Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV 2018 at Laguna Seca.

[khyndart in CA]

This may not be of interest to Ford and Chevrolet fans but every 3 years there is a reunion of important Porsche race cars and recently this event has been held at Laguna Seca, CA. This is the 70th year since Porsche first competed in 1948 and there was a grand turnout of cars and spectators last weekend. I was unable to go but my friend, John Adams, was there and kindly sent me these excellent photos to share.

57917



(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

Dan Curry in his 1985 Porsche 962 # 14 first raced by Al Holbert leads the 3 pack.
57918

Paul Higgens from Auckland, NZ,in his 1989 Porsche 962C # 5 leads Christian Zugel in his 2008 Porsche RS Spyder # 27 and Joe Robillard in his 1986 "Wynn's" Porsche 962 # 10 through the "Corkscrew Turn". (Note the NZ flag on the backboard which celebrates Brendon Hartley's win in a Porsche at Le Mans.)

57919

Lee Giannone drops down the "Corkscrew Turn" in his 1984 Porsche 962 # 5

57920

A nice shot of Scott Drnek driving his 2007 Porsche RS Spyder # 16 past the Porsches in the parking lot.
(I think my BMW would not have been welcome in that lot !)

57921

(John Adams photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Always a crowd favorite when it appears at Laguna Seca is the mighty 1973 Sunoco Porsche 917 / 30 # 6 as driven originally in Can Am by Mark Donohue.

It has gone up slightly in value since it first appeared in 1973 as seen in this photo as Roger Penske watches his team prepare the car for Mark Donohue. (Note the mechanic sitting on the grass with a trusty "Sears" Craftsman tool box nearby and tools etc . laid out on a cloth.
Imagine working on this car today in those conditions !.
57938

The same car in Sept. 2018.
Beautifully maintained.
57939

57940

57941

57942

The last 4 photos were taken by John Adams.


(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

One of the vehicles in the Porsche Heritage tent area was the 908 / 03 Spyder that Jo Siffert and Brian Redman bravely drove to win the 1970 Targa Florio on the island of Sicily. With the 3 liter Flat V-8 engine it was too quick and nimble for the competing Ferraris and Alfa Romeos.
These photos and painting by Nicholas Watts give some idea of the hazardous course and lack of crowd control at the time !
57955
Imagine trying to keep this crowd in check !

57956
Nicholas Watts excellent painting captures the atmosphere of Redman racing through the village streets followed by Nino Vaccarella in his 5 litre Ferrari 512 S # 6 and by Piers Courage in his Alfa Romeo T 33/3 # 28.
(Note the extra hazard of newspaper partially blocking the radiator !)

The 1970 Porsche 908 / 03 # 12 as it looks today after being beautifully restored to it's original Gulf Team colours.
57957
Laguna Seca..John Adams photo.

57958
(John Adams photo..)

Ken H..

[khyndart in CA]

More Rennsport action at the Corkscrew.

57970
Jeff Zwart in a 1966 Porsche 906 # 11 ahead of Bruce Marquand in a 1964 Elva Mk 7 # 175 and Wade Carter in a 1966 Porsche 906 number 74.

57972
Another fine photo of Wade Carter in a 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 # 74

57973
These two Porsche 908 drivers went hard at it during this event.
The winner was Gunnar Jeanette seen here in his 1969 Porsche 908 # 4 and Cameron Healey in his 1970 Porsche 908/03 # 20 came in 3rd.

John Adams photos.

[khyndart in CA]

Here is some You Tube action of the last day of the 2018 Rennsport Porsche Reunion.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NrAB_azAmE&t=627s

[khyndart in CA]

To appreciate the restoration of the Siffert/Redman Porsche 908/03 # 12 you have to know that it was such a good Porsche race car that it was still winning races 5 years later when it came runner-up to an Alfa Romeo in the 1975 World Manufacturers Championship.
It had been upgraded using Porsche 917 components and a Carrera RSR turbo engine and it appeared looking like this in 1975.
57975


( Ken H )

[khyndart in CA]

Some of John Adams photos of Porsche 917s at Laguna Seca.
57977
# 2 1969 Porsche 917 K of Bruce Canepa.
# 21 1969 917 K of Chris MacAllister.

