Sarasota Café Racer Bob Bailey, below, dices it up with legendary Porsche racecars in his original 911 Trans-Am Lightweight.
Thousands of motorsports enthusiasts from around the world descended on the Monterey Peninsula and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this past weekend for Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion IV and Race Car Classic.
Beginning on Friday, October 14, Rennsport Reunion IV treated race fans at Laguna Seca with the sights and sounds of more than 60 years of Porsche’s fastest racecars driven by famous Porsche pilots. More than 350 racecars and their fearless owners battled for victory in eight different racing groups. And more than 60 former and current driving legends helped bring Porsche’s rich motorsports history to life.
“It was a privilege to be invited to bring my ‘68 911 factory Trans-Am Lightweight to Rennsport Reunion IV. This is the original car I raced in the 1968 & 1969 Trans-Am Series in 1968 &1969; Daytona 24 Hours & Sebring 12 Hours in 1969,” said Sarasota Café Racer Bob Bailey
The three-day program of on-track competition was complemented by a Concours d’Elegance, open to invited race participants. Special activities celebrated the decades-long history of the legendary 911 racecars. Other features include multiple autograph sessions, meet-the-driver and meet-the-engineer programs, and the introduction of the new 2012 Porsche 911.
On Sunday, October 16, the lush grounds of the Quail Lodge in Carmel, hosted the Porsche Race Car Classic and the largest and most comprehensive collection of early Porsche racecars ever assembled. From 356 Gmünd Coupes of 1949 to iconic 904s of 1964, examples of every racecar Porsche made between 1949 and 1965 were on display. The 175 racecars displayed were chosen for their race histories, not concours condition and presentation.
“Having my 911 racer selected to be part of the "Porsche Family Photo", one of 40 Historic Porsches, right,was a special honor. That photo will be made into the official Rennsport poster. My Lightweight ran beautifully in Race Group 2, the Eifel Trophy race on Saturday and it was wonderful meeting so many old Porsche friends who I haven't seen in years.”
For Dennis Gray’s coverage of Rennsport Reunion IV, please visit Jamie Doyle’s Sports Car Digest, http://www.sportscardigest.com/rennsport-reunion-iv-2011-report-and-photos/
Check out the latest Porsche vehicles at, http://www.porsche.com/usa/