First off the line was an announcement from Laguna Seca.

"The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) announced that it will be producing the historic races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2010," read the e-mail to the Weekly from spokesperson Jennifer Capasso, "and that General Racing, Ltd., the creator and producer of the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races® for the last 36 years, will no longer be producing the event."

The message immediately addressed the first concern fans would have with this: "SCRAMP will produce an event that reflects the prestige, integrity and quality that fans and participants expect of the vintage automobile races held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. SCRAMP has contracted for the use of the trademark Monterey Historic Automobile Races® for 2010 and General Racing will assist SCRAMP for this transitional year."

A note from General Racing, Ltd. followed several hours later.  The tone suggested the two race entities might've traded a little paint along the way to parting ways.

"In response to the press release issued by SCRAMP on August 16, 2009 (dated August 17) regarding the future of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races® at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Steve Earle, President of General Racing, Ltd., has issued the following statement:
 
"General Racing, which has created and produced the Monterey Historic Automobile Races® for 36 years, will no longer be doing so.  In the future SCRAMP, the Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula, will organize a new event.
 
"On Sept. 5, 2008, I was advised that the economic terms for the agreement between General Racing and SCRAMP were no longer commercially viable for SCRAMP.  I’m disappointed that we were not able to come to an agreement that would allow our event to remain in Monterey. General Racing will allow SCRAMP a one-time use of the name Monterey Historic Automobile Races® for the 2010 event.
 
"General Racing will continue the tradition of the Monterey Historics at the Wine Country Classic at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in early June 2010."
 
Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, weighed in on the switch. “This has certainly been a long and rewarding relationship with Steve Earle and General Racing,” she said. “SCRAMP has always admired Mr. Earle’s creation, which has brought historic car racing to the enthusiast on such a level. We look forward to our 2010 event, scheduled from August 13-15, and beyond with the mission of continuing the tradition of historic automobile racing here while enhancing the enjoyment factor for the fans, participants and sponsors.”