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The 2008 Monterey Weekend

Monterey, California:  Monterey Weekend, or simply "The Weekend" to all classic car fanatics, will be held this year on August 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2008 in the Monterey Bay area. The Weekend is full of classic car shows, collector car auctions and automotive events. Here is the premier list of the best ones to attend this year.

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - This 58^th annual affair is held at the 18^th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links at the Lodge, where the cars compete to be named the best of the best worldwide. The featured marques this year are Lancia and Lamborghini, with a special celebration of the 100 years of General Motors, plus a highlight the 50 years of the Ferrari Cal Spyder.

Proceeds from the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance support a number of local, national and international charities. More than $10 million has been raised in previous years. Tickets for the Concours are $150 and can be 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 

The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance:

On Thursday, August 14, 2008 look for the Cars of the Concours taking a 60-mile run starting at 7 AM. The Tour will wind around 17 Mile Drive and then visit Carmel Valley, the Big Sur coastline, plus the town of Carmel and then return to the Polo Field at Pebble Beach for viewing at around 3 PM.

The Tour d’Elegance is open only to the cars participating in Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours, so you can see them all, running and driving, for free on Thursday. For information call 831-622-1700 and for a map of the tour route go online to www.pebblebeachconcours.net

The Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races: 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday August 15, 16, 17, 2008 - Held at the Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway on Monterey Highway in Monterey this is the place where old race cars and racecar drivers go to re-live there youth.

For three straight 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.

This is the 51^st year of Laguna Seca and the 35^th year of the Monterey Historic Races, and there will be a special tribute to the event’s notable past. Mario Andretti will be the Guest of Honor this year and the featured marque will be Alfa Romeo.

Daily entry prices run from $45 to $65, a Saturday and Sunday pass is $95 and a three-day ticket is $125. You can camp out at the track for the entire weekend for just $145. For race times, tickets, directions and general information call toll free 1-800-327-SECA (7322) or go to www.montereyhistoric.com

The Concorso Italiano: 

Friday, August 15, 2008 - Held at a new location this year at the Marina Airport in Marina, just north of Monterey Bay off Coast Highway 1. This year’s event celebrates the 45 years of Lamborghini, 40 years of the Ferrari Daytona and the cars of Italian designer Marcello Gandini.

This is the undisputed premier car show of the Monterey Weekend for fast & sexy Italian cars, and the most important one to attend, as just about every Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini model ever built is usually there too.

This event will have over 2000 Italian cars, trucks and motorcycles on display plus several opera performances and a glitzy fashion show. Tickets are $90 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

WHERE TO BUY CARS OVER THE MONTEREY WEEKEND:

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

The Blackhawk Exposition Sale:

Wednesday August 13 thru Sunday August 17, 2008 on Peter Hay Hill 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. This classic car sale kicks off the entire car buying weekend on Wednesday at 9 AM and is open every day till 6 PM thru 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 cars are always fantastic. Call for info & catalogs at 925-736-3444 or visit them at www.blackhawkcollection.com

Next up is my personal favorite collector car sale, celebrating their 8th anniversary at The Monterey Weekend, are Drew & Josephine Alcazar of the Russo and Steele auction company. They are hosting another exciting Sports & Muscle car auction at the Monterey Marriott Hotel in Downtown Monterey. For the third year in Monterey they have expanded their auction to 2 full nights of VIP cars.

This is the very best Collector Car auction of the Monterey Weekend, and if you can only go to one auction event, then this is the one to attend.

The Russo and Steele Sports and Muscle Car Auction at the Marriott: 

Friday & Saturday August 15 & 16, 2008 - 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 150 American Muscle cars, Sports Cars, Hot Rods, Shelby’s and Cobra’s available this weekend in the entire Monterey Bay area.

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

Bonhams & Butterfield Collectors Motorcars auction at Quail Lodge: 

Friday August 15, 2008 - Held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley this auction will feature automobilia, fine jewelry and timepieces. 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.

The automobilia sale begins at 10 AM and the car auction starts at 1 PM. Admission is by catalog only at $75 each and admits two to the preview and the sale. You can call them at 415-391-4000 for more information and tickets or click on www.bonhams.com/us

The Gooding & Company sale at The Pebble Beach Auction: 

Saturday August 16 and Sunday August 17, 2008 - This auction starts at 6 PM on Saturday and begins 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. Several past Pebble Beach class winners are always for sale.

This is the final classic car auction of the weekend and your last chance to buy one and drive home in style. Bidder catalogs are $100 each and admit 2 to the preview and auction. For info and tickets call 310-899-1960 or click on www.goodingco.com

That completes the list for the best and the brightest Auctions, Automotive Events & Tours on the Monterey Peninsula for this year. 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 2008.

By Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net – San Francisco

“Tony the Car Guy” is an 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

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