http://www.montereyhistoric.com/news/cooper.html
Press Release
STORIED BRITISH CAR MANUFACTURER COOPER TO BE FEATURED MARQUE AT 33RD ROLEX MONTEREY HISTORIC AUTOMOBILE RACES
Cooper Tribute Part of Larger Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, Calif. (August 24, 2005)—Cooper will be the featured marque at the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, August 18-20, 2006, announced Steven J. Earle, president of General Racing Ltd. and founder of the event. Cooper Car Company will be part of a larger celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, featuring the racecars and champions that have competed there.
“With a long and distinguished automotive history, Cooper Car Company left an indelible mark on the racing world. Their design innovations altered the face of Formula One and the Indianapolis 500 and their sedans excelled in Rallying,” said Earle. “It is fitting that the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic should honor the Cooper legacy, which has included some of the greatest names in racing, such as Sir Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Maurice Trintignant and Bruce McLaren.”
As part of its tradition of showcasing and preserving motorsports history, the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic will not only feature Cooper cars, but will also present Historic IMSA, Can-Am and Trans-Am cars which raced at Laguna Seca, as well as a select group of Historic Formula One cars which reflect a dream of many enthusiasts to see these cars at the track. In total, more than 400 vintage racecars, representing a wide range of automakers, will compete in a series of challenging and highly competitive races.
Founded in 1947 by Charles and John Cooper, the Cooper Car Company started in a small garage in Surrey, England, where the father/son team began building racecars. By the 1950s and 1960s the Cooper Car Company reached its peak as their rear-engine, single seat cars found multiple successes in Formula One events and altered the face of the Indianapolis 500.
Brabham placed sixth in a Cooper Formula 2 car at the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix; Moss won the 1958 Argentine Grand Prix in a Cooper; and in 1959 and 1960, a Cooper won 11 Grand Prix races, with Brabham winning two world championships. Cooper and Brabham shocked the racing establishment at the Indianapolis 500 when they appeared in 1961 with the revolutionary, rear-engine Kimberly-Cooper-Climax. By 1962, every Formula One car on the starting grid had been totally redesigned to follow Cooper’s visionary rear-engine concept.
Perhaps, the Cooper Car Company may be best known for the Mini Cooper. The distinct shape of the Mini Cooper is still recognized today.
The 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races will be held August 18-20, 2006 at historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
