One of the highlights of the Monterey Classic Car Week, is the exclusive Quail Motorsport Gathering held this year on Friday, August 15, at Carmel Valley’s Quail Resort. Sold out long before the event is even held, the exclusive ticket entitles the visitor not only to view an exceptional collection of racing, sports and touring cars, but also unlimited access to food, wine and beer from no less than half a dozen gourmet food pavilions. This year’s event included a number of special features and guests including “Fireside Chat” interviews with Sir Jackie Stewart, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and Journey guitarist Neal Schon.
An eclectic show field—laid out on the fairway and putting greens in front of The Quail Lodge Golf Club—held a little something for everyone with vehicles ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. A handful of vintage motorcycles were also thrown in for good measure. Unlike many concours, the Quail utilizes a peer-based voting system, allowing the exhibitors to decide among themselves who has won each category and, indeed, the overall winner. As such, California collector Tom Price looked suitably shell-shocked when his 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS was announced as the “Rolex Best of Show”—the overall winner—and the recipient of a Rolex Oyster Daytona timepiece. With Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart on hand to make the presentation it was a fairy tale moment when Tom and his wife Gwen drove their immaculate car onto the ramp: “It’s really wonderful. Being picked by our peers, all the people who have cars here, makes it even more special to me than a normal judging environment. We’re just ecstatic.”
