PRUETT: Reunion reflections

A mid-August visit to Monterey has become my favorite way to briefly forget the concerns of modern motor racing. Having returned from my ninth consecutive trek to cover the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – an event once known as the Monterey Historics – I can confirm the powers of restoration and rejuvenation are alive and well within a paddock filled with approximately 500 vintage racecars.

A tour of iconic sports cars and formula cars at Laguna Seca is enough to replenish the soul, and for that reason alone, the Reunion is one of the more personal weekends on the calendar. Time spent with an old Lotus, or Porsche, or Cobra can be enjoyed without pressing deadlines or the other busy work required during an IndyCar or IMSA race.

As simple as it might sound and look, walking up to a classic Formula 1 car and staring at all of its beauty and ingenuity – for however long you want – is a wonderful gift made possible at the Reunion. And, inevitably, the cars on either side of the F1 machine, and behind you, and in the next row, and at the opposite end of the paddock, deserve just as much of your time and reverie. The sight of fans, standing in solitude, gazing at the colorful creations, is always a reminder that great racecars have a timeless appeal.

Outside of the cars and 16 different run groups organized for the four-day Reunion, the event also serves as a wonderful venue to reconnect with new and old friends. The turnout among racing's stars and legends also adds to the event's character.

His open approach to the event was an unexpected touch; another F1 champion, one with multiple titles to his credit, preferred to be driven through the paddock between functions from the seclusion of a large black SUV. Protected in his V8-powered bubble, the self-importance on display was unfortunate. It's safe to say Hakkinen's man-of-the-people approach is what most people will remember for years to come.

A delightful surprise took place on Saturday when nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and former members of his Audi Sport/Champion Racing team came together to send the Dane on a reunion of his own with a 2005 Audi R8 LMP1 prototype. Unaware TK would be turning a handful of demo laps – all without warmup at the track he hadn't seen in 15 years – I scrambled to throw a few cameras on the car and fit my audio recorder within a few inches of the exhaust pipe. With the artful installation done by Bobby Green, the car's original crew chief, we lucked into getting some amazing sound and vision of a single outing that lasted less than 10 minutes.

After his run, TK was beaming...and expressing his regret at not having a few more laps to set a time that would have matched the car's pace from its last visit to Monterey in the early 2000s.

Dario and Marino Franchitti were there to breathe in the general awesomeness; they've become regulars at the Reunion, and most of the other wonderful vintage events held throughout the globe. Mazda put its current IMSA drivers in some of its fleet of rotary-powered prototypes and GT classics; it made for incredible viewing as the cars were pushed closer to their intended limits. Outgoing Porsche Motorsports North America boss Jens Walther was there – he's off to a big new assignment with the brand back home in Germany. Having a chance to thank him for all the open support he's given to journalists since taking the helm at PMNA was a treat.

The opportunities presented at the Reunion, especially with bringing modern HD camera and audio technology inside cars like Danny Baker's 1963 Lotus 27 that raced while black and white TV was the norm, or Charlie Nearburg's 1993 AAR Eagle Mk III that was retired just as the Internet was coming online, is where I've found the most joy. We produced 19 videos – mostly visor cams – from the event, which is a new record.

If there's one person who embodies the spirit of Reunion more than others, it's Porsche factory driver Patrick Long. Although his visor cams from behind the wheel of Alan Benjamin's 1968 911 T/R are a marvel of talent and commitment, his presence in the paddock speaks to the real measurement of his value.

Given the chance to take a rare weekend off at home with his wife and young child, Long chose to drive an old and somewhat demure vintage Porsche. Why? Because he loves the brand's history and holds a deep passion for stepping back in time behind the wheel of something his heroes once drove. Under a small awning, run from a small trailer, Long camped out for the weekend in relative anonymity and rejoiced in whatever each session or race delivered.

Take Long's infectious enthusiasm, add in the same delight felt by the hundreds of other drivers and car owners at the Reunion, sprinkle in a Hakkinen and Kristensen for a little bit of hero worship, and it was another trip to Monterey that felt like a racing vacation.

Whether it's the Reunion, Goodwood, the Mitty, or the dozens of regular vintage events held by the SVRA, HSR, and other sanctioning bodies, do yourself a favor and get out to a few each year.

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images.

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