The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) announced that it will be producing the historic races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on August 13-15, 2010, and that General Racing, Ltd., the creator and producer of the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races for the last 36 years, will no longer be producing the event.
“SCRAMP will produce an event that reflects the prestige, integrity and quality that fans and participants expect of the vintage automobile races held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. SCRAMP has contracted for the use of the trademark Monterey Historic Automobile Races for 2010 and General Racing will assist SCRAMP for this transitional year,” the organization said in a statement.
“This has certainly been a long and rewarding relationship with Steve Earle and General Racing,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “SCRAMP has always admired Mr. Earle's creation, which has brought historic car racing to the enthusiast on such a level. We look forward to our 2010 event, scheduled from August 13-15, and beyond with the mission of continuing the tradition of historic automobile racing here while enhancing the enjoyment factor for the fans, participants and sponsors.”
SCRAMP has operated Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the site of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, for more than 50 years and, as a not-for-profit organization, has donated more than $12 million to the communities in and around the Monterey Peninsula.
“SCRAMP is proud to continue the legacy General Racing began,” Campbell added, “And we are excited about the prospect of opening a new chapter in historic racing at America's premier road racing circuit.”
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was established in 1957. The world-renowned raceway has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), a not-for-profit 501C(4) corporation. Each race season, SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help put on the races.
Earle, president of General Racing, Ltd., expressed regret that his group would no longer be involved with the event.
“On September 5, 2008, I was advised that the economic terms for the agreement between General Racing and SCRAMP were no longer commercially viable for SCRAMP,” Earle said. “I'm disappointed that we were not able to come to an agreement that would allow our event to remain in Monterey. General Racing will allow SCRAMP a one-time use of the name Monterey Historic Automobile Races for the 2010 event. General Racing will continue the tradition of the Monterey Historics at the Wine Country Classic at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in early June 2010.
“We are very proud of all that we have accomplished with the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, and I truly believe that we have brought something special to the community of Monterey as an event of world renown and the generator of substantial revenue for the local economy and the charities to which SCRAMP contributes,” Earle added. “The purpose of General Racing, Ltd., is and always has been to encourage the restoration, preservation and use of historic, sports and racing cars. General Racing events and races are for the enjoyment of participants and enthusiasts alike.”