Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach
A full-immersion automotive week on the Monterey Peninsula
Sixty-six years ago, a few SPORTS cars raced through the Del Monte Forest, and afterwards, some local classic cars gathered on the lawn around the lodge for (mostly) regional enthusiasts to admire and award a few trophies. Fast forward to mid-August 2016, and an entire week of events overwhelms the auto enthusiast’s calendar. The “new” sports cars that once raced around trees are now historic racers gathered with
thousands of spectators at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. And the simple gathering of classic cars at Del Monte Lodge is today’s world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at what is now The Lodge, with four days of companion events. There are myriad activities during the week of August 13-21, and we’ll point you to an experience that best fits your style and budget.
Saturday & Sunday,
August 13 & 14
Monterey Pre-Reunion, 8am-5pm
The practice weekend for the big Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is truly the kickoff event for what has become an amazing automotive week. Tickets are $30 each day at the gate, parking and paddock included. mazdaraceway.com/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion
Tuesday, August 16
Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours, 10am-5pm
This free street show will surprise enthusiasts with the quality and variety of its entrants. Roam and chat with car owners as you sip an espresso drink. carmelconcours.com/carmel-by-the-sea
Automobilia Monterey, 10am-6pm
The ballroom at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Seaside is transformed into an automotive collectible collective of 45 vendors with items from rare posters to model cars; no reproductions are allowed. The event continues on Wednesday. automobiliamonterey.com
Wednesday, August 17
Carmel Mission Classic, 10am-4pm
This lovely gathering of classic cars in the courtyard of the historic Carmel Mission begins with our national anthem and includes wine tasting. The $50 admission is for charity and well worth every penny. carmelmissionclassic.org
The Little Car Show, 12-5pm
Little cars — those that make a Smart For2 seem normal — gather on Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove for small bunch of free fun. marinamotorsports.org/events
McCall’s Motorworks Revival, 5-10pm
Gordon McCall is a bona fide automotive and aviation enthusiast and Monterey area native who knows how to throw a great party. The McCall Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Airport tops the list of Automotive Week activities. VIP tickets include gourmet food, fine wine, and beverages. mccallevents.com
Thursday, August 18
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 8am-5pm
Things really warm up at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for four full days of practice, qualifying, and serious amateur racing (along with a few old pros) at this world-renowned facility. Tickets for all four days are $160 with full paddock access. mazdaraceway.com/rolex-monterey-motorsports-reunion
Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, 7am-3pm
Many of the magnificent cars invited to the 66th Pebble Beach Concours will take to Monterey Peninsula roads for this classic drive. Arrive early to check out the field. If you miss the open, the cars will arrive on Ocean Avenue in Carmel at 11am for display until noon. pebblebeachconcours.net/events/pebble-beach-tour-elegance
Friday, August 19
Legends of the Autobahn, 9am-3pm
After two decades witnessing an event that celebrated Italian cars, German enthusiasts (principally Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz car clubs), created their own car show. The legends gather at the Nicklaus Club Monterey, and just $20 secures a visitor parking spot. legendsoftheautobahn.org
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, 10am-4pm
This elegant gathering, celebrating its 14th year, combines Gordon McCall’s fine cars, food, and wine sensibilities with Sir Michael Kadoorie’s luxury automotive and hotel passion. The result is a sold out venue, but you can be added to the wait list online. signatureevents.peninsula.com/en/ticketing.html
Saturday, August 20
Concours d’LeMons, 8am-1:30pm
The antidote to upper class car culture from the people who brought gearheads the 24 Hours of LeMons, a racing series featuring $500 cars, is a Concours that celebrates the oddball, mundane, and truly awful of the automotive industry. It’s free to spectators until the organizers figure out a way to charge Monterey Week money. concoursdlemons.com
Concorso Italiano, 9am to 5pm
In 1985, Concorso Italiano debuted on the greens at Quail Lodge to celebrate the cars, food, and culture of Italy. It’s been a wild ride for the show with various dates and venues, but the Saturday gathering at Black Horse Golf Course has the right ingredients. More than 800 cars will take the field. Admission is $170. concorso.com
Sunday, August 21
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, 10:30am-5pm
If you haven’t yet attended, put the world-renowned classic car show at the top of your bucket list. This year Pebble celebrates the Ford GT’s 50th anniversary Delahaye and Henri Chapron coachwork. General admission is $325 — a reasonable value for such an amazing automotive display. pebblebeachconcours.net
Courtesy Photography
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