by Mike –
Everybody who is planning to go to Monterey is trying to keep track of the activities and plan ahead. Wallace Wyss sent us his own list but he says “I know I will be lucky to make 75% of the activities on my list.”
He is right because Monterey Car Week gets bigger each year and there are more things to do than there is time. For first time visitors you need to know the traffic situation during Car Week and take that into account when planning how long it will take to get from place to place.
All visitors should also pay attention to the active wildfire situation, read below.
Soberanes Fire (Big Sur Fire) Update
This year we need to be aware of the impact of the wildfire known as the Soberanes fire or Big Sur fire.
There is smoke sometimes, especially in Carmel Valley, and Big Sur is affected the most with smoke and traffic restrictions at times.
Acreage/Containment: 68,698 acres – 50% contained
Location: Soberanes Creek, Garrapata State Park, Palo Colorado, north of Big Sur
There are no parking areas on Carmel Valley Road near the Rancho Canada Golf Club, I saw the signs today. This is to allow fire fighting equipment access to the Rancho Canada Golf Club where they have set up a fire fighting base.
The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance on Thursday August 18 has been cut in half from 60 miles to 30 miles to eliminate the drive to Big Sur.
“Smoky” is now part of the local weather forecast, at least for now.
Go to this link for more information.
The red area in the fire
My Monterey
by Wallace Wyss –
Tuesday August 16
Carmel’s Concours on the Avenue brings the classics to the public. Held from 10am-5pm. Sixteen blocks of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea with over 175 domestic and foreign collector vehicles. I suggests bringing your own folding chair and picking a good spot in the front row early.
Iso Grifo Can Am
You might have to park half a mile away.
10am to 6pm. A memorabilia event, some old stuff and mostly new.
The Ballroom of The Embassy Suites, located on US 1, just north of 68; Features vintage posters, photographs, rallye plates, badges & pins, mascots & hood ornaments, signs, original art, desk & display pieces, scale models, literature & books, signed items, poster stamps, post cards, mosaics, unique scarves/ties, and the like.
Wednesday, August 17
Automobilia second day, Embassy Suites.
10 am to 4 pm, spectator fee $50, located at the Carmel Mission in Carmel. Not anywhere near as fancy as Pebble Beach but a nice small show in an unusual setting in the middle of one of the 200+ year old California Missions.
Rolls Royce Delivery Van
The Little Car Show
Tiny cars? Can’t find price listed so probably free for spectators. Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove. Runs from 12pm-5pm.
Casa Ferrari Carmel
Location 70 CA-1, Carmel Highlands
9am to 5pm daily
A converted gas station intended to be a local HQ for Ferrari fans.
The VIP hospitality area is reserved only for Ferrari clients and their families with complimentary Italian cuisine, wine, champagne and coffee. Additionally, Ferrari Concierge services will be available on site, Atelier appointments will be offered by appointment and the Ferrari Prima collection will be showcased and available for purchase.
NOTE: I would check if this is still scheduled because it is on Route 1 in the Carmel Highlands, that route severely impacted by the Big Sur fire.
McCall’s Motorworks Revival (evening event)
At the Monterey Jet Center from 5pm-10pm. This is what Hollywood would envision for exotic car show—beautiful women, buffet food, private biz jets you can tour, cars from the latest exotics to some classics, mostly postwar. Entrance fee is something near $200 each, reserve in advance.
Thursday, August 18
Pebble Beach brings the cars to the people with this drive around Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea. It departs Pebble Beach at 8am and follows 17-Mile Drive and Highway One and ends up at Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The cars will be stationary from noon to 2pm on Ocean Avenue, and then will return to Pebble Beach. Oh, for spectators, it’s free.
By the way, entrants score points that counts toward their concours tally.
Forum speeches at Retro Auto
The guest speakers are the world’s leading experts in some cars, like Jackie Ickx, LeMans winner, speaking on GT40s. (He won LeMans in a GT40!) The Classic Car Forum includes must-see panels and exclusive interviews with important car designers, renowned race car drivers, leading collectors and restorers.
11:00 am – 5:30 pm (times for individual sessions vary)
The Inn at Spanish Bay lawn Pebble Beach.
Open to public but registration required.
