New Poster Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCAMP), which runs the track, commissioned artist Bill Patterson to create a poster for the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

Patterson's work depicts one of the famed facility's greatest moments, race car driver Gerard Carlton "Pete" Lovely's win of the track's inaugural race behind the wheel of a Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa. The legendary driver raced for over five decades and died in 2007.

"The first race and all the military pomp and circumstance that first day was inspiring as I thumbed through photos of the day," said Patterson in a statement. "With the event celebrating the track's own heritage, we needed to celebrate that first win. Plus, it's fitting that this year is also the 70th anniversary of Ferrari. It all came together nicely."

The 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will be held on August 17-20 and the new poster will be available for purchase beginning August 11. The limited-edition 24x36-inch posters will be sold exclusively in the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca souvenir store. Patterson will be on hand during the reunion to meet with fans and sign posters.

"Bill's art always captures the essence of motion and drama of his subjects, and this year's art with the very first car to win here is one of his finest," said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in a release. "Hopefully it will be a walk down memory lane for those who attended that first race in 1957 and become a treasured part of their collection."

For tickets and more info about the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, visit MazdaRaceway.com or call 831-242-8200.

To learn more about the artist, visit www.billpatterson.com.