There are plenty of cars on hand at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance simply for display. Whether custom artistic expressions or museum pieces, those vehicles are to be looked at, admired and put away again.
But, the real compelling machines of Monterey Car Week and the Concours get moving and battle for the checkered flag. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the biggest event held during Monterey Classic Car Week, featuring a chance for attendees to examine vintage speed machines up close before seeing them race in a series of competitive categories.
Related: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 2015 Exotics on Cannery Row
According to the Reunion’s own stats, about 550 cars are invited to battle at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca every year. After applying for participation, cars are accepted based on the authenticity, race provenance and period correctness.
This year’s schedule included:
- Featured Marque: Shelby GT350 Mustang – 50th anniversary
- Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring
- 1927-1951 Racing
- 1955-1962 GT
- 1963-1966 GT over 2500cc
- 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA, GT, GTX, AAGT, GTU
- 1981-1991 FIA Manufacturers Championship; IMSA GTO/GTP
- 1955-1961 Sports Racing over 2000cc
- 1955-1961 Sports Racing under 2000cc
- FIA Manufacturers Championship
- 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT
- 1961-1966 GT under 2500cc
- 1968-1976 Formula 5000
- 1967-1984 Formula One
- 1966-1972 Trans-Am
- 1965-1970 Shelby Mustang
The highlight of this year’s Motorsports Reunion was that Shelby GT350 Mustang race. The 50th Anniversary brought period pony cars from around the world to Monterey for a series of ear shattering races to honor the car’s creator and the iconic American machine’s birthday.
You can see several of the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion stars in the gallery below.
2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance shifted to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Saturday for the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Multiple makes of American muscle cars from the 60s, 70s and 80s competed in friendly races during the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The 50th Anniversary of the Shelby GT 350 drew its own racing series at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
A racing Dodge Javelin (distant and long extinct relative of the Challenger and Charger) served as a show car at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
This racing spec Classic Wax Dodge Challenger stayed on display in the hot pits the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The 50th Anniversary of the Shelby GT 350 drew its own racing series at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
During the 50s and 60s, many automotive dealers in California, Nevada and Arizona sponsored their own minor circuit, stock car racing teams. This SoCal circuit FIA Ford Falcon harkened back to that era at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Dodge and Chryslers blend at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The 50th Anniversary of the Shelby GT 350 racing class at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion featured an entire race of cars featuring the classic blue on white paint pattern of the classic car.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The 50th Anniversary of the Shelby GT 350 drew its own racing series at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The interior of an AC Motors Cobra Mark II at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The period racing tent fills with enthusiasts at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider is race ready at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
A F1 racer from a bygone era at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
A modern day Koenigsegg settles in alongside classics of eras past at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Entrants show off their various competition badges at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
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2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The 1955 Jaguar D-Type XKD 558 waits for mechanics at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
