The best car weekend in the country ( at least it is in my opinion ) started yesterday at Laguna Seca in the form of the Pre-Reunion, an event, which, for years was a catch-as-catch-can clusterf--k which might actually play out or might just as easily be subject to some petulent rich brat's hissyfit who didn't want spectators watching him make a complete fool of himself, and you'd be most unceremoniously told to leave. Three years ago when SCRAMP took over management of Laguna Seca, what once was known as the Pre-Historics are now an officially sanctioned event - the above mentioned "Pre-Reunion", to launch the motorsports activities portion of car week and has been better attended and more fun every year so far.
This year, Maserati, on the occasion of their centennial, is the featured marque, and the list of registered racers and invited cars to the various Concours' are an exceptional lot, some of which I remember reading about when I was a subscriber to "Sports Car Graghic" which, incidentally, I don't believe has ever been eclipsed by any of the current crop of domestically produced car periodicals.
As I did last year, I'd like to start by posting some initial generic photois, all taken yesterday, to provide a glimpse of the facilities, the layout, the atmosphere, the prevailing ambiance and most importantly, the vast array of wonderful, storied, beautiful and in so many instances, unattainable cars that are the very core of the entire week. I undertake this effort to pictorially set the tone for each of the daily events of the week and then like to post as many specific photos of each event to provide as complete a look at this magical week for the folks who for one reason or another simply can't be here in person, as I can. I hope it's understood that I need to keep a good number of photos in reserve to supply the ESSES with a meaningful, comprehensive number of unpublished images.
To that end, here's my plan for the week;
Tuesday, Aug. 12, '14 - 'Cars-on-the-Avenue'….a free, primarily Porsche & Ferrari event on Ocean Avenue in Carmel
Wednesday, Aug. 13, - There is a new Concours ( this will be its second year ) in the courtyard of the Carmel Mission
Thursday, Aug. 14, Pebble Tour - The showing of all the cars on Ocean Ave.entered in Sunday's Pebble Beach Concours, whose owners have decided to participate in the tour, to earn the five points awarded to cars which complete the approx. 55 mile drive
Friday, Aug. 15, Werks Reunion - I am registered & will be parking in the E S Reg. area………it's the first time for this event and I know as much about it as you folks do, which is ' not a lot '.
Saturday, Aug. 16, Laguna Seca Motorsports Reunion - At the track all day
Sunday, Aug. 17, Pebble Beach Concours d/Elegance
I can't express how much I'm looking forward to each & every one of these get-togethers, and look forward to posting more photos than ever before.
Enjoy, and I'll see those of you who are interested back here by late Tuesday, Aug.19th.
Thanks for looking.
All the Best,
JZG
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As is the case on most summer days, Saturday started cool, drizzly, foggy, in other words, perfect for great photography before the sun came out at the usual time around 10:00 AM. Good coffee is pretty scarce at the track at anytime, no one is running yet, instead there are drivers' meetings and preparations underway for a solid week of racing……….probably the best two, three hours of each day. Photo #3 e is the gate guard's MG, parked at the main entrance,where, for a paltry $20.00, you can buy a ticket and a handstamp for an extremely generous supply of sights & sounds to last a long time, and which you can't find in such abundance and quality at any other vintage meeting in the western hemisphere. Photo #4 shows the kind of treasures you're likely to run across, while #5 captures the spirit of the week well.
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