In its sixth year as the start to the Monterey Classic Car weekend, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering once again sold-out, solidifying the gathering among the Monterey Week’s most desirable events.
This year, the Quail honored America’s leading endurance race: the Twelve Hours of Sebring. The exhibit included the storied Porsche RS Spyder that won the 2008 race. Eagle Racecars’ remarkable designs by racing legend Dan Gurney were also honored. On show was the 1967 Gurney Eagle F-1, which Dan Gurney not only built but also brought to victory at the Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix. Storied test driver Valentino Balboni was in attendance at the event and was also honored for his more than 30 years behind the wheel for Lamborghini.
A day at The Quail is not complete without guests experiencing the very best in food and wines, as guests enjoyed tastes from Italy, Cuba, France and California.
Other highlights included test drives from Lexus, Mercedes-Benz AMG and Maserati and, once again, the Land Rover Experience Driving School had its off-road driving experience through the grounds of the Quail Lodge. The Quail also had the North American unveiling of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé, the newest addition to the automaker’s line of luxury vehicles, as well as the Bugatti’s Hermès edition – the Veyron Fbg par Hermès shown for the first time on the West Coast at the Quail.
The Quail concluded this year, as in the previous years, with the Rolex Circle of Champion Awards. In this unique award ceremony, entrants are called upon to subjectively choose the vehicle that has achieved what they believe to be its design goal, performance expectations and overall impact on automotive history and soul.
2008 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering Award Winners:
Best of Show, 1962 Shelby Cobra 289 owned by Bruce Meyer
12 Hours of Sebring, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1 owned by John Thompson
Gurney Eagles, 1967 Gurney Eagle F-1 owned by The Collier Collection
25th Anniversary of the Porsche 959, 1985 Porsche 959-Paris Dakar owned by Bernard Carl
Tribute to Valentino Balboni, 1967 Lamborghini Miura owned by Lammot Du Pont
Pre War Sports and Racing Cars Award, 1913 Mercer 35-J Raceabout owned by The Peterson Automotive Museum
Post War Sports Cars Award, 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster owned by David & Melissa Mohlman
Post War Racing Cars Award, 1962 Ford Cobra 289 owned by Bruce Meyer
Sports and Racing Motorcycles Award, 1953 Vincent Black Shadow owned by Thomas & Elece Leverone
Super Cars Award, 2006 Ferrari P 4/5 Pininfarina owned by James Glickenhaus
The Quail Lodge Preservation Award, 1959 Ferrari 410 Super America owned by Tom Shaughnessy
The Road & Track Editor’s Choice Award, 1972 Eagle Indy – Olsonite owned by Dan Gurney
Pacific Tweed Couturier Eye for Style Award, 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta owned by Issah Karanough
[Source: The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering; photo credit Steve Burton]
