Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Gmund Trophy

The 1953 Cooper Pooper driven by Cameron Healy.

This particular blogpost is dedicated to lovers of early Porsches and Porsche Specials such as the Pooper above.  However, one cannot do that without mentioning the first ever Porsche - Porsche 356 No.1 - which was at Laguna Seca for the occasion of Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI and is pictured below.

Dr Wolfgang Porsche driving Porsche 356 "No.1" Roadster.  It was built in 1948 in the Austrian town of Gmünd.  It is the only 356 to have a front engine.

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 field comes around the last corner for the start of Saturday's Qualifying race.

On the wonderful 2.238 mile Laguna Seca road course, seven groups of Porsche cars raced over the weekend.  The Gmünd Trophy event was for cars such as Porsche 356, 550, RS60, RSK, Porsche Abarth. 4 cylinder 904s and various Porsche Specials.     An amazing variety turned up to race.

The Race
The race was held over 25 minutes on Sunday and the fastest seven cars covered 15 laps.  No surprise that the race was between Campbell and Healy in their respective Devin and Pooper specials.

The winner of the Gmund Cup was Gregory Campbell in this 1955 Porsche Devin Special.

Pace lap at the Corkscrew on Sunday for the main race.

The 1953 Cooper Pooper driven by Cameron Healy came second.  It has a 1.7 litre Porsche engine in a 1953 Cooper Mk7 F3 chassis clothed in an aluminium body. 

Pooper in the paddock.

Third was this 1961 Porsche 356B T5 Roadster driven by Andrew Larson.

In fourth place was this 1961 Porsche 356B Roadster driven by George C Balbach.

The fifth placed 1959 Porsche RSK driven by Stephen Hill at the Corkscrew.

This beautiful 1960 Porsche RS60 came sixth driven by Johannes Van Overbeek.

Seventh was Mark Esckuche in his 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster.

This 1962 Dolphin America came eighth driven by Vic Skirmants.

Racing down the Corkscrew in Sunday's race.   Dolphin leads RSK.

A 1961 Porsche Abarth Carrera came in ninth driven by Ranson Webster.

No12 a 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster driven by Robert Van Zeist rounded out the top ten.

A 1960 Porsche 356 driven by Carl Toffelmire came eleventh.

This race worn 1958 Porsche 550A was twelfth driven by Tommy Trabue.

A bright 1960 356 Roadster driven by Bob Clucas into 13th place.

Arthur Conner in a 1959 Porsche Devin was fourteenth.

Fifteenth was Charles Christensen in a 1959 Porsche 356 Super D.

A 1963 Porsche 356 Super 90 driven by Lindsay Ross came sixteenth.

Rex McAfee in a 1960 Porsche 356 Super 90 leads a group down the Corkscrew.  He came 17th.

A 1957 Porsche 356  came in 18th driven by Max Jamiesson.

Nineteenth was No.19 driven by Steve Schmidt.  He is in a 1958 Porsche 356A.

A smoking 1956 Porsche 356.

A  very early car, a 1951 Porsche 356 Coupe.

1952 Porsche Glockler.

1959 Devin Porsche.

1959 Porsche RSK 719 Centresteer.

1955 Porsche Continental Coupe.

1955 Pupilidy Spyder Special.

1954 Porsche 356.

1960 Porsche RS60.

1960 Porsche 356B Carrera GT.

A 1964 Porsche 904 GTS leads a varied group onto the start finish straight.

The Exhibition Cars

The striking 1939 Porsche Type 64.   This is considered by many to be the first car produced by what became the Porsche company.

356 Gmund Coupe detail.

1960 Porsche 718 RS 60.  The 1960 Targa Florio winner.

1956 Porsche 550A Le Mans Coupe.  It won its class in the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1958 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder.

Porsche 356 Gmund SL Coupe.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Werks Trophy

Chris MacAllister in a 1969 Porsche 917K exiting the Corkscrew on the way to fourth place in Saturday's race.

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 Werks Trophy cars come out to play.  The Saturday morning qualifying race with the cars exiting turn 3 and heading in to turn 4.   

On the wonderful 2.238 mile Laguna Seca road course, seven groups of Porsche cars raced over the weekend.  Given the fact that I have been following motor racing for fifty years, one of my favourite races was the Werks Trophy for cars between 1964 and 1971.  Thus a race for Porsche 906, 910, 908 and 917 plus a few Porsche engines specials.  Who wouldn't enjoy that?  We must also remember that this was the era that Porsche went from class winners to overall winners at Le Mans and became Sports Car World Champions.   As well as the on track action, there were many cars on show from the era.  Most of the cars from both the race and the exhibition from the late sixties era are featured in this blogpost.  Importantly, Porsche invites its past and present drivers to the event.  Amazingly, there are still many of the drivers who drove the 906s, 907s, 910s, 908s and 917s still around.

