Load-in days are often great days to experience what a race weekend really has to offer.
There are few people around, the cars are often in obscure places, and everything seems very ‘behind the scenes’ in terms of what is to come. With that in mind, here are few sights from Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca leading into the Monterey Pre-Reunion and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
Walking through the paddock, it is hard to miss Jonathan Feiber’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage. Here it was, getting ready to go under the canopy to be used as a relatively expensive canopy anchor (check out the wheels).
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
Further exploring yielded this site of contrasting old and new BMWs set to run this week – the 1975 3.0 CSL and the 2011 M3 GT.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
Often times cars in the open have a cover on them until they are placed into their home for the week. Even with a cover on, there is no mistaking this 1959 Morgan Plus 4 Baby Doll.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
I came upon this Dyson Racing Riley & Scott MKIII and noticed it was hauling something near the cockpit…
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
He is hopefully be stopping by the Racer/Vintage Motorsport booth so we may have to ask him what was in the box.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
Near the Riley & Scott MKIII was this lovely 1967 Fiat Abarth 850 TC/TCR. It’s one of those cars that you just want to hear, smell, and see zooming around the track as soon as possible.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
Checking out the unique ways that people get around the track is also a fun endeavor – like this Tote Gote that matches the 1950 Turner 950S behind it.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
During this time, cars are moved with ease around the paddock as teams put their roots down for the week. This 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB had folks stopping in their tracks to see where it was headed.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
The subdued tone of the day also lets fellow racers interact with each other before the hectic nature of the race weekend begins. We (like these folks) will also be taking a second look at this 1948 Holden 1948/215.
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
As you can imagine, there is a ton of prep-work that goes on before the racing starts. Any idea where we can get one of those awesome belts?
Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
As the day comes to a close, the cars are tucked away for the evening and readied for a weekend (or two) of fun and frolic in Monterey. Stay tuned for more coverage of one of the best weeks on the car lover’s calendar.
Photo:Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)
