#12 - Q&A WITH THE RACECAR DRIVERS - Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2025
We had the privilege of first shooting the cars on track, then shooting questions to Drivers of the 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion…and they answered! Thanks to Richard Goldsmith, Evan Hoobchaak, and Chad Raynal for taking the time to share insight from their unique point-of-view. We go over race history, on-track experience, the overall Car Week experience, and more.
Richard Goldsmith’s previously Sam Posey owned 1970 Dodge Challenger with great race history.
Q1: Where are you based and where does the car live when it's not on track?
GOLDSMITH: I live in Bellingham WA (after most of my life in Gilroy CA). My cars are stored and maintained by Impeccable Inc. in Campbell Ca.
Q2: What is the relation here between the driver(s) and the racing team responsible for the car?
GOLDSMITH: I have relied on Impeccable since acquiring the ex-Sam Posey Challenger in 2014 and the ex-Jerry Jolly DeKon Monza in 2018. They are an amazing group to work with and good friends.
Q3: When did you arrive for RMMR and first get the car on track?
GOLDSMITH: This year did not run the Pre-Reunion. Arrived on Tuesday for sign-in, on the track Wednesday in both the Challenger and Monza.
Q4: Any history worth mentioning? Trophies or races to credit the performance? Owners/Caretakers worth sharing about?
GOLDSMITH: I have raced two cars extensively and with some success: 1958 Lotus XI: Monterey Rolex award for Exemplary Participation 2003, Best Representation and Participation at 2004 Wine Country Classic and the DRS Class award at Coronado Island 2007. 1970 Dodge Challenger: Skip’s (Barber) Selection Lime Rock Park 2013, Rolex Award of Excellence Monterey 2014 & 2024.
Q5: Which cars have you driven on Laguna Seca? Have a favorite? How much experience do you have driving this track?
GOLDSMITH: 1958 Lotus XI, 1968 HTA Camaro, 1970 HTA Challenger, 1976 DeKon Monza. They are all so different it would be hard to choose a favorite. First ran in 1999 and estimate 25-30 events.
Q6: Do you use any kind of simulators for tracks like Laguna Seca? If so, which cars have you used and how close can they mirror what you drive on track.
GOLDSMITH: Not enough to matter.
Q7: Anything else you do during Car Week worth mentioning? 17 Mile Drive, Auctions, Tour d'Elegance/Concours, Dinner with Family/Friends, etc.
GOLDSMITH: Not this year but in the past have attended the Pebble Beach Concours, Concourso italiano, various auctions, participated in the Tuesday night in Carmel and multiple dinners with the HTA drivers.
Q8: Are you familiar with all, most, or some of the other drivers on track with you? How much of a difference would you say that makes going into a race regarding your familiarity with the other drivers? The totally unknown versus well known…
GOLDSMITH: It took awhile the learn what vintage racing is all about. I now make a point to get to know some of the drivers I qualify near, assuming I don’t know them already. In the Lotus we have a small contingent that get together socially and have raced together for many years. In the Historic Trans Am it is a very tight knit group that focus on close, friendly racing, We travel across the country to various races together and socialize as much as we can. This makes for great racing with you know and trust your fellow competitors. The group that I run with in the Monza is a much more serious group that< except for a few drivers, do not know that well. It can get intense at times.
Q9: Considering this is gentlemen driving, you all toe the line well between going for it but not going over the top to gain position. Are there times where you find yourself backing off due to the nature of the races?
GOLDSMITH: It is different for each group as stated earlier. However, I have not had an on the track incident and most of the drivers are fairly predictable. If it gets real intense I will back off and find someone more fun to race with.
Q10: Have you owned comparison cars to what you're driving on track? Any enthusiast cars in your personal collection worth mentioning?
GOLDSMITH: One of the main reasons I jumped at the chance to purchase the Challenger is that I grew up with Mopar leaning friends and I drove a ‘Cuda for many years. The only non race car I currently have is a 2020 Lotus Evora GT because since pruchasing the XI in 1998 I had always wanted a street Lotus.
