i

2006 Monterey Weekend

Monterey, California: Monterey Weekend, or simply "The Weekend" to all classic car fanatics, will be held this year on August 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2006 in the Monterey Bay area. The Weekend is full of classic car shows, sports car auctions and automotive events. Here is a list of the best ones to attend.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance:  Sunday, August 20, 2006 - This 56th annual affair is held at the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links at the Lodge, where the cars compete to be named the best of the best. This year they will celebrate the French marques Delahaye and Voisin. Also featured will be cars that raced in the local 1950 to 1956 Pebble Beach road races.

Proceeds from the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance support a number of local, national and international charities. More than $9 million has been raised in previous years. Tickets for the Concours are $150 purchased in advance by calling 877-693-0009 toll-free. Tickets sold on site at the Lodge are $175 each. Children under 12 are admitted free. For ticket information and directions click on www.pebblebeachconcours.net

On Thursday, August 17th 2006 look for the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance taking a 60-mile run starting at 8:30 AM. The cars will wind around 17 Mile Drive and then visit Tehama Monterrra, Carmel Valley, the Big Sur coastline plus the town of Carmel and then return to Collins Field at Pebble Beach. The Tour is only open to the cars participating in Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, so you can see them all, up close and personal, running and driving, for free. For information and a map of the tour go online to www.pebblebeachconcours.net

Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races:  Friday, Saturday and Sunday August 18, 19, 20 2006 - Held at the Laguna Seca racetrack on Monterey Highway in Salinas this is the place where old race cars go to re-live there youth. For three days you get to see, hear and smell the exciting past 75 years of auto racing up close and personal. For the historic racing fan it just doesn’t get any better than this.

The feature racecars this year are the cars designed and built by John Cooper of the Cooper Motor Car Company. Daily entry prices run from $45 to $65, a Saturday and Sunday pass is $95 and a three-day ticket is $125. For race times, directions and general information call toll free 1-800-327-SECA (7322) or go to www.montereyhistoric.com

Concorso Italiano:  Friday, August 18, 2006 - Held at the Black Horse Golf Course at Monterey Bay in Seaside. Lancia is the featured marque this year plus just about every Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini model ever made is usually there too. This event will have over 1700 Italian cars, trucks and motorcycles on display plus several opera performances and a fashion show. Tickets are $80 in advance and $100 per person at the gate and include parking and an event program. Call 425-742-0632 for more info or visit them on the web at www.concorso.com

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering: Friday, August 18, 2006 - Held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. This year Italian race car designer Zagato will be the featured marque at this automotive lifestyle event. The admission fee is $150 per person and includes wine, cuisine, special test drives in Bentleys and the Land Rover Driving School, as well as admission to the Bonhams & Butterfields on site collector car auction that starts at 5 PM, right after the car show. This is a great two for one offer and the B & B auction tent is located directly across the street from the car show main field. For ticket information contact them at www.quaillodge.com

There are several collector car sales events to choose from this year and each one sells to a different clientele. Here are five of the very best of the Monterey Weekend and you should attend all of them to experience and enjoy the excitement up close and personal.

Blackhawk Exposition Sale: Wednesday August 16 thru Sunday August 20, 2006 at the Peter Hay Golf Course across from Pebble Beach at the Lodge. This is the only five-day sales event during Monterey Weekend and they are there from the start to the finish. The car sale kicks off the buying weekend on Wednesday at 8 AM and is open every day till 6 PM Sunday evening. Car Collectors Don & Rob Williams will offer for sale over 85 of the finest Classic Cars available over the Monterey Weekend. Admission to the Exposition is free and the classic cars are always fantastic. Call for info & catalogs at 925-736-3444 or visit them at www.blackhawkcollection.com

Christie’s - Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center:  Thursday August 17, 2006 at 6 PM. This is a sophisticated automotive affair packed with hand picked collectible and classy cars and will be held at the Monterey Jet Center at 300 Sky Park Drive in Monterey. The entry fee is $60 and admits two to the preview and auction. For tickets call them at 310-385-2600 or click on www.christries.com for directions to the Jet Center.

Next up is my personal favorite collector car sale, celebrating their 6th anniversary at The Monterey Weekend are Drew & Josephine Alcazar of Russo and Steele. They are hosting another exciting Sports & Muscle car auction at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Monterey. For the first time in Monterey they have expanded their auction to 2 nights. This is the very best car auction of the Monterey Weekend, and if you can only go to one event, then this is the one.

Russo and Steele:  Friday & Saturday August 18 & 19, 2006 - Drew & Company will be going full throttle on the hottest nights of the car crazed weekend, Friday & Saturday, and they start at 5 PM with a memorabilia and collectible auction. At 6:00 PM they will begin selling the best American Muscle cars, Sports Cars, Hot Rods, Shelby’s and Cobra’s available this weekend in the entire Monterey Bay area, all at 100% no-reserve prices.

Admission is for registered bidders and there guests only and $100 buys you a bidder & guest pass plus refreshments at the onsite bar. You can preview the cars all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Monterey Marriott hotel and the parking paddock down the block. For the best auction action over the Monterey Weekend call them at 602-252-2697 or click on www.russoandsteele.com, and tell them Tony the Car Guy sent you.

Bonhams and Butterfield Quail Lodge Sale:  Friday August 18, 2006 -Held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley this auction will feature automobilia, fine jewelry and timepieces plus 17 cars that were part of the Rosso Bianco collection. The top car is a 1938 Talbot-Lago Special 150 SS Goutte d’Eau Coupe. Original Mille Miglia entrants and Can-Am racers are their specialty so expect to see some very exciting and very rare motorcars at this auction. Admission is by catalog only at $70 each and admits two. You can call them at 415-391-4000 for more information or click on www.bonhams.com/us

The Pebble Beach Auction by Gooding & Company:  Sunday August 20, 2006 - This auction is at 6 PM Sunday evening right after the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It will be held at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center and showcases classic, vintage and antique cars. This is the final classic car auction of the weekend and your last chance to buy one and drive home in style. Several past Pebble Beach class winners are always for sale. Bidder catalogs are $50 each and admit 2. This is the final event of the Monterey Weekend. For info call them at 310-899-1960 or click on www.goodingco.com

Now it’s time to visit the Blackhawk Museum in Danville for their 18th Annual Post Pebble Beach Open House on Monday from 10 AM to 4 PM. They will be offering live jazz, light snacks and cold beverages, docent-led museum tours and an opportunity to gradually re-enter the real world after all the fabulous automotive events in Monterey. Admission is free during the Museum’s Open House and there is plenty of parking for trucks and trailers.

Blackhawk Museum: Monday August 21, 2006 - Two automotive galleries display more than 100 historically significant and artistically inspired automobiles, mostly one-of-a-kind custom coach built cars dating from 1884 through 1971. The Blackhawk Museum is now in association with the Smithsonian Institution and the tour is a nice way to end the Monterey Weekend. Call 925-736-2280 for directions or visit the Museum’s website at www.blackhawkmuseum.org

So take a break and drive down to Monterey Bay to enjoy the cars, the people, and the weather, because it’s going to be another great "Monterey Weekend” in 2006. By Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco

“Tony the Car Guy” is a freelance automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question or comment for Tony send it to TonyLeo@pacbell.net or visit www.autowire.net

Byline:  Syndicated content provided by Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Column Name:  The Worlds Best Classic Car Show
Topic:  2006 Monterey Weekend
Word Count:  1563
Photo Caption:  The 2006 Monterey Weekend
Photo Credits:  The Pebble Beach Concours
Series #:   2006 - 38

l

l