Friday, August 19
Legends of the Autobahn
Monterey Car Week is not just Italian cars, it’s everything. The presence of German cars is growing, and the Legends of the Autobahn features BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi clubs all sharing this event. Hours are 8am-3pm at the Nicklaus Club. The public is welcome to walk the grounds but again problem is parking for spectators.
Werks Reunion-A Porsche Gathering
The year 2014 saw the inaugural Werks Reunion at Rancho Canada Golf Club. The event runs from 7am-4pm. Lots of old 356 and 911 models, only a smattering of commercial displays. Your only fee is a parking donation.
This year the fire fighting crews have taken over part of the Rancho Canada Golf Club so be aware of fire truck traffic and as mentioned above parking on Carmel Valley Road has been essentially eliminated near the Rancho Canada Golf Club.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Very nice manufacturer’s display. Several honored marques. This year featured is:
100th Anniversary of BMW
Celebrating Motorcars and Motorcycles
A Retrospective of Laguna Seca Raceway
50th Anniversary of the Lamborghini Miura
Pre-War Sports and Racing
Post-War Sports
Post-War Racing
Supercars
The Great Ferraris
Sports and Racing Motorcycles
Two Bizzarrini GT 5300 Show Winners, The Quail (2012) on the Left and Pebble Beach (1998) on the Right
Starts 10am, runs to 4pm. Food is included. Very pricey indeed at over $700 a ticket. But far less crowded than Pebble Beach by far because they limit the number of tickets.
Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally
Runs from 1pm to 5:30pm, Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove. Again not a crème-de-la-crème concours like Pebble but more of an invitational for that they think is interesting. But over 200 cars will participate and it’s free for spectators. At 6 pm cars will cruise the streets of Pacific Grove; at 7pm, participants and spectators can enjoy a barbecue dinner at Chataqua Hall.
Saturday, August 20
The Concorso Italiano makes its home at Black Horse Golf Course on what used to be the Fort Ord military reservations. I would describe it as 900 cars, Italian fashion, art, food and music. No showing off on the way there, the Military Police still rule the roads. Runs from 9 am-5pm.
Iso Grifo – No. 101 on the stage at Concorso Italiano, 2015
Darren Frank, Piero Rivolta and Keith Martin on the same stage – wow! (Concorso Italiano, 2015)
The Barnyard Ferrari Event
In a shopping center on Highway 1 very close to Carmel. The Barnyard party for Ferrari owners on Saturday, August 20 from 4pm-8pm. Open to the public but there is an entrance fee that benefits the fire fighters, etc. Wine, food, and live music among the Barnyard’s signature gardens.
Art preview at Pebble Beach in AFAS tent
If you like automotive art, every year the AFAS has a preview in a tent at Pebble of the latest art works by their members. Meet your favorite artist in person. You can even buy art there (Support your local artist…). Some appetizers but you have to be there early for that. Somewhere around 5 or 6 pm. There are invitations but I’ve never seen anybody check for them.
Sunday, August 21
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
The best setting for a concours in America, bar none. Over 200 classic cars on the 18th fairway. This year some of the feature marques are Ruxton, steam cars, Rolls-Royce Phantom IV and Phantom V, Tatra, Eastern European motorcycles and a Bizzarrini class, with all three Bizzarrini Spyders.
One of the Bizzarrini Spyders – A Class Winner at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1989
Opens to spectators at 10:30am. You can purchase tickets on the official Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance website. At no cost, you can see cars on the “dream car lawn” in front of the Del Monte Lodge.
1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Biposto – 2013
Ferrari Hospitality Suite at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance requires advance registration.
Location The Lodge, 1700 17-Mile Drive,
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Hours of Operation 8am to 5pm
Primarily located within The Lodge at Pebble Beach, the Ferrari VIP Hospitality Suite boast a fantastic panoramic view and provides an exclusive hospitality experience for Ferrari clients during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Access to the Ferrari VIP Hospitality Suite is limited to Ferrari clients who purchase the Ferrari VIP Hospitality pass and will be strictly enforced the day of the event.
Offered at a price of $600 per pass, each pass includes the following:
• Entrance to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with exclusive early access to the show field on from 8:30 -10:00am
• Access to fully catered (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, beverages and bar service) Ferrari VIP Hospitality Suite from 8am – 5pm.
