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THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR: A CENTURY OF SPEED
- By Lee Raskin*
- November 1, 2026
- Posted in THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR
THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR
A CENTURY OF SPEED
May 13, 1989. The Baltimore Concours d’Elegance poster made a competitive statement. It featured a pre-war Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza alongside a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL coupe displayed in the foreground of Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor.
Baltimore illustrator Dennis Simon captured the spirit of this first-time event…a fully judged Concours d’Elegance…that would be dubbed, “A Horse of a Different Color”…an exhibit of thoroughbred and classic automobiles.
The Baltimore Concours d’Elegance was created and administered by local motorsports enthusiasts, Lee Raskin, Jay Perry, Geoffrey Griffiths, David Porter, Art Zillio…who commissioned Dennis Simon to design and illustrate the inaugural poster and program cover.
The Baltimore Concours was the first all “competition race car” Concours to be held in the Eastern U.S. It became the forerunner of The Amelia (née Amelia Island) Concours that was founded by Bill Warner with their inaugural event held in April 1996 at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida.
Two years earlier, in 1986, Dennis Simon had designed the exhibit system for the Collier Automotive Museum in Naples, Florida, providing an ideal opportunity to combine his skills in exhibit design with a longstanding interest in vintage motorsports. Miles Collier in appreciation, provided three outstanding competitive race cars for the inaugural Baltimore Concours…a rare 1939 Type 57C Bugatti, the Le Mans-raced 1952 Cunningham C-4R coupe, and a 1969 Porsche 917K short tail.
Rennsport’s Illustrator
Yes, this is the same Dennis Simon who is today internationally celebrated for his series of Porsche Rennsport Reunion posters.
Simon’s interest in cars goes back almost as far as his interest in art. He recalls filling up school notebooks with car sketches. His life as a motorsports enthusiast has followed the usual course…beginning with a used MGA roadster while in art school at the Maryland Institute College of Art; and now, some 50-60 cars later…he is still enjoying his beloved 1953 Morgan Flat-Rad Roadster.
As well as being a serious sports car enthusiast, Dennis has always had an interest in motorcycling. He has been riding since high school and has owned dozens of bikes, both classic and modern motorcycles. This interest in bikes has also been reflected in his professional life.
Over decades, Simon’s motorsports illustrations have been featured in Road & Track, Sports Car International, Automobile, Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, Classic and Sports Car, and Vintage Motorsport magazine.
Dennis has designed over seventy original automotive and motorsports racing posters for renowned clients such as UNOCAL, Michelin, BF Goodrich, SVRA, the Monterey Auction, Indianapolis 500 programs, and the long-running Porsche Rennsport event at Laguna Seca.
During this time frame, Dennis also re-entered the world of fashion by designing a collection of motorsports neckties and scarves featuring his distinct automotive painting style.
In recent years, Dennis has been featured in a series of articles that he wrote and illustrated for the Porsche Christophorus. His writing and illustrations were also published in Auto Aficionado magazine. Dennis has created poster editions for Porsche NA’s launch of the Cayman and Cayenne SUVs, and for the successful Rennsport Reunion historic events, as well as a commemorative poster heralding the speed records set by their mid-engine Carrera GT. Michelin NA also commissioned Dennis to illustrate the F1, the 24 Heures du Mans, the Tour de Corse Rally of Corsica, the Barber Pro Series, and the American Super Touring Series.
Dennis Simon’s legendary posters can be found at: www.centuryofspeed.com
Notably, Dennis has been the designated Rennsport Reunion illustrator for Rennsport II (2004) through Rennsport VII (2023).
The History of Rennsport Reunion
2001. Rennsport I was held in July at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. It was sponsored by Porsche NA in conjunction with Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events, Inc. It was a fantastic experience with the assembly of hundreds of competition cars at one venue. I had the privilege of racing my 1958 Porsche 356 A coupe at Rennsport I against the legendary Paul Newman in a 1970 Brumos 914-6 during the U2L production car race.
