Whether it’s the sight of rarely seen cars challenging the tricky Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course or the chances to meet legendary drivers, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the place to be August 14, 15, 16 and 17.
 
In addition to visiting the Maserati heritage display that celebrates the automakers centennial, here’s what’s in store for visitors:
 
Italian Festival - Friday, August 15
On Friday, Derek Hill will take time out from driving the rare Maserati Tipo 151 to help celebrate everything Italian between noon and 12:30 p.m. on Italian Island. Hill will conduct a meet and greet and sign autographs for the many car clubs and guests attending the event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
 
Additionally, guests will preview the stunning Alfa Romeo 4C, which is leading the way for the Italian automakers’ eagerly-anticipated return to the U.S. market.
 
For the truly inquisitive, there will be a Meet Revs Institute at 12:45 on the race paddock stage. This session goes into what Stanford University’s program is about and why they are measuring numerous data points on one of the entered race cars.
 
Mixing it up with a Legend - Saturday, August 16
It’s not often you can visit with a legend, and one who is knighted no less, but visitors on Saturday to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will have their chance to meet one. Sir Stirling Moss is one of the greatest drivers of his time - many victories having occurred in Maseratis - who competed in the golden age of motorsport.
 
Historian Murray Smith will conduct the engaging session at 12:30 in the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca marketplace where fans may bring their lunch, listen to stories and ask questions. The Saturday-only picnic is a popular activity that allows fans to engage with a driving legend, and sometimes surprise guests as well. Past participants include Dan Gurney, Sir Jackie Stewart, Bobby Unser, Bob Bondurant, Martin Brundle and Bob Tullius.
 
At 11:00, motorsports journalist and definitive author chronicling the Can-Am series, Formula One and others, Pete Lyons, will greet visitors with his new books and calendars.
 
Lyn St. James, who set the world record on a closed-course for women reaching 225.722 mph during the 1995 Indy 500 qualification weekend, will be driving in two races during the weekend and take time out to sign autographs and answer fans’ questions. She will meet visitors from 11:45 – 12:15 in the Marketplace just prior to the Sir Stirling Moss session.
 
Guests will also have the chance to hear tales from the storytellers, in a special Meet the Authors session at 11:45.
 
Art and Restoration - Sunday, August 17
Official track artist Bill Patterson will be on hand at 11:15 to sign event posters and conduct a live art demonstration that unfolds before everyone’s eyes. Patterson skillfully blends speed and art to create sensational colors.
 
Following Patterson at noon is an interview with Meet the Restorers. Learn firsthand what it takes to even begin undertaking a complete restoration from the experts.
 
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is one of the cornerstones of the renowned Monterey Classic Car Week. International visitors descend on the community to enjoy the myriad of activities that celebrate the automobile. Together, the events make the Monterey Week unlike any other automotive festival in the world.
 
Advance general admission tickets to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion are on sale beginning at $50 (Friday) and a three-day ticket at $130, which includes a complimentary souvenir magazine. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. Hospitality packages begin at $200 per person.
 
To purchase tickets or for more information, contact 800-372-7322 or visitwww.MazdaRaceway.com.