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Automotive Lifestyle
VINTAGE: Porsche Fans Gather For Reunion
Rennsport Reunion IV brings together some of the German automaker's greatest racers, drivers and historic sports cars at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
A pair of Porsche 917s in Gulf livery crest a rise on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. (Photo: John Dagys)
Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion IV, billed as the world’s largest gathering of Porsche race cars, came to a close Sunday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after three packed days of activity on and off the track.
With over 300 race cars on display, and many taking to the historic 2.238-mile road course near the Monterey Peninsula, Porsche enthusiasts were treated to some of the German manufacturer’s most prized machinery spanning more than 60 years.
From the 356 coupes of the 1950’s and Le Mans-winning 917s and 962s to the wide array of 911s, nearly every significant Porsche model was represented in one of the eight races held over the weekend.
Official action kicked off on Saturday when 37 cars took the green flag in the Gmund Cup for early year models. Donald Anderson, driving a 1964 Bobsy-Porsche SR-3 scored top honors, while Arthur Conner took his 1964 Platypus-Porsche S/R to victory in the Eifel Trophy.
Other winners included British racing legend Brian Redman with his 1971 Porsche 908/3 in the Weissach Cup and veteran Belgian pilot Didier Theys, who led a Porsche RS Spyder 1-2-3 in the Stuttgart Cup for 956/962, GT1 and modern-day prototypes.
The cars weren’t the only stars, though, as no fewer than 60 of Porsche’s top drivers from past and present were also on hand. They included five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, as well as Hurley Haywood, the most successful Porsche endurance driver with victories at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans, as well as the entire crop of current factory drivers, including four-time ALMS champion Joerg Bergmeister and American ace Patrick Long.
Famed engineer Norbert Singer, who was involved with each of the brand’s 16 Le Mans victories, served as co-grand marshal with actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld, whose collection of street and race cars includes the Porsche 917K that Steve McQueen drove in the movie Le Mans.
In addition to a parade and concours d'elegance on Saturday and numerous other activities, the event also saw the North American premiere of the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera.
Unveiled last month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new-generation type 991 model will be available either with a 3.4-liter, 350 horsepower or 3.8-liter, 400 horsepower six-cylinder boxer powerplant when it goes on sale early next year.
Activities were capped off Sunday afternoon with the Rennsport Reunion Cup, which celebrated the various generations of 911s through the years.
Prospects of a return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the fifth Rennsport in three or four years appear to be good following a favorable response from the event’s first visit to the West Coast. While official numbers have yet to be released, more than 15,000 tickets were pre-sold.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
With over 300 race cars on display, and many taking to the historic 2.238-mile road course near the Monterey Peninsula, Porsche enthusiasts were treated to some of the German manufacturer’s most prized machinery spanning more than 60 years.
From the 356 coupes of the 1950’s and Le Mans-winning 917s and 962s to the wide array of 911s, nearly every significant Porsche model was represented in one of the eight races held over the weekend.
Official action kicked off on Saturday when 37 cars took the green flag in the Gmund Cup for early year models. Donald Anderson, driving a 1964 Bobsy-Porsche SR-3 scored top honors, while Arthur Conner took his 1964 Platypus-Porsche S/R to victory in the Eifel Trophy.
Other winners included British racing legend Brian Redman with his 1971 Porsche 908/3 in the Weissach Cup and veteran Belgian pilot Didier Theys, who led a Porsche RS Spyder 1-2-3 in the Stuttgart Cup for 956/962, GT1 and modern-day prototypes.
The cars weren’t the only stars, though, as no fewer than 60 of Porsche’s top drivers from past and present were also on hand. They included five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, as well as Hurley Haywood, the most successful Porsche endurance driver with victories at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans, as well as the entire crop of current factory drivers, including four-time ALMS champion Joerg Bergmeister and American ace Patrick Long.
Famed engineer Norbert Singer, who was involved with each of the brand’s 16 Le Mans victories, served as co-grand marshal with actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld, whose collection of street and race cars includes the Porsche 917K that Steve McQueen drove in the movie Le Mans.
In addition to a parade and concours d'elegance on Saturday and numerous other activities, the event also saw the North American premiere of the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera.
Unveiled last month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new-generation type 991 model will be available either with a 3.4-liter, 350 horsepower or 3.8-liter, 400 horsepower six-cylinder boxer powerplant when it goes on sale early next year.
Activities were capped off Sunday afternoon with the Rennsport Reunion Cup, which celebrated the various generations of 911s through the years.
Prospects of a return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the fifth Rennsport in three or four years appear to be good following a favorable response from the event’s first visit to the West Coast. While official numbers have yet to be released, more than 15,000 tickets were pre-sold.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Goodwood Festival Of Speed
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