For one week each August, the Monterey Peninsula in California is transformed into the epicenter for the classic car community. Regardless of the name — the Monterey Classic Car Week, Pebble Beach Automotive Week, Concours Week, Holy Car Week or just Car Heaven — the events that make up the week are among the most important on the historic automotive calendar and 2013 will be no different.
The origins of the week can be traced back to 1950 when a group of sports car owners decided to create a road race and Concours at Pebble Beach.
The first winner of the road race was Phil Hill, who would go on to become a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the first American-born winner of the Formula 1 World Drivers Championship. Over the succeeding 60 or so years, the event has grown in size, shape and stature, attracting an array of cars and spectators from around the world.
The now traditional third Sunday in August became a calendar fixture for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1972. During the day, around 200 of the most prized collector cars will take pride of place on the famous eighteenth fairway at Pebble Beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This year’s Concours will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin and the 50th anniversaries of Lamborghini and the Porsche 911.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is another cornerstone of the week. The Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a revered track with some notable turns, such as the Corkscrew, with its notorious five-story drop. The Reunion features racing for some 550 historic cars that span nearly every era of motorsports history and this year features the Corvette as its special marque. The 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911 will also be honored with the Weissach Cup race for 911s from 1964-1973.
We encourage you to visit Sports Car Digest both during and following the 2013 Monterey Classic Car Week as we quickly publish reports, results and photo galleries from all events. We have six writers and photographers on the Monterey Peninsula this year, and each one is focused upon providing the best coverage of all the events without exception. For the latest coverage, visit test-sportscardigest.sites.thewpvalet.com/tag/monterey-week.
Monterey Classic Car Week 2013 – Preview and Schedule of Events
Saturday and Sunday, August 10-11, Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion – Held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca the weekend prior to the larger Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the Monterey Pre-Reunion is again officially open to the public this year. (2012 Event Coverage).
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 13-14, Automobilia Monterey – Automobilia Monterey is largest automobilia show in America, and the only time during Monterey Week to find more than 45 international dealers in a single location. Held at the Embassy Suites in Seaside, visitors enjoy the relaxed setting while shopping for original posters, photographs, signs, artwork, scale models, books, magazines and everything else that is automobilia. (2013 Event Information).
Tuesday, August 13, Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue – The seventh edition of the Carmel Concours will see approximately 150 vehicles vying for first and second in class plus 14 major awards and, of course, Best of Show. This year’s event will present multi-marques from 1940 to 1973, in addition to Porsche and Ferrari through 1989. (2013 Event Information) and (2012 Event Coverage).
Wednesday, August 14, The Little Car Show – The 4th annual show will feature French vehicles, and is limited to 100 gas-powered micro, mini and arcane vehicles under 1,601cc and electric vehicles. Held noon to 5pm on Lighthouse Avenue, in downtown Pacific Grove, between Fountain and Forest Avenues. The show is followed by a parade around Pacific Grove beginning at Lover’s Point and following Ocean View Boulevard to Asilomar. (Event Website) and (2011 Event Coverage).
Wednesday, August 14, McCall Motorworks Revival – Held at the Monterey Jet Center in Monterey, Gordon McCall’s 22nd annual event will again entertain its fortunate guests with an abundance of vintage cars, private jets, gourmet food and more. (Event Website) and (2012 Event Coverage).
Thursday, August 15, Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance – The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance is an annual scenic 60-mile trip around the Monterey Peninsula in association with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. For the first time in 10 years, this year’s running of the Tour will include a lap around the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The Tour d’Elegance is for vehicles participating in the Concours, allowing spectators the chance to see and hear these vehicles in motion. (2013 Event Information) and (2012 Event Coverage).
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 15-17, Monterey Automotive Film & Arts Festival – This inaugural event will feature a mixture of films and shorts related to automotive competition, artistic endeavors, and history, presented at the historic Golden State Theatre in Monterey. Subjects at this year’s festival include Le Mans, John Fitch, the anniversaries of Corvette and Porsche 911, among others. (Event Website).
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 15-17, Russo and Steele Auction – For the second year, Russo and Steele’s auction returns to it new location on the waterfront by Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown Monterey. The 13th annual Sports & Muscle in Monterey sale will see more than 200 cars cross the auction block, with many offered at no reserve. (Event Website) and (2013 Auction Preview) and (2012 Auction Report).
