Legendary racer Sir Stirling Moss purchased a 1961 Porsche RS 61 Spyder for $1.705 million at this spring’s Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company. It was this car that he brought to the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this past Friday, where he was to compete in the group 1A class against Listers, Lotuses, Maseratis and other Porsches. This Porsche is one that he held in high esteem, having nearly won the 1960 Targa Florio in a similar RS 60 Spyder. Sadly, his first time on the track with his new RS 61 ended in disaster.
Monterey County’s The Herald reports that a combination of damp and foggy morning weather – common on the coast, where the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is held, but less frequent inland by the race track – and cold tires caused Moss to spin the car out on his first lap. His car was then hit by another car that lost control in the same spot. The 80-year-old was not injured in the crash, but his Spyder was badly damaged, and it was not able to compete in the weekend’s racing events. He has vowed to repair the car and race it next year.