A selection of drivers who were at the event.  From top left in clockwise direction - David Piper, Derek Bell, Jackie Oliver, Vic Elford, Brian Redman, Rudi Lins, Willi Kaushsen and Gijs Van Lennep.

A quick reminder of the achievements of some these legendary drivers -

David Piper - perhaps one of the most famous privateers from the era.  He raced a 917 scoring some second places in minor races and provided cars for the Steve McQueen film Le Mans.  Unfortunately, he lost part of his leg after crashing during the filming.
Derek Bell drove a 917 for the JW Automotive team in 1971.   He won the Buenos Aires 1000kms and the 1000kms of Paris that year.
Jackie Oliver drove for JW Automotive in 917s in 1971 as well winning with Rodriguez at Daytona, Spa and Monza.  He also set the fastest 917 time at Le Mans.
Vic Elford is truly one of the Porsche legends.  He drove the 910, 907, 908 and 917 winning at Daytona, Sebring, Targa Florio and Nurburgring.  Not to mention winning the Monte Carlo rally in a Porsche 911T.
Brian Redman drove for Porsche in 1969 and 1970 with incredible success in the 908 and 917.  He won at Brands Hatch, Spa, Monza, Nurburgring, Watkins Glen, Daytona and the Targa Florio.
Rudi Lins raced 906, 907, 908, 910 and 917s in the period 1967 to 1971.   He had podiums at Le Mans, Paris and at Kyalami.
Willi Kauhsen was another who raced all the different Porsches of this era including the original Pink Pig at Le Mans.   He won a couple of minor events in the 917.
Gijs Van Lennep of course won in the 917 at Le Mans in 1971.  He also took a number of other minor wins in the 917.

The Werks Trophy cars come around the Corkscrew for the main race.

The qualifying race and the race itself were both on Saturday and featured some enjoyable battles and drives through the field.   Both races were over 25 minutes.  In the main race the top four cars completed 17 laps.

The winner of the Werks Trophy was Gunnar Jeannette in this 1969 Porsche 908/2.

Bruce Canepa had an oil line come loose in the qualifying race and thus started from the rear of the grid.  He fought his way up to second place in this 1969 Porsche 917K.

Close battle for second place.

After a great qualifying race, Cameron Healy had to settle for third in the main event.   His beautiful ex-Vic Elford Porsche 908/3 won its class in Friday's pit lane concours competition.

917K, 908/3 and 917K race down the Corkscrew.

The fourth placed 1969 Porsche 917K of Chris Mac Allister in turn three.

 David Hagan won the battle of the lower powered cars with a good fifth place in his 1967 Porsche 910.  He he negotiates the Corkscrew in Saturday's main race.

Sixth place went to Richard Griot in this 1969 Porsche 908/2 Spyder.

Here is the seventh placed 1966 Porsche 906 driven by Wade Carter in the Rainey Curve.

Also in the Rainey curve, Donald Anderson in the eighth placed 1964 Bobsy SR3.

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Bobsy leads 910 at the Corkscrew.

Ninth was Bruce Marquand in his 1964 Elva Mk7.

Action at the Corkscrew.

Completing the top ten was another Elva Porsche.  Rod Emory is seen exiting the Corkscrew.  

Eleventh was Stephen Thein in this 1967 Porsche 910,.

A Porsche driver at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in the nineties, Jeff Zwart was driving in the Werks trophy.

Twelfth was this 1966 Porsche 906 driven by Jeff Zwart.

906, 906, 910

Dener Pires in a 1969 Porsche 908/2 at the Corkscrew.

I only saw him in the qualifying race but here is Gregory Cambell in another 1964 ElvaMk7.

It was down to race but I only saw this 1967 Porsche 910/6 in the paddock.

The cars on exhibition in the Chopard tent and in the pits.

Beautiful Porsche 917 in 1971 Martini livery.

1970 Porsche 908/3 in Gulf livery.

1968 Porsche 907.  Note the horns.  I think this is Elford's 1968 Targa Florio winner.

Siffert and Redman's 1969 Spa-Franchorchamps 1000kms winner.

Another view of the same car.

If you missed my pictures from the 2015 Porsche Rennsport Reunion V, click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

A Porsche 908/2 and the crowds during the pit lane concours.

Power unit of a Porsche 908/3.

Porsche 917K power unit.

Porsche 906 power unit.