has just announced that for the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911, there will be a dedicated 911 race at this years Rolex Motorsports Reunion, held on August 15th to the 18th, 2013. The grid will be open to period-correct and historic 1964-1973 Porsche race cars (901, 911, 911R, ST, TR, RSR, ect.). A maximum number of 40 cars will be accepted for entry in this special race, which by the way, is embraced by Porsche Cars North America. To request entry info, read on.

 

Sweet to be a Winner... Rodger Penske

The race was a 200 mile affair at Laguna Seca in October 1964, called the Monterey Grand Prix. Roger Penske pulled off a first place driving a Jim Hall and Hap Sharp built Chaparral 2A.

The start of the 1964 Monterey Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. Image © Steven Chandler