It’s that time of the year: when the attention of the world’s collecting, showing and racing elite focuses on the exclusive Monterey Peninsular.
This year’s Monterey and Pebble Beach week will be scrutinised as no other. Forever the occasion when high-rolling collectors meet to race the most desirable rarities at Laguna Seca, or vie for Best in Show honours on the famed 18th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links, particular attention will this year be paid to the success (or otherwise) of the auction arena.
We’ve had some startling results so far this year (Bonhams' £1m Aston Martin DB4GT and RM’s wallet-wilting $US10.9m Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spyder California) but, with several hundred extremely expensive cars to sell - in a difficult economic climate, this will truly be ‘the big one’.
Away from the salerooms, there’s an awful lot going on. From racing at the Rolex Monterey Historics, to the recently relocated Concorso Italiano, The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering, the Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue and the grand finale on Sunday at Pebble Beach, it’s a merry-go-round of activity.
We will be reporting on all the events in the weeks to come, as well as bringing you auction results as soon as they are published.
And your Editor will be in Monterey this year; so, if you see a slightly bemused Englishman mid-party, do say ‘hello’.
THE SCHEDULE -
Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue
Monday 11th - Tuesday 12th August
The week’s newest must-do, smartly named Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue by husband-&-wife Atlanta-based founder/organisers Doug and Genie Freedman, premiered last year on the village streets of this oceanside jewel of American Pacific coast resorts.
Monday August 11th is exclusively for Porsches and Ferraris through 1973, with Tuesday August 12th featuring Multi Marques produced from 1946 through 1971.
For more information, read Classic Driver's recent preview, or visit www.carmelconcours.com.
Blackhawk Collection Exposition Sale, Peter Hay Golf Course, Pebble Beach
Wednesday 13th - Sunday 17th August
As usual, it's not really an auction but an ‘Exposition Sale’. That is to say, it’s a free exhibition in which all the exhibits are for sale! In 2008, Blackhawk will have nearly 70 cars on show - which you can buy.
For more information, visit www.blackhawkcollection.com.
Gordon McCall's Motorworks 'A Celebration of Style in Motion', Monterey Jet Center, 300 Sky Park Drive, Monterey
Wednesday 13th August
The traditional Wednesday-night event has now evolved into one of the most notable, invitation-only, 'Who's Who' private events to kick off the Monterey long weekend.
The venue is the state-of-the-art Monterey Jet Center...
For more information, visit www.mccallmotorsports.com.
Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex
Thursday 14th August
Initiated to showcase the elegance of the automobile in motion, the Tour also underscores the early history of Pebble Beach. Decades before golf links were laid out along the edge of the Pacific Ocean, this area was known for its scenic drive, winding for miles through pine and cypress forest, and ultimately to a beautiful cresent-shaped bay.
The Tour traces portions of the original '17-Mile Drive', traverses nearby mountains and valleys, dips down famed Highway One and pauses for a time in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Tour is open to all entrants in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. And spectators are invited to view the Tour at key points along the route.
It is important to note that the Tour and the Concours are directly linked. If two cars tie in class competition at the Concours, the car that has successfully completed the Tour gets the nod.
For more information, visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net.
Concorso Italiano®, Marina California Airport, Monterey Bay
Thursday 14th 17:30-21:00
Friday 15th August - 9:30-17:00
The Concorso Italiano® embraces all the cultural elements of Italian style, including music, cuisine, fashion, and travel. The event is centred around as many as 1000 collectable Italian automobiles, motorcycles and boats.
For 2008, the event will spotlight 45 years of Automobili Lamborghini, 40 years of the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona', and The Creations and Designs of Marcello Gandini.
For more information, visit www.concorso.com.
Pebble Beach RetroAuto
Friday 15th - Sunday 17th August
Located immediately adjacent to the main pedestrian entrance to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the RetroAuto pavilion features rare collectibles and memorabilia from the world's automotive past, as well as the latest luxury goods and technological tools to enhance today’s driving experience. Exhibitors represent a variety of retail and manufacturing categories, including historic automobilia, auto parts, original poster art, books and literature, fine art, photography and posters, as well as luxury items to complement the motoring lifestyle.
For more information, visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net.
