Laguna Seca Porsche Weekend

LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY, Monterey, California (August 16) - Thousands of people were transported back in time to fabulous bygone eras of auto racing this weekend at the 25th Annual Monterey Historic Races presented by the Chrysler Corporation. "This weekend was simply fantastic!" said raceway general manager John Stornetta.

Yesterday, one of the largest single day crowds ever at Laguna Seca Raceway joined in Porsche's 50th Birthday celebration and watched historic race cars driven like they were brand new. Today spectators flocked to the raceway for even more action and a gigantic Porsche Parade.

"We reached a milestone," said Steve Earle, founder of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. "Saturday we had to turn people away for the first time ever. This is a tribute to the performances of our participants and the quality of the cars they have brought every year for 25 years." By early afternoon Saturday, all the parking areas at Laguna Seca Raceway were full, even though an additional parking area had been added for the event.

Earle also announced that next year's event will be a retrospective of the 25 years of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races and the featured marque will be Auto-Union. Before World War II, Auto-Union built dominating Grand Prix cars and several of these cars and other rare Auto-Unions are expected at the event. Auto-Union is better known today as Audi. The event will be held on the weekend of August 27, 28, 29, 1999.

Awards at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races are not given to race winners because the events are celebrations of the cars raced and the spirit of their eras. Awards are given to individuals who, in varying ways, represent the spirit of the event. Following are those who received awards this evening:

MONTEREY CUP for outstanding car presentation and performance Bata Mataja, Glendale, California - 1957 Porsche Speedster

THE AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE "TRUE SPIRIT" AWARD to the participant who drives his or her entry to the event and competes with honor John Grosseto, Kailua, Hawaii - 1955 OSCA MT-4

VASEK POLAK AWARD (first annual) for outstanding representation of Porsche race cars David Morse, Incline Village, Nevada - 1977 Porsche 936/77

THOMAS W. SENTER MEMORIAL TROPHY to the owner of the "Best" Ford powered entry Camee Edelbrock, Torrance, California -- 1966 Shelby GT-350

MONTEREY HISTORIC AWARD for outstanding car conservation Pre-World War II vintage: Alan Moss, Sedona, Arizona - 1934 Morgan SS Post-World War II vintage: Mark Mountanos, Ukiah, California - 1958 Epperly Indy Roadster

THE KEN MILES TROPHY for representation of a race car with an under 1500cc engine David Gibb, Oklahoma City - 1935 Austin 7