The Monterey Motorsport Reunion, colloquially known as “The Historics”, was celebrating Ford’s glorious GT350 this year. Not the new one, though there were a bunch of those floating around because, you know, cross promotion and corporate synergy and all that jazz. Anyway, the OG GT350 has always been my favorite mustang, because it was the true ‘racer for the street’ kind of car. Many of them went on to compete in SCCA sanctioned events, and a few of them have a lot of stellar history. Anyway, while they were the main focus of the weekend at the track, and there was one session with almost 50 of them on track at once, there was plenty else to see. Everything from pre-war Grand Prix cars to more modern endurance racing sports cars. Click through to see what its all about.

I was in attendance at the behest of FlatSixes.com, and my work there facilitated my ability to get a photographer vest. Because of that, I’ll save my Porsche content for my posts over there. For more from Monterey, check out my work over there.

Like I said, the GT350 was there in droves, and Ford set up a tent showcasing the new car. It was pretty damn good looking. Once I get that Cayman GT4 I was talking about in the last post, I will need to get a GT350R to park next to it in the garage. #GarageOnFleek

Terlingua Racing Team was Shelby’s non-Shelby non-factory supported racing team. Their logo, the Screaming Rabbit, has always been hilarious to me. It all comes from a Shelby quote back in the day when someone asked him if he thought he could beat Ferrari. He reportedly said “I could beat Ferrari with a Texas Jackrabbit”.

I love a good TZ. This little buzz bomb looked like a riot to drive.

Startlingly similar shapes between the TZ and the Porsche Abarth. Both rare. Both awesome.

The oversteer. This guy was absolutely ON the throttle out of every corner. I’ve seen him race a few times, and he really likes to slide ‘er around.

A local Reno Porsche nut and friend drives this car. I adore his speedster. It’s got just the right amount of patina, and he said it’s logged over 100 race weekends since he’s owned it.

It’s hard to ignore a track full of GT350s. These beasts were LOUD. That Ford 289 is a venerable motor.

AMERICA!

Not all of them are white with blue stripes. I mean most of them are, but this one wasn’t.

Probably my favorite Porsche at the track. Ranson Webster (also owns the Abarth GTL pictured above) really knows how to hustle these cars around. Nice guy, too.
 

You really can’t beat an M1. 
As part of the festivities, Shelby American was offering a Q&A session with Bob Bondurant and Pete Brock. As per usual, Bob was chatting up the ladies, and Peter was explaining aero to nerds like me. Fitting…

 

Make way, a Gulf 908/3 coming through.

Old Yeller. Man this thing was a riot to watch.

Phil Hill’s son raced this weird Maserati Coupe. He won the heat, too. Quick guy in a quick car.
 

Lotus needs to make cars like these again. Racing series need to sanction cars like these again. Back when racing was about the driver more than it was the car.

Always love a birdcage.

Ummm. I might just go cry in a corner now.

This Aston Martin was my favorite.

JAAAAAAAAAAG!

Parsh!

TWO PARSH!
THREE PARSH?!?!
I hate to see you leave, but I love to watch you go.

That’s Jeff Zwart’s 906 Carrera 6. He still drives this car on the street sometimes. What a guy!
Make way, Gulf 908/3 coming through.

L-O-L-A, Lola (sure, nobody’s made that joke before.)

Look at that body roll.

Not one, but TWO Gulf-Wyer Mirages in the same frame. One being driven by Marino Franchitti.

Quattro domination!

This Spice-Acura somehow qualified on pole ahead of a Porsche 962 and a Mazda 782. Sure, it was absolutely eaten alive at the start, and lost the lead at turn 1, but still. Very cool car, and I’m glad Acura brought it out.

This Mazda is a perennial favorite at the Historics. A little after this was taken, I was standing about 10 feet away from it at full throttle going under the Michelin bridge. It’s loud. I might have pushed up my hearing-aid threshold a few years because of that incident.

Oldsmobile!

Buick!

This Toyota was among the Canepa fleet. It sold at auction not very long ago, and it was nice to see the new owner taking it out.

Hard to not love this car. It wasn’t the fastest thing on track, but it sure looked like fun.

As we were leaving the track, I spotted Leh Keen’s new ride. This rally-Porsche is so cool it hurts. Leh might be my favorite racing driver. He’s got such good taste in cars.

Gulf Mirage!

ALPINE!

Acura also brought this Chaparral-mimic LMP2 car from their museum. It was once run at this very race track by Gil de Ferran.

Here’s that Spice again.

The NSX has allegedly been pushed back again? Well I’ll be damned. It sure looks pretty.

This 908 was not being run because it didn’t have an engine in it. It’ll be ready for Rennsport Reunion next month, though, from what I’ve been told.

Love a good Datsun.

These gents ship their stuff from Australia every year. Very cool. That 356 Coupe is wicked quick, too.

More good Datsuns. That Hako, tho.

The Pre-War Alfa.

One of the original F-car Grand Prix contenders.

550A Spyder! Supposedly original paint.

If I were going to vintage race, I’d definitely be this guy. Dropping a mini down the 3-story Corkscrew has to be a riot and a half.

Oh look, another TZ!
There’s that Datsun again.

Hey there, little guy!
These events couldn’t take place without the dedicated volunteer corner worker staff. Thanks for helping, guys and gals.

COBRA.

This Mercury was my favorite part of this session. He wasn’t even close to on pace, but he was hustling that land barge for all it was worth.

Gotta love a good Vette.

Here’s a very rare Greg Kachadurian caught in its natural habitat.

Before the green flag flies, you gotta throw up a rock fist!

The Trans-Am heat race is always a fan favorite. 40-something ground pounding American Sedans kicking ass and taking names.

Iconic.

RED WHITE AND BLUE! Real American Motors.

Hard to not like a Boss in grabber orange.

Fly Falcon, Fly!

F5000 was another race session that was amazing. These cars were wickedly fast, used essentially the same engines as Trans Am, and had slicks and wings. What’s not to love? This is another series that needs to come back. Why don’t we have stock-block formula car racing anymore?

Yes.

So much yes. Stilt wings are still my favorite aero feature of any racing car era.

Well, giant air intake boxes might be a close second.

Oh. Who drove that? An Andretti? Never heard of ’em.

Jody Scheckter’s Wolf? Yeah, that’s awesome.

Hey Jeff, go ask Aston Martin if you can take this one out for a spin.

The gaping maw of the Ferrari Redundant Name.

Here’s that 935 again. Still love this car.

Supposedly the world’s only steel-bodied 356 America Roadster. One of one, and it’s being raced. I love that I was able to get up close and personal with it.

I believe this Oldsmobile was just purchased by Adam Carolla. I didn’t see it out racing, but it was cool nonetheless. Shot with a Canon Eos, too, ironically.

[All photos ©2015 Hooniverse/Bradley C. Brownell, All Rights Reserved.]