FAST BRUSH STROKES HONOR DAN GURNEY

The Official Artist of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Bill Patterson, revealed the poster art for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to Dan Gurney at Gurney's All American Racers headquarters today. His exquisite painting of Gurney driving his Eagle race car will be featured throughout the event on banners, T-Shirts, posters and the event magazine. 

"I have been a Dan Gurney fan since I started following racing as a kid and I have had the considerable luck and honor of spending some time with him at his shop and at a number of racing events," said Bill Patterson. "His charm, humility and grace belie his stunning accomplishments as an engineer, designer, driver and business man."

When Bill was asked to do the cover art for this year's event, he considered any number of Gurney's races, cars and events. But he kept coming back to the race Gurney is probably best remembered for; winning the 1967 Belgian F1 Grand Prix in a car he designed, engineered, campaigned and drove, a singular accomplishment not likely to ever be duplicated in F1. The Eagle Gurney-Weslake V-12 featured in the painting is considered one of the most beautiful cars ever to race.

Gurney has agreed to sign a number of limited edition prints of the painting and several other paintings that Patterson created for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. They will be on display in Patterson's booth located in the race car  paddock, August 13-15.

Bill Patterson started painting and ski racing at the age of three. At age 11 he found himself without skis when his family moved to Argentina, but he found motor racing and caught the passion that drives him to this day.

For Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion tickets and information, and to learn about the Pre-Reunion held August 7 and 8, please visit www.MazdaRaceway.com or call 800-327-7322.

Rolex and motor sports
Rolex has been Official Timekeeper for 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001 and Title Sponsor of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in North America since 1992. In 1965, Rolex added the name Daytona to the dial of its Cosmograph line in tribute to this great race at the International Speedway. Ever since then, the presence of the Rolex brand in automobile racing has grown steadily.

Rolex supports the tradition of auto racing through events that celebrate design, speed and passion including the Goodwood Revival (UK), the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (USA), the Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance presented by Rolex (USA) and the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance and The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering (USA). Rolex affiliation also extends to three key figures in the sport: Sir Jackie Stewart from Scotland, one of the greatest drivers of his generation, American Roger Penske, a former driver turned successful businessman and owner of the team Penske Racing, and Danish driver Tom Kristensen, record eight-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.