Historic Races
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion takes place at Laguna Seca, at what is called Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with an entrance off Highway 68 the road that connects Salinas with Monterey. The race runs Thursday-Sunday, August 18-21 from 8:30 am until 4:30pm every day.
Tickets can be purchased at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca website. (Or if you only decide to attend when you are in Monterey, I think you can buy tickets at the gate for $10 more, I think it’s about $70 per person. You can walk freely around the pits, but if you brought your fancy show car you are in peril if the only place left to park is on a hill where it is very dusty.
Pete Whitehead racing his Iso Rivolta GT at Laguna Seca
I go for the booths which sell art, books, car themed clothing and model cars.
Auctions
There may be as many as five auctions taking place that week.
Visitors with deep pockets who want to do more than look at the cars can attend auctions throughout the week.
Mecum Muscle Cars and More
The Hyatt Regency Monterey hosts muscle cars, motorcycles and more during the Mecum Auction. The general public is invited to view what’s going to be up for sale August 18-20. Admission is $30 per person. Not generally an exotic sports car crowd but they always field a few hoping to get the Big Timers
Russo and Steele
“Sports and Muscle in Monterey” by Russo and Steele takes over the waterfront of Old Fisherman’s Wharf August 18-20. Previews open on August 17th. Admission is $20 per person. Same thing muscle car crowd with a sprinkling of exotics.
Rick Cole Auction
Rick Cole’s Auction is at the Monterey Marriott in downtown Monterey. The general public is invited to view items up for sale August 18-22.
Bonhams Auction
One of the largest and oldest auctions take place at Quail Lodge Golf Club on August 18-19. Spectators can view and bid on rare automobiles, fine art and antique pieces.
RM Sotheby’s Auctions
This one is a favorite because you can walk around the “city square” (though not actually square shaped) in Monterey and view many of the cars. It takes place at the Portola Hotel & Spa, August 19-20. Preview passes are $40; a $300 bidder registration includes two preview passes, two auction passes and includes an auction catalog.
Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach
Not near as many cars as Mecum or Russo & Steele, but high quality with the occasional dust covered “barn find.” The auction itself takes place August 20-21, but window-shoppers can admire the cars beginning on August 17th.
Art and Accessories
Retro Auto
Once you paid your way into Pebble Beach (a private neighborhood, except it has been free to enter for Car Week in the past) you are free to go to Retro Auto, an exhibit showing not only automobiles from the past, but photos, tools, and other objects associated with automobiles of yore. Not to mention sculpture, art and custom made clothing. RetroAuto is at The Inn at Spanish Bay, and open August 18-20 from 10am to 5:30pm.
Automaker Previews
Hey, the only ones I’ve been able to get on the invite lists are Bentley, a four day event, and Cadillac, also stretching over a couple days, both in rented mansions in Pebble Beach. But I am sure there are events for Mercedes, McLaren, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. The best way to get invited is to call your local dealer and tell him you want to be invited, or you’ll never darken his dealership door again…
Have fun if you go!
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss tells almost all his secrets in his series of books entitled Incredible Barn Finds available directly from the publisher at (715) 381 9755
Shelby Cobra Factory Poster
Great recap on the events coming up this next week. BTW you are the only place I’ve read the tour is being shortened due to the fires – good to know. It promises to be a wonderful week as always!
Super overview, Wallace, and thanks Mike for the fire coverage right up front. I suspect we’ll need to plan for slower traffic than usual. I’m hoping the firefighters stay safe and are able to do what’s needed to finally put it out. Now I need to update my calendar with all of Wallace’s extras.
And for the nonconformists, there is also the Concours d’LeMons on Saturday at Laguna Grande Park in Seaside. Approximately 9:00 – 2:00, so don’t get there too late or all of the greatest LeMons may have already left. Last year the cars included a pristine Pacer, a shiny red Reliant Robin with no rollover marks and a 100-point Yugo. Plus a Nash Metropolitan that shot flames. (Intentionally.)
I left off LeMons because, even with press passes, I am spending $1000 to be there for 5 days and I want to see ultimate over-the-top best of the best for that expenditure though I realize LeMons serves as comic relief to the whole week. That’s why I titled it “One man’s Monterey” I’ll do a wrap up after I return…