Q11: Can you recall the fastest car and slowest car you've driven on any track?
GOLDSMITH: Fastest is the 1976 DeKon Monza. Slowest would be the 1958 Lous XI when it still had the 1100cc engine.
richard GOLDSMITH - Bellingham, WA - #77 1970 Dodge Challenger
-Parnelli Jones Trans AM Trophy Group
Race RESULTS - Friday, Aug. 15th, 2025 - 15th of 28 -
Best Lap Time - 1:48:619
Saturday RESULTS - 16th of 28 - Best Lap Time - 1:48:349
Q1. Where are you based out of and where does the car live when it's not on track?
Hoobchaak: Barrington, IL but the car lives in Grass Valley, CA.
Q2: What is the relation here between the driver(s) and the racing group responsible for the car?
Hoobchaak: I have a good relationship with Mike Kearney the car owner. He also takes care of all race prep.
Q3: When did you arrive at RMMR and first get the car on track?
Hoobchak: Flew in to SFO late Tuesday and hit the track at 9am on Wednesday
Q4: Any history worth mentioning? Trophies or races to credit the performance? Owners/Caretakers worth sharing about?
Hoobchaak: The Mini won the 1970 SCCA Nat'l Championship
Q5: Which cars have you driven on Laguna Seca? Have a favorite? How much experience do you have driving this track?
Hoobchaak: I also got to drive a mini (different car) in the 2024 event. Those are my two experiences with the track and I absolutely love the flow and how wide the track feels.
Q6: Do you use any kind of simulators for tracks like Laguna Seca? If so, which cars have you used and how close can they mirror what you drive on track?
Hoobchaak: I do have a sim at home and use iRacing from time to time. Unfortunately there's nothing like the car dynamics of a Mini but any slower H-pattern car will usually have similar braking points which is good for reference prior to actually getting on the track.
Q7: Anything else you do during Car Week worth mentioning? 17 Mile Drive, Auctions, Tour d'Elegance/Concours, Dinner w Friends, etc.
Hoobchaak: Nothing of note unfortunately
Q8: Are you Familiar with all, most, or some of the other drivers on track with you? How much of a difference would you say that makes going into a race regarding your familiarity with the other drivers. The totally unknown versus well known...
Hoobchaak: I'm starting to get to know a few of them which does help out of track
Q9: Considering this is gentlemen driving, you all toe the line well between going for it but not going over the top to gain position. Are there times where you find yourself backing off due to the nature of the races?
Hoobchaak: No one wants a visit from Dorsey so the key is to always have control of the car. Even in a racing situation you have time to bail out to avoid contact as long as you have control of the car. The RMMR is always the hardest racing I experience each year and it's absolute elbows out, but we all manage to keep it clean.
Q10: Owned any comparison cars to what you drove on track? Any enthusiast cars in your personal collection worth mentioning?
Hoobchaak: I have a 1974 TVR at home but again, nothing compares to a Mini.
Q11: Can you recall the fastest car and slowest car you've driven on any track?
Hoobchaak: I've had some track time at VIR in a Camaro ZL1; by far the scariest car I've ever driven.
evan HOOBCHAK - Barrington, IL - #112 1966 Austin Mini Cooper
-
Dan Gurney Saloon Trophy Group (Endurance Race) -
RACE RESULTS - Friday, Aug. 15th, 2025 - 12th of 30 -
Despite missing a few laps due to mechanical issues Evan managed to land in 12th place. He felt the Mini was driving great during the one-hour endurance run (minus the issue).
Best Lap Time - 1:50:520
Saturday RESULTS - 16th of 28 - Best Lap Time - 1:50:861
Q1: Where are you based out of and where does the car live when it's not on track?
RAYNAL: Our shop and this car live in Campbell, CA, which borders the southwest side of San Jose, in Northern California.
Q2: What is the relation here between the driver(s) and the racing group responsible for the car?
