Del Monte Trophy Race Group Bulletin Number 2, June 2021
It was a pleasure to catch up with many of you earlier this month at the CSRG Laguna Seca races. We actually had 4 Jaguar XK-120s (see the group shot of the drivers and owners below) racing together all weekend in a scrum of nearly 30 cars. Our 1947-1955 Group was well represented by both Over and Under 2000cc production Sports Cars as well as California Specials.
I’m sure we are all looking forward to gathering the full Group at the Reunion in August. At this point, 28 cars have been invited for our Race Group 4A (Saturday). We are still working through a few issues with the Selection Committee. Several entries had been placed in other Race Groups and we have been able to get them reassigned. Several entries are under discussion and we are hoping for a decision next week.
2021 is the Pebble Beach Road Races and Concours d”Elegance 70th Anniversary celebration year. Our cars are the historic racing connection between modern day Pebble Beach and the Reunion. We want to ensure that everyone in the Group who wants to participate can join us for the Celebration. Celebration preparations have evolved in the several months since the last Bulletin. We have developed a proposal for large commemorative displays at both the Concours and the Reunion. These consist of 5 panels with art photos and text that present the Road Races in their historical context. The artwork and graphics are by noted digital artist, David Gentry, and the period race photos are taken from the PBCo Julian Graham Archives. Our proposal has been accepted by both the Concours and the Reunion organizers. Sponsorship is being finalized and we are moving to production.
A major element of these two exhibits will be the presence for the 5 Del Monte Trophy/ Feature Race winning cars. The Concours has gathered all 5 winners for a Special Exhibition Class. They will also be featured in other activities during Car Week. On our race Saturday they will be at Laguna Seca in front of the Anniversary Exhibit.
The cars of the 1947-1955 Del Monte Race Group 4A will play a key role in the Reunion’s Celebration. Those that actually participated in the Pebble Beach Road Races will participate directly and virtually in several activities. Last week the Concours organizers held a film shoot with 5 of our cars (photo below) doing (slow) laps around the original race circuit in the Forrest. The footage will be used in the coming weeks for various promotional efforts.
At the Reunion on race Saturday, the 1949 Parkinson Jaguar and the 1950 Cannon Mk.1 Specials will join the Phil Hill XK-120 Jaguar for photos and interviews. These cars were the top three finishers of the 1950 Feature race.
As in past years, we will be organizing our dedicated Del Monte Trophy Race Group paddock lane and activity. It will be linked with graphic panels to the main Celebration Display in the Exhibition/Drivers Lounge area. Ours are the sports cars that pioneered European-style road racing 70 years ago and we’ll make a big effort to use the Celebration to show them off.
Del Monte Trophy patches are available in two formats for your race suits. Send Rob your mailing address and you’ll have one for August. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me.
Best Regards,
Rob Manson
(831) 601 0645
r3teknon@sbcglobal.net