57978
# 9 On display in the Porsche Heritage Tent

57979
Chris MacAllister powers down the Corkscrew Turn.


Ken H input..

[khyndart in CA]

The event was also a time to celebrate American driver, Hurley Haywood's 70 th birthday. He achieved many wins driving for the Brumos Porsche Team bearing his favorite number 59.

57991
1979 Porsche 935 # 59


57992
The Hurley Haywood 1972 Porsche 917/10-007 # 59 going down through the Corkscrew Turn. Sept. 2018.

(John Adams photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Always seen at US historic events with beautifully prepared cars is Bruce Canepa.
58005
Bruce Canepa in his 1979 Porsche 917K # 2

58006
Bruce Canepa in his 1986 Porsche 962C # 14T leads Paul Higgens from NZ in his 1989 Porsche 962C # 5 down through the Corkscrew.


An event that entertained the crowd was the race for Porsche tractors.
Perhaps this could be brought into NZ race events.
Note the different cornering techniques in this photo !

58007


(John Adams photos..)



Ken H input.

[Paul B]

Now that's a bit of a hoot Ken,
Do you think this might get through scrutineering?
58015

[Milan Fistonic]

We had a tractor race at Pukekohe in 1973.

58016

58017

[Steve Holmes]

Always a crowd favorite when it appears at Laguna Seca is the mighty 1973 Sunoco Porsche 917 / 30 # 6 as driven originally in Can Am by Mark Donohue.

It has gone up slightly in value since it first appeared in 1973 as seen in this photo as Roger Penske watches his team prepare the car for Mark Donohue. (Note the mechanic sitting on the grass with a trusty "Sears" Craftsman tool box nearby and tools etc . laid out on a cloth.
Imagine working on this car today in those conditions !.
57938

The same car in Sept. 2018.
Beautifully maintained.
57939

57940

57941

57942

The last 4 photos were taken by John Adams.


(Ken H..)

Brilliant thread Ken. I wrote a school report on the Penske Porsche 917/30 when I was a kid. It was featured in a book I had called Fastest Machines, or something similar. That car was so good it had no competition, and really finished off the Can-Am series.

I believe two cars were made, one of which was owned for many years by the comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Does he still have it?

[khyndart in CA]

Sorry Steve,
I could have bid on the 917/30 for you in 2016 as an early wedding gift. Only $ 3 million US back then.
Oh well..
https://www.goodingco.com/press/gooding-company-reveals-the-complete-list-of-collector-cars-to-be-offered-from-jerry-seinfelds-collection-at-the-amelia-island-auction/

Ken.

[khyndart in CA]

Turn 5 at Laguna Seca is a left turn from the infield area on up the hill to the Corkscrew. The original track can be seen coming in from the right in this photo of Carlos De Quesada in his 1990 Porsche 962 # 161 going through in the former Dyson Racing Porsche driven back then by Rob Dyson and English driver James Weaver.
58056

Joe Robillard driving his always immaculate "Wynn's" 1986 Porsche 962 # 101 also around Turn 5.
58057

(John Adams photos..)

[khyndart in CA]

Some Porsche that raced at Le Mans.
1951 Porsche 356 Sauter Roadster. (A one-off special )
As per Hagerty.com quote" Always seeking that racing edge, Heinrich Sauter and Hans Klenk collaborated with Porsche to design this one-off 356 with a unique body and suicide doors to gain an advantage in races that required a LeMans-style start with the drivers outside the cars."
58073
(John Adams photo..)

In 1953 it appeared as # 49 here at the Santa Barbara Airport races and owned by Jeff Mullen who would never have dreamed how much this car is worth now as it sits today in the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles !
58074
(Autoweek photo)

Here is the 1998 Le Mans winning car at Laguna Seca. (now "Weather Tech Raceway )
1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution. # 26
58075
(John Adams photo..)

In 2015 this 900 HP Porsche 919 Hybrid # 17 came in 2nd at Le Mans with Brendon Hartley, Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard driving.
( I hope Brendon gets a good result this weekend at the Austin US GP).
58076
(John Adams photo..)

(Ken H comments.)