You may have noticed that since last Friday, we have been covering the Monterey Classic Car Week — a vintage car haven — on a daily basis. Today we bring you the short and sweet results of the superlative events of the week — of which Rolex sponsored four prestigious parlays, including sponsoring the RolexMonterey Motorsports Reunion, and acting as the Official Timepiece of the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance. Rolex was out in force yesterday to present the awards to the winners of both of these prestigous events.
Best of Show went to a 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A owned by Jim Patterson Collection Photo; Rolex, Tom O’Neal
At the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Best of Show went to a 1924 Isotta Frashini Tipo 8A, owned by Jim Patterson Collection of Louisville, Kentucky – won Best of Show. The classic car was judged on design, authenticity and restoration, and is the epitome of the era of long-chassis beauties.
Over at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion — for which Rolex is the title sponsor and timekeeper – awards were also given out late yesterday. It was Zak Brown’s Lola T332, driven by Richard Dean, that won Sunday’s Formula 5000 race. Interestingly, when the last professional Formula 5000 race was held at this same Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 40 years ago, it was won by Mario Andretti in the same car.
ZAK BROWN’S 1977 MCLAREN M26 FORMERLY RACED BY JAMES HUNT Photo Rolex, Stephan Cooper
“Distinctively, this is the only one of our global events where automobile owners devoted to authenticity, race provenance and period correctness allow their prized possessions to race as they used to ‘back in the day,’ providing an annual occasion for the convergence of some rather remarkable occurrences,” says Rolex Watch USA President and CEO Stewart Wicht. “Rolex has had a long and cherished relationship with this event, which forms an essential part of our involvement in motorsports and, in particular, the world of classic and vintage cars.”
The Spirit award at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion went to Dick Deluna and his 1917 Hall-Scott. Photo: Rolex, Stephan Cooper
Additionally, a key award went out to the driver that most embodied the spirit of the vintage weekend reunion where hundreds of automobile enthusiasts enjoyed incredible racing on one of the most challenging road courses. The winner of that award went to Californian Dick Deluna and his 1917 Hall-Scott The Four-A-7A. He was awarded the most coveted “Spirit of Monterey” prize. “This 1917 Hall-Scott The Four-A-7A is just a hoot to drive and it’s a crowd pleaser,” said Deluna, after receiving a specially engraved 18k yellow gold and stainless steel Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona.
Rolex Awards at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Photo: Rolex, Stephan Cooper
Rolex Awards of Excellence were bestowed in each of the 15 race categories, going not necessarily to those who won but to those “most deserving.”
Roadsters making their way around Mazda Laguna Seca track at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Photo: Rolex, Stephan Cooper
