The “Tire Photo” taken at each
year’s Monterey Historics weekend
dates back to the 1970s when
Road &
Track
magazine rented a cherry-
picker so they could have their photog-
rapher take a high-angle group shot of
cars representing the weekend’s hon-
ored marque. If Ferrari, for example,
was recognized as the honored marque
that year, all of the Ferraris competing
in the historics were positioned on the
short straight (between Turns 3 and 4)
just ahead of the Michelin Tire foot
bridge. [
Note: the bridge was not al-
ways named after Michelin tires; pre-
vious sponsors were, among others,
Cooper and Bridgestone. The tire
theme was an attempt to replicate Le-
Mans’ iconic Dunlop Bridge, first con-
structed at that track in 1935.
]
The significance of being named
Monterey Historic’s honored marque
is not lost on any manufacturer; they
are always alert for photo opportuni-
ties and additional publicity, especially
at a high visibility event like Mon-
terey, and most especially when they
have a new product that directly re-
lates to some part of the event. Once
selected, they typically send some of
the special cars kept in their museum
or private collection to be displayed
throughout the weekend – and some-
times driven in demonstration laps by
drivers who had piloted them back in
the day. It’s all part of the show. These
rare and historic jewels are placed
prominently in the front of the tire
photo, befitting their status. Behind
them are row after row of the vintage
racers representing that marque. A
special parking area is also set up dur-
ing the weekend for spectators who
drive cars representing the honored
marque. If additional cars were
needed to fill out the photo, some of
these cars can be invited and owners
are directed to park them at the very
back of the group.
Once the photographer is in the
cherry picker’s bucket, car owners are
moved behind it so the photo can be
taken of the cars without any human
distractions. In some years owners
moved back into the picture to stand
near their cars for a second photo. It
all takes a lot more time to accomplish
than it takes to read about it, here.
Road & Track
used the photo in their
Monterey Historics event coverage
and some years sent enlargements to
those whose cars were in the photo.
This photo shoot quickly became
something of a tradition during the
Historics. The break in on-track activ-
ities at noon on Wednesday was recog-
nized as the time to get the cars into
position for the annual “Tire Photo.”
Announcements were not necessary;
everyone who had entered an honored
marque car was aware of the timing.
More recently, the cherry picker
was replaced with a larger hydraulic
lift platform used by contractors for
high work on ceilings and beneath
bridges. A handful of photographers
could gain the elevation necessary for
unique photos, and getting on to the
platform took some doing. It was not
what you knew but who you knew.
The SHELBY AMERICAN
310 Fall 2015
Corporate Ineptitude on Display at Monterey
– Rick Kopec
The “Tire Photo” has come to be an important piece of the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Every year this photo brings all of the
cars of the featured marque together at one time. With so many cars scattered all over the track’s infield, it’s not possible to inspect
each one closely over the weekend. Neither is it possible to do each car justice when they are part of a large group positioned for a
photograph, but the sense of just being there among them is part of what gives this event the cachet it has acquired.