Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Eifel Trophy

A 1969 Porsche 911S driven by Randall Smalley.

Although, I am not a fan of one make racing at all and frankly find a field full of Porsche 911s rather boring, this race still had something of interest to me, especially as I am a fan of the Porsche 914-6.

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion is a unique event, that is held once every three or four years, dedicated just to classic and more modern racing Porsches, their drivers and the men and women who made it all possible.    Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI held over four days in September 2018 was again located at Laguna Seca like the last one in 2015.  No surprise as Laguna Seca is in California, which also happens to be the biggest market for Porsche.   This year the event was subtitled The Marque of Champions - a name that speaks for itself.  The event was also part of Porsche's 70th birthday celebrations.

The first lap and a 914 is in the lead.

On the wonderful 2.238 mile Laguna Seca road course, seven groups of Porsche cars raced over the weekend.  The Eifel Trophy event was for cars such as Porsche 911 up to 2.5 litre, 911TR, 911ST and 914 and 914-6. . 

Behind the leaders a host of old 911s battle it out.

The Drivers
A number of Porsche 911 and 914 drivers from the sixties and seventies were present as guests of Porsche.

John Fitzpatrick, Dennis Aase, Willy Kauhsen, Vic Elford and Hurley Haywood.

As it was a long time ago a reminder about some of these drivers achievements in Porsche 911s and 914s.

John Fitzpatrick was 1972 European GT Champion in a Kremer Racing Porsche 911.
Dennis Aase raced a Porsche 911S throughout the seventies.
Willy Kauhsen won the 1968 24 hours of Spa-Franchorchamps in a Porsche 911L.  He also drove a Porsche 914/6 in the 1971 Targa Florio.
Vic Elford came third overall and had a class win at the 1967 Circuit del Mugello in a Porsche 911R 9shared with Gijs Van Lennep).  Vic also drove a 911L in the 167 and 1968 British Saloon Car Championship with some success and won the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally in a 911T.
Hurley Haywood dove a Porsche 914 in 1971 with Peter Gregg.  They won in Virginia, at Bridgehampton and at Summit Point.  In 1972 they drove a 911S winning at Virginia and Watkins Glen.

The Race

The winner of the Eifel Trophy, Thomas Gruber, in his 1971 porsche 914-6.

David Donohue was second in this 1968 Porsche 911T/R

This 1967 Porsche 911S driven by Nelson Calle came third.

Fourth placed Alan Terpins in his 1967 Porsche 911T/R really attacks the Corskscrew kerbs.

Fifth place Fritz Seidel at the Rainey Curve in his 1967 Porsche 911S.

The sixth placed 1971 Porsche 911S of John Coey leading a 914 and two more 911s at the Corkscrew.

A 1965 Porsche 911 driven by Matthew Goetzinger came seventh.

The eighth place 1967 Porsche 911 of Gilbert Hakim.

In ninth place was Kelvin Tse in this 1966 Porsche 911(one assumes the spoiler was added later).

This good looking 1970 Porsche 914/6 of Dener Pires came tenth.

Jeff Zwart was eleventh in this 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT.

Jeff Zwart leads another 914-6 GT down the Corkscrew.

Twelfth was another 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT driven by Edie Arrowsmith.

A rather different 914, the 1971 914-4 of Trevor Frank.  He finished fourteenth.

This pretty 1967 Porsche 911S driven by George Calfo came in seventeenth.

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Exhibition Cars

I took a shine to this 1972 Porsche 911 ST.  It is of course the 1972 European GT Championship car of John Fitzpatrick who won the championship that year.

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