The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion inspires a passion from its participants unlike other car shows. Why else would Marnix Dillenius insist on talking about his favorite Rolex Reunion memories from a hospital gurney on Friday just hours after setting a personal fastest time of the race weekend?

Dillenius, 84, is the only person to race in 49 of the 50 Rolex Reunions and is a three-time event race winner. He’s experienced a lot at those 49 Rolex Reunions but it’s safe to say that this one, the event’s 50th anniversary, was a bit different than the others. The Netherlands native ended up in the hospital with a stomach issue after his spectacular run at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“Two hours after my run this morning, which I drove much harder than before, I started to feel sick, dizzy,” said Dillenius by phone. “And so now I’m being examined at the local community hospital.”

Despite that, the Rolex Reunion was top of mind for Dillenius and he couldn’t help but reflect back to 1974, the magical first year of an event that looked quite a bit different than it does today.

“Steve Earle decided to put on a fancy event and the day I got there, I found out that I’m on the outside pole in front of (what would be today) billions of dollars worth of cars,” Dillenius reminisced. “My buddy Dan Marvin was on the pole in his little Alfa Romeo Giuletta. He broke a half shaft so I came in first … But what I remember most is a fellow named Fred Knoop. He came up to me afterwards and said ‘how the heck did you hold that slide?’ (in what is now turn five). I said well, Fred, I was lucky. I really didn’t know what I was doing.”

Dillenius wasn’t alone. The Rolex Reunion was a different animal back in ‘74 but what seems to matter most to participants is that results take a back seat to people like Fred Knoop and the camaraderie they inspire.

Unlike most of Laguna Seca’s racing calendar, the Rolex Reunion places relationships above winning. Founded by Earle as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, it’s grown into a four-day celebration of vintage racing where retired cars get back in action.

The 1974 Monterey Historics looked nothing like today’s Rolex Reunion. Just 66 drivers attended the inaugural single day event, most of whom drove from Southern California in flashy new muscle cars. Elementary racing procedures, including safety and technical inspections, were almost non-existent.

“They made us put seat belts in the cars, and these things had no roll bars or anything else,” said Ralph Borelli, who also raced in the 1974 Monterey Historics. “After they dropped the green flag, I disconnected the seat belt. If we were going to flip over, I’d rather be thrown from the car than strapped in.”

Borelli, now 70 and chairman of Borelli Investments, couldn’t keep pace with Dillenius in ‘74 for good reason.

While Dillenius piloted a swift Alfa Romeo, Borelli lagged behind in a Ford Model T.

“The Formula cars were lapping us,” said Borelli. “They were driving by, going up the Corkscrew, and they would turn around and wave at us. It was a lot of fun.”

Fifty years later, Borelli is back, this time in a first-generation Porsche 911. Today’s competition is quicker but the horsepower disparity is much less.

That’s because the Rolex Reunion has evolved to one of Monterey Car Week’s biggest highlights featuring 13-classes and over 400 cars.

“The 1974 Monterey Historics was almost like an afterthought,” said Borelli. “Now, it’s the most prestigious vintage racing event in the country, and it’s very difficult to get in. It’s amazing. It’s watching history.”

A good part of that history was displayed in the paddock where the 50th Anniversary Exhibit featured several dozen racers, including the iconic Bugatti Type 35 and the Garage 56 NASCAR racer that participated in Le Mans.

Fifty years of Rolex Reunions went by in a flash for Dillenius and the former engineer isn’t sure how many he has left in him.

“My accomplishments are getting thinner and thinner, there’s no doubt about it,” said Dillenius. “Now, I’m barely qualified in the middle of the field, and I should be up front, but it doesn’t matter to me.”

“I have infected my friends (with vintage racing),” said Dillenius. “You enjoy racing more if you can share it with somebody. And I did that. As long as I get some fun, satisfaction, talk afterwards, good times, then it’s worth it.”

Borelli was also enjoying the 50th Rolex Reunion as much as he and Dillenius did in 1974.

“I’m looking forward to finishing, not breaking anything, and just having fun,” said Borelli. “That’s what this is all about.”

Mason Bloom is a student journalist at Aptos High School.