RAYNAL: I personally own my Historic Trans-Am Camaro. I purchased the car in the mid 1990s, restored it, and first brought it to the Monterey race weekends in 1999. My Camaro, and all the cars in the Historic Trans-Am race group need to be confirmed to have raced in the original SCCA Trans-Am Championship between 1966 and 1972.
Q3: When did you arrive at RMMR and first get the car on track?
RAYNAL: I, along with the folks who help with my company (Impeccable Inc.) arrived for the Pre-Reunion weekend on Thursday, August 7th. We supported a number of customer car's for the Pre-Reunion weekend (August 8-10). We brought my Camaro to the track on August 12th, and participated with it in the main Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion weekend (August 13-16).
Q4: Any history worth mentioning? Trophies or races to credit the performance? Owners/Caretakers worth sharing about?
RAYNAL : This car was initially purchased "almost new" in 1969 by Dick Sterbins, who only wanted a Z/28, so that he had the easiest model to modify for his intentions of going racing in the SCCA Trans-Am series. The car was "almost new," as the car was originally purchased by another family for their daughter's 16th birthday. The young girl quickly decided that the 4-speed, high performance V8 wasn't to her liking, and the father traded the car back to the dealership for something a bit more docile. This 1969 Z/28 is an original Daytona Yellow car, and it's built early enough in the model year that it has the small cowl tag and narrow rear spoiler. The later 1969 Z/28 spoilers extend to cover the entire width of the upper section of the rear quarter panels.
The original owner/driver, Richard/Dick Sterbins, built the car over several months on an air base where he was stationed. This car competed in the SCCA Trans-Am series, the IMSA Camel GT series and regionally as an SCCA A-Sedan entry. The car then ran in the mid-to-late 1970’s with big box-flares in GT-1. My Dad and I restored the car in the late 1990’s to it’s original early ‘70s SCCA Trans-Am configuration.
The car was very well preserved, especially since the car wasn’t a race car built by the factory. Someone always kept the car in a covered garage over the years, so there is absolutely no rust that ever had to be repaired.
Sterbins' SCCA Trans-Am Events
******************************
Lime Rock Park, 5/6/72, finished 13th
Watkins Glen, 6/17/72, DNF
Sterbins' IMSA Events ("TO" Category)
******************************
Daytona, 11/21/71, Finished 9th
Danville, 4/16/72, Finished 2nd
Lime Rock, 5/29/72, Finished 3rd
Mid-Ohio, 7/9/72, Finished 3rd
The car was then driven from 1973 to 1975 by a Mr. William (Bill) MacFarlane. The car was changed color from it's original yellow after MacFarlane’s first two IMSA races listed below, then it was white by the SCCA races in 1974 (evidence from log book).
Mid Ohio (IMSA), 7/15/73, DNF (Engine Failure)
Lime Rock(IMSA), 73, Crashed
Summit Point (SCCA), 7/21/74, A/S, Finished 1st
Summit Point (SCCA), 8/18/74, A/S, Finished 3rd
Summit Point (SCCA), 9/22/74, A/S, Finished 1st
Summit Point (SCCA), 10/27/74, A/S, Finished 1st
** 1974 Regional SCCA A-Sedan Champion
Summit Point (SCCA), 4/19/75, A/S, Finished 2nd
Summit Point (SCCA),9/20/75, A/S, DNF
Q5: Which cars have you driven on Laguna Seca? Have a favorite? How much experience do you have driving this track?
RAYNAL: I have driven quite a lot of cars around Laguna Seca. I started with a Sunbeam Tiger, of course my Camaro, my Shelby GT350, my DeKon Monza, a Cadillac CTS-VR that I own and drove in World Challenge... and a number of customer race cars to test or help develop.
My favorite car that I've raced at Laguna Seca is an old DeKon Monza that I used to own.
I first started running my Sunbeam Tiger at Laguna Seca in about 1995, so about 30 years of experience at this track.
Q6: Do you use any kind of simulators for tracks like Laguna Seca? If so, which cars have you used and how close can they mirror what you drive on track.
RAYNAL: I do not use any simulators, though some sure look amazing and realistic.
