Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
August witnesses one our favorite events on the TLP calendar, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (August 14th-17th). This year, the Reunion celebrates the 100th anniversary of the iconic Italian automaker – Maserati. The Reunion is perhaps North America's greatest display of automotive history as it also coincides with the Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance and Concorso Italiano, and several high profile auctions held all over the Monterey Peninsula.
This annual weekend (which actually encompases events all week) provides the perennial enthusiast or newbie the opportunity to see some of the greatest examples of historic street and race cars ever assembled, and many of the personalities who made them famous. This isn't your run of the mill car show. Many of the cars in the paddock will all be driven 10/10ths on the track. No garage queens allowed on the pre-grid. Can-Am, Trans Am, F1, Group B, Group C, pre war, post war and everything in between, the reunion has them. In the confines of the paddock, you can forget the phrase, "I wonder if that's real, or a replica." The answer is I'TS REAL! As far as personalities go, in the years past, TLP has spotted the likes of Carroll Shelby, Sirs Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart, Jim Hall, Emerson Fittipaldi...and you are almost guaranteed to see Jay Leno walking around the paddock. You're head never stops moving!
Scroll down for full list of events
CAR SHOWS
Car shows and rallies throughout Monterey County offer car fans the chance to see historic and rare vehicles up close, with peeks both inside the car and under the hood.
Carmel Concours on the Avenue
Carmel's Concours on the Avenue will be held Tuesday, August 12 from 10am-5pm. Sixteen blocks of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea will showcase over 175 domestic and foreign collector vehicles.
The Little Car Show
Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove lines up all sorts of tiny vehicles during Auto Week. The Little Car Show is Wednesday, August 13 from 12pm-5pm.
McCall's Motorworks Revival
On Wednesday, August 13 at 5pm the exclusive Motorworks Revival takes center stage at the Monterey Jet Center from 5pm-10pm. The VIP event showcases some of the best in food, wine and, of course, automobiles.
Legends of the Autobahn
Legends of the Autobahn plays host to beautiful BMWs of all ages, as well as entrants from the Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi clubs who will share this event. The concourse will be held on Friday, August 15at the Nicklaus Club. Judging and displays are limited to members of the four respective clubs, but the public is welcome to walk the grounds and enjoy the beautiful array of German cars!
Werks Reunion-A Porsche Gathering
The Porsche Club of America starts a new tradition in 2014 with the inaugural Werks Reunion. The new, premier Porsche event takes over Rancho Canada Golf Club on Friday, August 15 from 7am-4pm. The show will feature the latest Porsches, special vehicle presentations, celebrity guests, and a surprise or two.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Enjoy luxury cars and view the finest in automotive design at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering onFriday, August 15 from 10am to 4pm. Themes include the 100th anniversary of Maserati, Post-War Sports, Super Cars, Great Ferraris and more.
Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally
On Friday, August 15, from 1pm to 5:30pm, Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove will feel like a trip back in time during the Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally. Over 200 cars will participate at this event, which is free for spectators. At 6pm cars will cruise the streets of Pacific Grove; at 7pm, participants and spectators can enjoy a barbecue dinner at Chataqua Hall.
Concorso Italiano
The legendary Concorso Italiano, makes its home at Black Horse Golf Course. Celebrate all things Italian with displays of Italian fashion and art and great Italian food and music, as well as over 800 Italian cars. This year's event will be held Saturday, August 16 from 9am-5pm.
Concours d'Lemons
Craving Pintos, Pacers and Corvairs instead of Porsches, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces? For an auto show that is the reverse of everything the Concours d'Elegance holds dear, head to Concours d'LeMons on Saturday, August 16th at Laguna Grande Park in Seaside from 9:30am-1:30pm.
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The banal term "auto show" hardly befits the most elegant exhibition of classic automotives in the world. Only the finest 200 classic cars will be allowed onto the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links during this event. The culmination of a week of classic automotives, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will feature Ruxton, steam cars, Rolls-Royce Phantom IV and Phantom V, Tatra and Eastern European motorcycles. Opens to spectators at 10:30am on Sunday, August 17. Purchase tickets on the official Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance website.
Carmel-by-the-Sea offers shuttle service to Concours d'Elegance for $20 (unlimited rides). The shuttle runs from Carmel Plaza to Pebble Beach starting at 8am on Sunday, August 17th only. For more information visit www.carmelcalifornia.org.
DRIVING EVENTS
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
While seeing classic cars on a golf course may be a treat, watching them compete on one of the world's finest racetracks is a can't-miss experience. See historic cars in motion at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Watch the races on Thursday-Sunday, August 14-17 from 8:30am until 4:30pm every day. Tickets can be purchased at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca website.
Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
Spectators on roads around Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea will be transported back to the past as classic cars participating in the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance drive by on Thursday, August 14. The tour will depart Pebble Beach at 8am and follow 17-Mile Drive and Highway One to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and ending at Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The cars will be displayed from noon to 2pm on Ocean Avenue, and then will return to Pebble Beach. For some of these vehicles, successful completion of the Tour will be their key to a win in Sunday's Concours.
AUCTIONS
Visitors with deep pockets who want to do more than look at the cars can attend auctions throughout the week.
Mecum Muscle Cars and More
The Hyatt Regency Monterey hosts muscle cars, motorcycles and more during the Mecum Auction. The general public is invited to view items up for sale August 14-16.
Russo and Steele
"Sports and Muscle in Monterey" by Russo and Steele takes over the waterfront of Old Fisherman's Wharf August 14-16. Previews open on Thursday, August 14th and the auctions will be held August 15th and 16th.
Rick Cole Auction
New to Monterey Auto Week is the Rick Cole Auction at the Monterey Marriott in downtown Monterey. The general public is invited to view items up for sale August 14-17.
Bonhams & Butterfields Auction
One of the largest and oldest auctions takes place at Quail Lodge Golf Club on August 15. Spectators can view and bid on rare automobiles, fine art and antique pieces.
RM Auctions' Sports & Classics of Monterey
Fine classic cars and unique sports cars, including a dedicated Ford-themed auction, will be auctioned at RM Auctions' Sport & Classics of Monterey at the Portola Hotel & Spa, August 15-16. In total, over 200 investment cars will be auctioned off. Preview passes are $40; a $300 bidder registration includes two preview passes, two auction passes and includes an auction catalog.
Pebble Beach Auctions Presented by Gooding & Company
The Pebble Beach Auction is one of the premier automotive auctions in the world and has set many world records. The auction itself takes place on August 16 and 17, but window-shoppers can admire the breathtaking displays of automotive magic beginning on August 13th.