The inaugural Rennsport poster (20” x 30”) and program was designed by the late Art Eastman…uniquely featuring only the left headlight of a Porsche 910.
2004. Rennsport Reunion II was held in April at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. It was sponsored by Porsche NA and Brian Redman’s Intercontinental Events, Ltd. It would be the first time that PCA Club Racers were invited to race on the famed road course and banked track. I also had the privilege of racing my 1958 Porsche 356 A coupe in the under 2-liter race against other 356s, 914s, 914-6s, and early 911s.
The poster featured the three factory Porsche 907s that won the Daytona in 1968…crossing the finish line together. Dennis Simon was the artist for the event poster and program.
2007. Rennsport III remained at the Daytona International Speedway in November with increased entrants and crowds.
Dennis Simon was again the event’s artist for the poster and the program…which featured the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona winning 917K and the Porsche 962 that won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1986 and 1987.
2011. Rennsport IV moved to Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California with the need of more space with increased attendance. Over 35,000 spectators attended Rennsport IV. PCA car corrals exceeded 1,500 Porsches.
The poster and program cover was illustrated by Dennis…that featured two legendary Porsches. The 1978 935 “Moby Dick” that raced at Le Mans, and the #14 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0 of Al Holbert and Michael Keyser, who won the 1976 Sebring 12 Hour Endurance Race.
2015. Rennsport V was again held at Laguna Seca in Monterey. Over 60,000 spectators attended. The race groups were increased…with PCA showcasing their Club Racing drivers and cars.
The poster and program was designed by Dennis featuring three of the Le Mans winners from 1951 through 2015. The 1951 356 SL, 1970 917K, and the 2015 919 Hybrid were displayed on the poster.
2018. Rennsport VI was again held at Laguna Seca in Monterey as a four-day event. More than 80,000 spectators attended. This year’s 70th Anniversary event also featured a Porsche tractor race. The 919 Evo was displayed and attempted to break a lap record at Laguna Seca. The new 935 also made its debut along with other Porsches.
The poster and program by Dennis featured three cars: The 1960 Sebring winning 718 RS60 Spyder of Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien, the 2008 RS Spyder that dominated LMP2 in ALMS, and the Gruppe B 959 rally car that won the Paris–Dakar Rally in 1986.
2023. Rennsport VII was held at Laguna Seca. The attendance exceeded 100,000 spectators with the Porsche Corrals growing to 1,800 cars. Porsche AG, NA, Porsche Classic, and Porsche Exclusive had large displays in a new area, Porscheplatz.
The poster was titled: Icons of Porsche. Dennis was the continuing artist…featuring three cars. In the forefront was the iconic 1973 Porsche 917/30 that was a Can-Am Champion. Behind the 917/30 was the newest prototype, the 963. Below the 917/30 was the 1953 550 Coupe that won its class at the legendary Carrera Panamericana race.
Thank You, Dennis!
Dennis Simon should certainly be applauded for his iconic achievements at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion from 2004 through 2023.
I am proud to have known Dennis Simon for over 50 years as a motorsports friend, fellow Morgan owner and motorcyclist. We have also known and shared many local motorsports friends at the same venues over the decades…including the late Jerry Dadds, Bill Burrows, and Geoffrey Griffiths at the Sports Car Collectors Society gatherings, the Baltimore Concours d’Elegance, British Car Day, and at Hunt Valley Cars and Coffee.
Thank you, Dennis!
Photos. Dennis Simon’s “CENTURY OF SPEED” Posters.
“CENTURY OF SPEED” is the trademark of all of Dennis Simon’s automotive poster design and publishing.
*Lee Raskin is an internationally recognized Porsche 356 / 550 historian / author of acclaimed photographic biographies. More about Lee: www.LeeRaskin.com
Copyright Lee Raskin, 2026.
