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The child nicknamed "Jimmy Car Car" by his parents ("I always had a car in my hands," remembers Farley) grew into a teenager who restored auto- mobiles under the guidance of racing legend and 1961 Formula One cham- pion Phil Hill. That job with Hill & Vaughn in Santa Monica further fueled Farley's interest in vehicles. After studying at Georgetown University and UC Los Angeles, he landed a job at Toyota and successfully launched the company's Scion brand. As group vice president and gener- al manager of Lexus, he over- saw sales, marketing and cus- tomer satisfaction. Farley then shifted gears again, moving into global sales and marketing at Ford Motor Company in 2007. He climbed the ranks, transforming the company's Lincoln brand and leading advertising, digital communications, brand development and research teams. In January, Ford promoted Farley to executive vice president and president for Europe, Middle East and Africa. The Carmel resident and his family are spending more time in London these days, and Farley also commutes to Germany on a weekly basis. But he'll be back home in August, racing his 1990s' Ford Mustang Trans Am in this year's Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Farley, who also has raced in the LeMans Classic, Road America and other competitions, calls the Mazda Raceway event his favorite. "I first attended the Reunion in the early 1990s," he says. "My wife and I would drive up and stay in the Monterey campgrounds. I've been coming ever since, and participating for the last several years." Farley will find like-minded company at this year's gathering, which celebrates 50 years of the Shelby GT350 Mustang. While the event has honored car designer and race driver Carroll Shelby and the Shelby Cobra in past years, this is the first time the spotlight shines on the popu- lar GT350. It's been six years since Mazda Raceway's signature Rolex Monterey Motorspor ts Reunion emerged from the former Monterey Historic Automobile Races that kicked off in 1974. Today, the owners of approximately 900 automobiles apply to participate in the popular weekend of vintage racing and historic exhibits. An event governing committee analyzes entries to ensure the authenticity, racing history and period-correctness of each car; ultimately, 550 are selected for 15 classes of on-track events. This year's entrants compete for the checkered flag August 13 through 16, and about 300 cars will take part in Monterey pre-reunion events on August 8 and 9. The pre-reunion weekend also includes Dining in the Vines, 188 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5 A premier group of 550 authentically maintained vintage racecars, from a 1915 Ford Roadster and several 1930s Alfa Romeos to 1970s Chevy Camaros and 1960s McLarens, take on the Corkscrew turn at Laguna Seca this Aug. 13-16. Gill Campbell, general manager and CEO of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, calls the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion "history come to life." Photo: Stephan Cooper