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California dreamy

7th-8th & 12th-15th August 2010

Right up there for historic race enthusiasts in the US is the Rolex Monterey Sports Reunion. Launched in 1974 with the explicit intention of encouraging “the restoration, preservation and the use of historic sports and racing cars", the Reunion was an instant hit.

The initial one-day meet attracted 66 magnificent cars – including several racing legends – all with well-documented racing histories. The next year, it had grown to two days. By the end of the ‘70s, it had become one of the world’s most popular on-track event for historic racing cars. But then it did have quite a few things going for it.

Held around the same time as the illustrious, well-established Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance nearby, automobile devotees found they could kill two birds with one stone: they could gorge themselves on the pristine magnificence of vehicles at Pebble Beach, as well as watch equally exciting engineering masterpieces burst into life, rumbling and reverberating loud enough to get your innards singing like a tuning fork.

Plus, who wouldn’t want to spend a few weeks in northern California? With a moderate, Mediterranean-type climate, little chance of rain and the glorious coastline of the Monterey Peninsula minutes away, what’s not to like?

Then there was the track itself. Laguna Seca Raceway (now known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) is just over 2.5 miles long and with several challenging corners. But it is most famous for its dramatic 300ft change in elevation and breathtaking ‘Corkscrew’, which takes in what is widely considered to be motorsport’s most challenging turns, namely 8 and 8A.

A left-right ‘S’ curve at the very top of the course, the Corkscrew leads to turn nine, Rainey Curve, a tough off-camber left-hand sweeper. And if that wasn’t tough enough, your entry into the Corkscrew is a blind crest and apex on the uphill approach. Simply dizzying and exhilarating all at the same time.

So when we acquired a 1959 Costin Lister in early 2010 (a car with authentic American race history) because our client has an extremely keen enthusiasm for historic racing, the pull Stateside proved irresistible. But would we be allowed an entry to the Reunion at such a late hour?

Chequered history

The Lister, chassis # BHL-123 – one of the first two Costin-bodied Lister Jaguars ever built – was supplied to Briggs Swift Cunningham by Brian Lister’s Cambridge-based race car company. Cunningham is legendary as one of America’s most esteemed privateer racers and the car arrived in time to be prepared for motor racing’s inaugural 12 hours of Sebring in March 1959. Behind the wheel? None other than Sir Stirling Moss and the late great Ivor Bueb.

But despite the talent in the driver’s seat, BHL-123’s race was more eventful than scheduled. Whilst in third place with Moss at the wheel, confusion at a pit stop left the car without enough fuel to run the course. As the Lister slowly came to a halt, the team’s other Lister Knobbly (driven by American Walt Hansgen) tried to push the stranded Costin back to the pits – although without success.

Regardless of its inauspicious start, BHL-123 went on to record several significant victories with Cunningham’s team that year, culminating in Walt Hansgen winning the C-Modified classification in 1959’s SCCA National Championship season. With its job done, Cunningham sold the car at the end of the year.

With such a CV, we quickly got in touch with the Reunion organisers to see if we could secure an entry into one of America’s biggest historic meetings. Thankfully, they were as keen as we were to see this car racing in its spiritual homeland again. However, with the Reunion held in mid-August, we had to hurry if we were to thoroughly prepare the car here in England before shipping it back over to the Sates in time for the race.

Aces up the sleeves

Although the pressure was on to finish the job in time, we did have help waiting in the wings to smooth things along at the final straight. Having a friendship with someone who runs a distinguished operation in the States (not too dissimilar to our own) is always an advantage at times like this. And it’s an added bonus when they’re based just 50 miles away from the Laguna Seca Raceway.

So it was that Bruce Canepa of Canepa Designs in Scotts Valley took delivery of BHL-123. Seeing as he was attending the Reunion with several cars anyway, Bruce had kindly offered to both store and transport our car to the event. He even offered to provide space under his extraordinary seven-birth car awning, attached to his own, custom-designed race truck.

By the time we arrived, the Costin Lister was nestled contentedly under the awning alongside three of Bruce’s cars, plus three of his clients. All that was needed now was to give the car a good shake down on the track before the race proper. But our designated driver, Alex Buncombe, wasn’t with us just yet.

Thankfully, Bruce was a seasoned Laguna Seca driver himself. And, ever the gentleman, Bruce had also agreed to drive our car for the Pre-Reunion.

Open to the public for the first time, the Pre-Reunion is a relaxed weekend for competitors to prepare for their Monterey Motorsports Reunion race. Held the weekend before the main event, drivers get valuable track time to shake down their cars, test tyres and their car set-up, as well as have fun with fellow competitors. The weekend comprises of first qualifying on the Saturday, followed by a race, with the same qualifying-race sequence repeated on the Sunday.

So with Bruce at the wheel, we could get ideal preparation time, knowing that our talented race ace Alex will be able to come in the following weekend and join his car and pit team primed and ready for the off.