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 16-18, Mecum Auction – Mecum’s 5th annual Monterey ‘Daytime’ Auctions will feature 750 vehicles representing all makes and models crossing the block. The sale, open to buyers, sellers and spectators with free admission, takes place at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel on the Del Monte Golf Course. Headline entries include the 1955 Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder, 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza and 1964 Shelby 289 Independent Competition Cobra. (Event Website), (2013 Auction Preview) and (2012 Auction Report).
Friday, August 16, Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction – The 16th annual Bonhams Monterey Week auction returns to its larger and more accommodating venue on the grounds of the Quail Lodge in Carmel. Held in connection with The Quail, a Motorsport Gathering, the event will feature approximately 90 cars, highlighted by the 1931 Bentley 4.5-Liter Supercharged Le Mans, 1924 Bugatti Type 35 Prototype and 1958 Lister-Chevrolet Knobbly. (Event Website), (2013 Auction Preview) and (2012 Auction Report).
Friday, August 16, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering – Held at the Quail Lodge Golf Club in Carmel, the 11th annual “Quail” will again treat its visitors to a wonderful selection of automobiles and motorcycles, while offering food and fun among like-minded enthusiasts. This year’s event will pay tribute to 100 years of Aston Martin and feature a Retrospective of Lamborghini Celebrating 50 Years, as well as a Tribute to the California Mille in Honor of Martin Swig and Peter Brock Designs. (2013 Information) and (2012 Event Coverage).
Friday, August 16, Legends of the Autobahn – Held at the Rancho Canada Golf Club in Carmel Valley and hosted by the BMW Car Club of America, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, the Porsche Club of America and the Audi Club of North America, the 4th annual all-German marque Concours d’Elegance brings together enthusiasts, owners and aficionados of distinctive German cars to view some of the finest marques in the world. (2013 Information) and (2011 Event Coverage).
Friday, August 16, Concorso Italiano – Staged at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey, the 28th annual Concorso will again honor Italian vehicles and style with everything great from Italy including cars, food and wine. This year’s event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini. In addition to Lamborghini, many Italian marques will be represented with more than 800 cars and motorcycles of Italian origin expected for display. (2013 Information) and (2012 Event Coverage).
Friday and Saturday, August 16-17, RM Auctions Monterey Auction – RM Auctions will again hold its Monterey auction at the Portola Hotel and Spa and Monterey Convention Center in Monterey. RM’s 28th annual auction will feature 120 cars, headlined by the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider, 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster and 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider. (Event Website), (2013 Auction Preview) and (2012 Auction Report).
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 16-18, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – This year’s vintage racing event, staged at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, will celebrate the Corvette’s 60th anniversary and 50th anniversary of the Corvette Grand Sport. The historic races will see a field of approximately 550 cars battle on the famed 11-turn, 2.238 mile circuit. (2013 Event Information) and (2012 Event Coverage).
Saturday, August 18, Concours d’LeMons – Celebrating the “Oddball, Mundane and Truly Awful”, this off-the-wall car show is held annually at the Laguna Grande Park in Seaside. (Event Website).
Saturday and Sunday, August 17-18, Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction – Held at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center in Pebble Beach, Gooding’s 10th annual auction, again held in association with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will feature approximately 160 cars, headlined by the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France 14-Louver Berlinetta, 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante and 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione. (Event Website), (2013 Auction Preview) and (2012 Auction Report).
Saturday, August 17, The Barnyard Ferrari Event – This annual non-profit event pairs up Italian automobiles with local wines and food. Held at the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel, with support from the Ferrari Owners Club benefitting JDRF. (Event Website).
Sunday, August 18, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – The Pebble Beach Concours is the arguably the most important event in North America, and, it could easily be argued, the reason ‘Monterey Classic Car Week’ exists. This year’s Concours will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin, the 50th anniversaries of Lamborghini and the Porsche 911, in addition to honoring Custom Lincoln, Simplex, Vanvooren Coachwork, BMW 507 and French Motorcycles. (Event Website), (2013 Event Information) and (2012 Event Coverage).
[Source: Rolex Motorsports]
How could you forget the 200-car Pacific Grove Auto Rally that takes place from 1:00-5:00 PM on Friday, August 16 on Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove? Great cars from all genres and eras.