Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Monterey Auto Week
August 13-19, 2012
A tradition going back over half a century, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is where the world's collector cars meet and compete. Only the 200 best collector cars in the world roll onto the legendary 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, and only a handful of those will receive official recognition for style, technical merit and historical accuracy.
But the Concours is only the final event in a packed week celebrating the classic automobile! All over Monterey County, classic cars take to streets, golf courses, parks and the world-renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, surrounding visitors with automobiles from yesteryear.
Need to experience Monterey Auto Week on a budget? Make sure to refer to our Concours on a Shoestring page.
Monterey Auto Week: Book Your Hotel Now!The Concours d'Elegance is one of the region’s most popular events. For your convenience the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, your trusted source for accommodations and vacation packages, provides an easy way to book your stay during Concours. Click here for online reservations! |
Auto Shows
Auto 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 14 from 10am-5pm. Sixteen blocks of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea will showcase over 175 domestic and foreign collector vehicles.
Dine In Di-Vine
Carmel Valley's Chateau Julien
combines classic cars with haute cuisine from Wednesday, August 15 through Saturday, August 18. Visitors can dine amongst the Sangiovese vines at the winery, then peruse the vintage cars on display while enjoying the dessert lounge. Each night emphasizes a different type of car; see the Chateau Julien website for information on prices and themes.
Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally
On Friday, August 17, 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 ($20/adults, $15/children 12 and under).
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Test drive top luxury cars and view the finest in automotive design at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, August 17 from 10am to 4pm. Themes include pre-war Alfa Romeos, FIVA Preservation, Revolutionary Designs and more. Tickets, which can be purchased online, are $400 and include a gourmet lunch, fine wines and liquors and admission to the Bonhams & Butterfields auctions.
Concorso Italiano
The legendary Concorso Italiano, makes its home at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch. 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 Friday, August 17th, 9am-5pm.
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 Mercedes-Benz, Stutz, Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts, Ferrari 250 GTO, and Italian motorcycles. Opens to spectators at 10:30am on Sunday, August 19th. Purchase tickets on the official Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance website.
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 Friday-Sunday, August 17-19 from 8:45am until 5pm 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 16. The tour will depart Pebble Beach at 8:30am and follow 17-Mile Drive and Highway One to 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.
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 18th and 19th, but window-shoppers can admire the breathtaking displays of automotive magic beginning on August 15th.
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 17-18. In total, over 200 investment cars will be auctioned off. Preview passes are $40; a $200 bidder registration includes two preview passes, two auction passes and includes an auction catalog.
Art and Accessories
Seaside's Embassy Suites hosts Automobilia Monterey, an exhibition of original vintage posters, hood ornaments, signs, scale models, and much more, all connected to the history of the automobile on August 14th and 15th. Many items will be for sale; there will also be a silent auction.
Visitors to Pebble Beach can enjoy Pebble Beach RetroAuto, an exhibit showing not only automobiles from the past, but photos, tools, and other objects associated with automobiles of yore. The RetroAuto pavilion is open from 10am to 5pm on Friday, August 17th and Saturday, August 19th and 8am to 6pm on Concours Sunday.
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