Saturday’s Pre-Reunion race

We were racing in Pre-Reunion Group 3A (1955-1961 sports racing cars over 2000cc). This meant our qualifying/practice session was relatively early in the day at 8.50am. At that hour, the Californian sun hadn’t yet had time to burn off the early morning mist that greeted us each day.

So with a gentle introduction to first qualifying, the session went well. Bruce reported that the car was running fine. And the time? For whatever reason, the timesheets seemed to take an age coming from the timekeepers. Well worth the wait though, as Bruce had qualified in second – out of a field of 42!

So we were all set for the race later that afternoon. Full of optimism then for the race proper, ten laps of the legendary Raceway awaited. By then, the mist had cleared, leaving a dull and muggy day.

Shaking things up somewhat though, the organisers had added some C1 and C2 Lotuses to our field. This meant that Bruce had his work cut out getting past a Lotus 15 in particular. This left BHL-123 with a very creditable second place finish, and us with nothing but delight for our day’s work.

Sunday’s Pre-Reunion race

Cloud cover early on Sunday meant the day appeared a little downcast ahead. This made no impression on us though, for Bruce gave us even more reasons to be cheerful at the very next opportunity, qualifying in first place without any drama at all whilst recording his fastest time of the weekend.

So, brimming with confidence, Bruce took the car to the line, ready for the off. It was 1.35pm and the skies ahead were clear and bright, with track temperatures commonly described as baking. He wanted a good start and got one. For the first three laps, BHL-123 led the chasing pack with aplomb.

But on lap four, our nemesis in the Lotus from Saturday’s race pushed Bruce onto the marbles at turn one. The spin was dramatic, but mercifully, not terminal. Bruce quickly regained control and rejoined the race.

But although Bruce did very well to recover to fourth spot, there simply weren’t enough laps left to fully repair the damage, so fourth is what we had to settle for. Which was unfortunate, for with our first USA win within our grasp, to have it taken like that felt more than disappointing.

We had a good stab at consoling ourselves with the fact that we clearly had a very competitive car and that the Reunion proper would perhaps offer us the chance of some redemption. All was not yet lost we told ourselves, with some measure of success…

Reunion practice and qualifying

By the time Thursday (the first day of the Reunion) came, our previous weekend’s disappointment had faded and our driver Alex Buncombe had joined us. The paddock had now swelled, with over 450 racecars eager to get through the day’s practice unscathed for the weekend’s racing to come.

Early morning mist, together with very fine rain combined once more to make the course a little slippery. And the last thing we needed was to come all this way and get scuppered by a slip-up on a greasy track.

So as Alex had never raced at Laguna Seca before, giving him a good briefing was critical. After a long chat with Bruce about turn ins and braking points, we settled Alex into the Costin Lister. With the words “take it easy!” ringing in his ears, he edged the car out onto the track.

Both our Managing Director Derek Hood as well as the car’s owner had flown in to join us behind the pit wall. Having heard about our encouraging Pre-Reunion performances, they waited eagerly to see how the car would do in the conditions with Alex behind the wheel.

Ten laps later, the car was back under its awning. Naturally, Alex was curious about his time. He looked crestfallen when we told him “a bit shabby”. But he soon perked up when we eventually let him know he was fastest – having beaten Bruce’s best time by two seconds!

So much for ‘taking it easy’! First time on the track, on his first outing in the car and in the damp. Cream always rises to the top, doesn’t it?

Chasing that elusive first win

Now all we needed was Friday’s early morning pre-qualifying session to give us a good grid position for Saturday’s qualifying, before the big race itself come Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, Alex and BHL-123 didn’t disappoint, taking another pole position, having gone a further two seconds faster than Thursday, clocking an impressive 1min 43.8 secs!

Sitting on pole at 8.45am Saturday morning for final qualifying, we were quietly confident of doing better than we did on the previous weekend’s Pre-Reunion – whilst keeping an eye out for those Lotuses… The weather again was a little chilly and overcast, but dry. Which apparently suited our Costin Lister and Alex just fine, as they led the field for the entire race, crossing the finish line a huge 20 seconds ahead of everyone else.

Given the frustrations of our previous races, our very first win on American soil felt all the sweeter.

By the time the Official Rolex Race came later that afternoon, the sky was clear and bright, warming the air nicely. We lined up in pole position for the last time, eager to get a good start. But not long after the off, there was a very unfortunate accident to a Scarab from the Collier Collection. Driven by experienced driver John Morton, this highly prized car was badly damaged and will take time to repair. Thankfully though, we understand John should be fine.

However, all this meant that the race had to be stopped and delayed for some time.

Once back underway, Carl Moore’s Lotus 19 edged past us at the restart. More aggravation from the Lotus! But before we had time to think the worst, Alex was back in front. From there, he was never headed again and crossed the finish line 15 seconds ahead of the field.

We had done it: back-to-back wins on American soil. What a weekend! The car was faultless throughout, but we won’t forget the part both drivers played in our success. Bruce in particular and hjs staff did all they could for us, were extraordinarily generous and are singled out for special praise.

The beauty of historic racing is the fact that it is such a communal experience. And being able to share it with good friends makes such memorable experiences richer still.

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