Bonhams & Butterfields Sale at Quail Lodge, Carmel
Friday 15th August
A superb 340+ page catalogue showcases Bonhams’ 2008 Quail sale. The E2A has been getting all the attention, but in addition to the famous ex-works Jaguar there’s a multitude of high-class entries, such as this 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT, estimated at $1,500,000 - 2,000,000...
read the complete article |
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The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering, Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley
Friday 15th August
The Quail Gathering brings together top collectors with manufacturers and luxury lifestyle brands all in the setting of the exclusive Quail Lodge luxury hotel, golf course and spa. Of course, Bonhams & Butterfields will be conducting an auction on the same day too.
For more information, visit www.quaillodge.com.
Kruse Auction, Marina California Airport, Monterey Bay
Friday 15th August
Kruse will be selling mid-to-low-range modern and classic cars at the Concorso Italiano venue.
For more information, visit www.kruseinternational.com .
Rolex Monterey Historic Races Presented by Toyota, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Friday 15th - Sunday 17th August
The event celebrate its 35th anniversary this year. The featured marque will be Alfa Romeo, which was the first marque to be featured at the Historics in 1975. Legendary driver Mario Andretti will be the official guest of honour for the event.
“We are extremely pleased to have Mario Andretti join us at the Rolex Monterey Historic this year. He is a living legend for all of us, and we’ll join together to celebrate the anniversary of his winning the World Championship in 1978,” said Steve Earle, President of General Racing Ltd., the event founder and organiser.
Earle went on to add, “With great cars like the Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Mille Miglia, the star of our second event back in 1975, returning; with the 1908 Grand Prix Mercedes racing in its 100th year; with Historic Trans-Am cars, barely retired when the event began, and racing as close as ever; with the presentation of past Monterey Cup winners; the Toyota 'Race of Legends'; the Ferrari Historic Challenge; autograph sessions; and enhanced Consumer Expo, I believe that fans will find this an event they will long remember.”
Rolex will present its award-winning Motor Sports History Display 'Moments in Time', honouring the singular achievement of a car and driver in racing history. Highlighting the display is the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Mille Miglia Spyder that Phil Hill drove to first place in the Del Monte [Handicap] Trophy Race in 1951 at Pebble Beach. Additional historic automobiles featured in the 'Moments in Time' display will include the 1908 Grand Prix Mercedes owned by former Oregon State Senator and vintage racer George Wingard, and the 1927 Delage Grand Prix of the Collier Collection in Florida.
For more information, visit www.montereyhistoric.com.
RM Auctions ‘Sports & Classics at Monterey’
Friday 15th - Saturday 16th August
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Held, as is traditional, over two days, and featuring a slip-cased, two-volume catalogue of the highest quality, RM’s 2008 Monterey sale looks like being another blockbuster event...
read the complete article |
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Russo and Steele Auction, Downtown Monterey Marriott Hotel, Monterey
Thursday 14th - Saturday 16th August
As always, the Russo and Steele catalogue entry is packed full of US 'hi-po' big-capacity classics from Chevrolet, Plymouth, Pontiac and Shelby. However, in 2008, it's not all home-grown though, as the catalogue includes a 1966 Bizzarrini Strada 5300 Coupe, a 1973 Ferrari Daytona Spyder and a 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV Jota .
For more information, visit www.russoandsteele.com .
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Sunday 17th August
The 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will feature Lancia and Lamborghini and celebrate the centennial of General Motors, plus there will be several other special classes, including a class of early London to Brighton Veteran Car Run participants. There will also be the largest showing of unrestored cars in the event's history for pre-War and post-War preservation classes.
The Best in Show prize in 2007 went to a Duesenberg SJ Special that was raced by Utah’s Ab Jenkins (the former Mayor of Salt Lake City) and then driven as a road car on the streets of the city.
For more information, visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net.
Gooding & Company ‘The Pebble Beach Auction’
Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August
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As usual, it’s the event that ‘closes’ the Monterey week festivities, and this year’s Gooding sale has as its central attraction a collection of Bugattis – almost without parallel – from a deceased estate...
read the complete article |
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Text: Steve Wakefield
Main Photos: Tim Scott of Fluid Images
Carmel Concours Photo: William Edgar
Other Photos: The Auction Houses
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