Entrants Revving to Go

Porsche

“The Porsche 917K was the greatest race car of all time” said Elford, noting that the “K” denoted aerodynamic modifications made for the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, helping to give Porsche its first overall victory in that race, followed by another win in 1971. It incorporated Porsche’s revolutionary flat 12-cylinder engine.  The long-tailed version could go 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds and reach top speeds of over 240 mph.

“The first time I drove the 917 was in 1969 (at Le Mans), and that car was a monster,” he continued.  “At the end of a straight you couldn’t  just go from the brake pedal to the throttle because the back end would want to come around, so you had to kind of finesse it…it was uncharted territory back then and the car was very unstable.” Elford explained that he was three hours from the finish and holding a 50-mile lead when his 917 broke down, taking him and his co-drivers out of the running. John Horsman, who was an engineer as well as the Gulf Wyer Team Executive Director, suggested the “short tail” modification for the car and the 917K was born.

Elford added that in contrast to the 917 of 1969, the 1970 car (the 917K) was easy to drive in the new short form. “At the end of the Mulsanne straight (at Le Mans) in 1969 the 917’s top speed was around 200 mph, but in 1970, the top speed there was 220,” he said.

Schedule of Racing

Saturday August 15, 2009

Group 1A) 1904 – 1940 Sporting Cars
Group 2A) 1925 – 1949 Racing and Sporting Cars
Group 3A) 1948 – 1955 Sports Racing & GT Cars under 1500cc
Group 4A) 1955 – 1961 GT Cars under 2200cc
Group 5A) 1955 – 1961 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc
Group 6A) 1955 – 1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc
Group 7A) 1964 – 1971 FIA Mfg. Championship Cars
Group 8A) 1981 – 1991 FIA Mfg. Championship & IMSA GTP Cars

Sunday August 16, 2009

Group 1B) 1947 – 1955 Sports Racing & GT Cars over 1500cc
Group 2B) 1971 – 1976 FIA Mfg. Championship Cars
Group 3B) 1961 – 1966 GT Cars under 2500cc
Group 4B) 1959 – 1966 Sports Racing Cars
Group 5B) 1963 – 1967 GT Cars over 2500cc
Group 6B) 1966 – 1974 Can-Am Cars
Group 7B) 1973 – 1980 IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT Cars

Tickets Available Online

Tickets, parking directions and information on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are available by visiting www.MazdaRaceway.com or calling (800) 327-SECA.  For more information on the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, visit www.montereyhistoric.com