While no one in Europe feels like attending an auto show and many events are falling victim to the ongoing corona pandemic anyway, things look very different in California. The Monterey Autoweek with its numerous events around the luxury enclave of Pebble Beach shows how exciting cars can be – regardless of whether it is sinfully expensive, a rotting junk box, a roaring bolide or a buzzing electric car.
Such an event would also be needed in Europe, because nobody on the Pacific coast of California tries to hide the fascination of the car under the gloomy guise of mobility. For almost a week tens of thousands of car fans from all over the world come to pay homage to the car and everything that has to do with it. The Monterey Autoweek is an event like no other – a festival for the automotive senses. Regardless of whether it is noble events such as the concours d ‘Elegance with its million-dollar classics on the connecting railway of one of the world’s most famous golf courses, the scrap box meeting Concours de Lemons from Seaside, Legends of the Autobahn, Concorso Italiano, the unofficial highlight The Quail as probably the most exclusive Auto event in the world or the countless auctions. The Monterey Autoweek, held every year in the third week of August, is a must as a car fan.
After the corona-related cancellation last year, the demand for the numerous program items in the triangle of Laguna Seca, Monterey and Pebbe Beach was greater than ever this time. But the organizers had to step on the brakes and make the events airier and more organized than in previous years. With the exception of the sometimes overcrowded auctions, an unusually pale Legends of the Autobahn and the overcrowded closing event on Sunday, that worked splendidly. Even if the corona pandemic has the USA and California firmly under control, the atmosphere was great and fans came from all over the country. Due to the strict entry restrictions, however, many international fans had to stay outside this time – but that hardly detracted from the mood.
The range of events in Pebble Beach is more gigantic than ever. Lamborghini, Audi, Bugatti, Aston Martin and Bentley unveil their latest creations here while fans of Italian sports cars meet a few miles away and sip the most delicious espresso or the biggest rattles at Seaside Town Hall. Mercedes gives its best customers behind closed doors a secret view of the upcoming SL or shows spectacular individual pieces of the 1952 300 SL “planer”. Pininfarina and Rimac put their closely related electric rockets each with over 1,900 hp on the stage and the friends of the legendary VW Bullys meet on a meadow in front of the gates of Monterey. Kyle traveled from Ohio in his dark blue Ferrari F 430, which is actually a converted Toyota Celica from 2001, and is using his craft car on the Cannery Row fan mile. “I bought the replica for $ 25,000 four weeks ago,” smiles the car fan, “I drove here from Ohio for almost five days. I just wanted to show the car.” A few miles further on, company owner Mate Rimac is delighted that Bugatti is about to be taken over: “We were able to sell a few cars here,” smiles Kroate. Per Svantesson, CEO of Automobili Pininfarina, is just as satisfied: “We can finally show our American buyers the finished Battista. The demand is greater than ever.”
Once again this year, it is the atmosphere that makes the difference. The Monterey Autoweek is not a boring fair for a special audience. Rather, it is the open fair of the third millennium – an oversized family festival with something for every car fan. BMW 2002, Audi 200 or Mercedes 560 SEL can be admired at Legends on the Autobahn as well as roaring cars on the nearby Laguna Seca racetrack that thunder down the Corkscrew Corner. Experienced greats from the international economy get their hands wet with sweat on Sunday morning when the beloved classic drives onto the lawn of the Concours d’Elegance during the Dawn Patrol, to be scrutinized by the judges. A badge increases the already stately value immeasurably. Winner this year at the high point of Pebble Beach was another pre-war car: the Mercedes 540 K Autobahn Kurier from the Keller collection from 1938. A highlight on the final day, not just for motorsport fans: the special exhibitions on 50 years of the Porsche 917, the Carrera Panamericana or also half a century Lamborghini Countach. It was perfect that Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann was able to unveil a new version of the Countach – 112 models for more than two million euros each and thus just half the price of the Bugatti bolide. And probably none of the Porsche 917 racing cars would be available for this.
While it was once only classics that set the tone around the Pebble Beach peninsula, many car manufacturers have long been presenting their latest models, while a few meters further pre-war models and one-offs from small series manufacturers are on the table. Many events don’t cost a cent to enter – tickets for other events cost $ 400, $ 800 or $ 1,000 – with endless waiting lists. But the atmosphere everywhere is equally unique, relaxed, casual and just as car-loving as it can only work in the USA. Millionaire collectors look at junk boxes on the side of the road, discuss with up-and-coming fans until late at night and let fans go for a lap with their favorites without stomach ache. In the evenings, RM Sotheby ‘s, Goodings or Mecum are all about valuable classics from more than a hundred years of automotive history before the exclusive parties in the villas.
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