Q7: Anything else you do during Car Week worth mentioning? 17 Mile Drive, Auctions, Tour d'Elegance/Concours, Dinner w Friends, etc.
RAYNAL: Since we support so many customer cars, it's hard to do many other events outside of those at Laguna Seca. The most memorable thing I normally do each Car Week is enjoy a dinner with family for my birthday... which always seems to fall on one of the Car Week weekends.
Q8: Are you Familiar with all, most, or some of the other drivers on track with you? How much of a difference would you say that makes going into a race regarding your familiarity with the other drivers. The totally unknown versus well known...
RAYNAL: Great question. I would say the best thing about the cars that I drive with on track, is that I do know quite a lot about each one of them... and that is both the cars and their owners/drivers. I'm very much an enthusiast of all the cars and their individual histories of all the cars that I own and that my company supports. That knowledge and enthusiasm that I have for these cars means that I know the uniqueness of their histories and their capabilities. Having worked on and/or driven a good chunk of the cars or types of cars within that group also helps me understand their strengths and weaknesses. Because some folks within these run groups ask me for details on their car's history, or even sometimes ask me to help them find the car that might best fit their interest has also made me interact and become friends with these folks off the track... which then makes driving on the track with them even more fun.
Q9: Considering this is gentlemen driving, you all toe the line well between going for it but not going over the top to gain position. Are there times where you find yourself backing off due to the nature of the races?
RAYNAL: I wouldn't say that I/we back off. I would say that because we're trying to all show respect for each other on the track, that we hope to only gain positions when we've done so through good, capable driving and car control. If there is a question about whether someone has seen or expects you, then I/we will just wait a turn or more to be sure that our friend and competitor has seen us.
Q10: Owned any comparison cars to what you drove on track? Any enthusiast cars in your personal collection worth mentioning?
RAYNAL: I guess the closest comparison car to my Camaro Trans-Am car would be my 1966 Shelby GT350 race car. I've attached some photos of that car.
Left: Photo by Adam Swank - Center: Photo by Chad Raynal - Right: Photo by Kurt Klingensmith
I also own...
1976 DeKon Monza. I am currently restoring this car. My DeKon Monza is chassis 1008, which was owned and raced by Al Holbert. Holbert won the 1976 IMSA Championship in the chassis that I own. (photo also attached)
DeKon 1008
of Holbert at Mid-Ohio Credit Michael Keyser Collection
2007 Cadillac CTS-VR. Per an earlier note, I own one of the Pratt & Miller, Cadillac Racing CTS-VR race cars. I ran this car in the SPEED and Pirelli World Challenge in 2009 and 2011. Attaching a photo of this car as well.
2007 Cadillac CTS-VR -
Laguna Seca 2009 - Credit Mike Campos
Q11: Can you recall the fastest car and slowest car you've driven on any track?
RAYNAL: The fastest car I've driven on track was an ex-Corvette Racing C5-R that I used to own. That Corvette, C5R-002, I didn't drive much, but it was immediately obvious that it was the fastest and most capable race car that I had driven on a race track.
The slowest car I've driven on track was a rental car, a Minivan with a cargo full of family and crew members around Sebring International Raceway. We were not supposed to be on track, and my Mom's knowledge and reaction to that fact was the most memorable part of the experience.
CCAM: Thank you for your consideration and participation in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion! Always a pleasure to cover these Historic races and we look forward to your feature.
RAYNAL: You're welcome, and thanks for any interest you've shown in my car, me or the customer car's we support.
chad RAYNAL - San Jose, CA - #64 1969 Chevy Camaro -
Parnelli Jones Trans AM Trophy Group -
Race RESULTS - Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 - 3rd of 28 -
Best Lap Time - 1:44:204
Saturday RESULTS - 4th of 28 - Best Lap Time - 1:43:669
From talking with Chad, it sounds like a higher place was possible if not for tire related issues. Respectable placement nonetheless, as his track experience and capable Camaro were on full display over the weekend.
A final THANK YOU to everyone that making this possible including RMMR, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, all Driving Participants, Spectators, Work Staff, and the Media Center.