Still Ticking After All These Years; 35TH ROLEX MONTEREY HISTORIC AUTOMOBILE RACES.(News)

Byline: PATRICK C. PATERNIE

STEVEN J. EARLE DIDN'T invent vintage auto racing in August 1974, but he put it on the mapat Laguna Seca Raceway, that is, a few miles inland from the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, which itself began as an adjunct to the Pebble Beach road races in 1950.

"What did you do with an old race car? Earle said, recalling his motivation for starting the event. "I wanted to make it worthwhile to repair these old cars.

About 70 cars showed up in response to Earle urging his pals to call "everybody they knew with an old race car. Thirty-four years later, people are begging Earle to let their cars join the 450 or so entrants he can handle over the weekend.

"Whatever melts your butter is out there, from way back to modern times, is how a smiling Mario Andretti described his first-ever stroll through the paddock at the Historics. He was the guest of honor in celebration of the 30th anniversary of his Formula One world driving championship. The celebration included some rather quick demo laps in the JPS Lotus 79 now owned by Duncan Dayton.

"I felt I had to make some noise for the crowd, Andretti explained with a devilish smirk.

Other former F1 pilots on hand were Jean-Pierre Jarier, Alan Jones, Derek Bell, Eddie Cheever, Johnny Herbert, John Watson, Patrick Tambay and Alain de Cadenet, who, along with vintage racer Bruce Canepa, drove Scion tC sport coupes in the Toyota Race of Legends. Most of the passing took place on the pace lap, allowing F1 driver Timo Glock to go from the last row to second place on the ...