Monterey’s Classic Car Week is on this August

Mid-August on the Monterey Peninsula is not just a big deal for automotive enthusiasts, tourism, and charity, it’s a huge deal. That was the very pointed message delivered to Monterey County’s Board of Supervisors from their constituents, especially from the area’s long-suffering tourism industry. The supervisors got the message and pledged to do whatever they could do, while assuring public safety, to allow the 30 shows, parades, and auctions to resume this year. So, beginning on Friday afternoon, August 6, with vintage race cars parading into downtown Monterey for the annual Cruise-In to the confetti celebration for the Best of Show at Pebble Beach on Sunday, August 15, it’s all happening for 2021. Here are highlights from the week’s major players.

Barry Toepke is the Director of Heritage Events at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and the veteran motorsports marketing executive was bursting with enthusiasm about renewing the track’s world-renowned vintage racing event. Toepke confirmed that Laguna Seca’s celebrated event would take place this year with up to 10,000 guests allowed into the 542-acre facility, which should afford plenty of elbow room for participants and spectators. This year, the 50th anniversary of Ford’s Trans Am cars and a 1920s racing garage are part of the historic displays.

This is the 30th year that McCall Events has produced an elegant and fun kickoff party for enthusiasts who love rare cars, airplanes, gourmet food, and wine. Gordon and Molly McCall bring just the right amount of fun and style to the Monterey Jet Center where 3,000 guests mingle among new aircraft and hand-crafted vehicles. Gordon, along with other key Classic Car Week stakeholders, engaged the Monterey County supervisors in weekly Zoom calls to assure that all the week’s events could proceed safely.

This stylish gathering of fine automobiles, fashion, and dining at the Quail Lodge is perennially sold out well before the summer months at a lofty $950 per person, making the event the week’s premier ticket. This year is no exception, although at press time The Quail Helicopter Ticket was still available to whisk a party of four to and from their jet at the Monterey Airport to enjoy full VIP hospitality. A princely sum of $12,500 is required, but the arrival is priceless.

The small gathering of cars at Del Monte Lodge 70 years ago has become the world’s preeminent Concours and anchor of the Classic Car Week’s automotive celebrations. Chairman Sandra Button is delighted with the support the venerable Concours has received from the classic car community, even though some participants from Europe and abroad are exceptionally challenged to bring their cars because of travel restrictions.

For automotive enthusiasts of every stripe, there’s a wealth to discover at Pebble Beach this year. The manicured field has been expanded to include the 17th as well as the 18th fairways to assure more breathing room for cars and people. The extra length along the water will be filled with 40 Best of Show winners along with winning sportscars from the original Pebble Beach Road Races through the Del Monte forest. A new Concours Village brings RetroAuto collectables and the Classic Car Forums to The Lodge from Inn at Spanish Bay. And your next new dream vehicle may be found at the Concept Lawn or among the many displays around the luxury resort. We’ll see you there!

Monterey Car Week Kick-Off
August 6, 2021, 5-7pm
https://whatsupmonterey.com/events/monterey-car-week/monterey-car-week-kick-off/438

Monterey Pre-Reunion
August 8-9, 2021
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/government-links/weathertech-raceway/upcoming-events/pre-reunion

The Porsche Monterey Classic
August 9, 2021
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-porsche-monterey-classic-registration-146833939265

Concours on the Avenue
August 10, 2021, 10am-5pm
https://carmelconcours.com/

Classic Motorsports Magazine Monterey Kickoff Cruise-In
August 10, 2021, 3-7pm
https://montereykickoff.com/

McCall’s Motorworks Revival
August 11, 2021, 5-10pm
https://www.mccallevents.com/

Little Car Show
August 11, 2021, 12-5pm
http://marinamotorsports.org/events/

Prancing Ponies Car Show
August 11, 2021, 11am-3:30pm
https://prancingponies.org/car-show/

Pebble Beach Motoring Classic
August 11, 2021, 4:30-5pm
https://pebblebeachconcours.net/event/pebble-beach-motoring-classic/

Worldwide Auctioneers The Pacific Grove Auction
August 12, 2021, 5pm
https://worldwideauctioneers.com/the-pacific-grove-auction/

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance Presented by Rolex
August 12, 2021, 7-9am
https://pebblebeachconcours.net/events/pebble-beach-tour-delegance/

Mecum Auto Auctions: Muscle Cars & More
August 12-14, 2021
https://www.mecum.com/auctions/monterey-2021/

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
August 12-15, 2021
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/government-links/weathertech-raceway/upcoming-events/monterey-reunion

Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
August 12-14, 2021
https://pebblebeachconcours.net/events/pebble-beach-classic-car-forum/

Pebble Beach RetroAuto
August 12-14, 2021
https://pebblebeachconcours.net/events/pebble-beach-retroauto/

Russo and Steele
August 12-14, 2021
https://russoandsteele.com/monterey/

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
August 13, 2021, 10am-4pm
https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorsports

Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
August 13, 2021
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26887/#/!

Legends of the Autobahn
August 13, 2021, 11am- 4pm
https://legendsoftheautobahn.org/

Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally
August 13, 2021, 12-5pm
https://pgrotary.org/annual-pacific-grove-concours-auto-rally/

Werks Reunion
August 13, 2021, 7am-3pm
https://www.werksreunion.com/monterey.cfm

Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions
August 13-14, 2021
https://www.goodingco.com/auction/pebble-beach-2021/

Concours d’LeMons
Saturday August 14, 2021, 8am-1:30pm
https://concorso.com/

Concorso Italiano
August 14, 2021, 9:30am-4pm
https://concorso.com/

Annual Ferrari Owners Club Gathering
August 14, 2021, 4-7pm
https://whatsupmonterey.com/events/monterey-car-week/annual-ferrari-owners-club-gathering/1006

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Sunday August 15, 2021, 10:30am-5pm
https://pebblebeachconcours.net/event/pebble-beach-concours-delegance/