2012 Monterey travel guide

Want to know where to go and when while in Monterey? Stop sweating and start packing, because the Old Cars Weekly staff has prepared this list to help you find all the great vintage car-related events around Monterey, Calif., this August. There are a dizzying number of activities to follow, but this list will hopefully help get you to the right spot at the right time.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Aug. 19, 10:30 a.m.
Location: 18th Fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links
831-622-1700
info@pebblebeachconcours.net
www.pebblebeachconcours.net
First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has been called the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. The most beautiful and rare automobiles are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links each year, attracting connoisseurs of art and technology from around the world.

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance
Aug. 16, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Pebble Beach to Big Sur to Carmel and Back to Pebble Beach
831-622-1700
The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex is an annual driving event that showcases the elegance of the automobile in motion, while highlighting the early history of Pebble Beach. The Tour traces portions of the original 17-Mile Drive, traverses nearby mountains and valleys, dips down Highway One and stops in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Spectators can view these cars driving on Ocean Avenue in downtown Carmel. Tour participants are Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance entrants only.

Pebble Beach RetroAuto
Aug. 17-18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
Aug. 19, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Adjacent to the main Pebble Beach Concours entrance
831-622-1700
The RetroAuto pavilion features rare collectibles and memorabilia, as well as the latest luxury goods and technological tools to enhance today’s driving experience. Exhibitors represent a variety of retail and manufacturing categories, including historic automobilia, auto parts, original poster art, books and literature, fine art, photography and posters, and luxury items.

Automotive Fine Arts Society Exhibit
Aug. 19, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 18th Fairway on the Pebble Beach Golf Links
The latest creations by the finest automotive artists of our day are displayed annually at the Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS) Exhibition, located on the show field of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Pebble Beach Motoring Classic
Aug. 7-16
Location: Kirkland, Wash., to Pebble Beach
The Pebble Beach Motoring Classic is the ultimate road trip for enthusiasts with automobiles that have more than a dash of elegance. The Motoring Classic begins near Seattle on Aug. 7 and covers approximately 1,500 miles as it winds through the mountains and along the coast of the Pacific Northwest on its way to the ultimate auto destination — the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Participants are expected to arrive Aug. 16.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Aug. 17-19, time to be announced
Location: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas, Calif.
www.mazdaraceway.com
831-242-8201
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a celebration of motorsports history that reunites authentic race cars with a world-class road racing track, allowing race fans to witness motor racing as it once was. (See related story.)

The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering
Aug. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Quail Lodge Golf Club
www.quaillodgeevents.com
831-620 8887
The Quail is a motorsports gathering on the Quail Lodge Golf Club that highlights both vintage sporting automobiles and exceptional cuisine. Tickets are extremely difficult to obtain.

Concorso Italiano
Aug. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Laguna Seca Golf Ranch
www.concorso.com
425-742-0632
Concorso Italiano is a celebration of Italian style embracing cultural elements such as cars, music, food and fashion. This year, the event will feature the 55th anniversary of the Fiat 500, as well as the usual sprinkling of Ferraris and other Italian works of automotive art.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours
Aug. 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Ocean Avenue, Carmel-By-The-Sea
404-237-2633
Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue is an annual event featuring a variety of vehicles including luxury cars, muscle cars, hot rods and sporting cars on Ocean Avenue, in the heart of downtown Carmel. This year, Porsche and Ferrari will be featured.

Automobilia Monterey
Aug. 14-15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Ballroom of the Embassy Suites
www.automobiliamonterey.com
831-659-1551
An automobilia show held in the ballroom of the Embassy Suites hotel off Highway 1.

Concours d’LeMons
Aug. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Toro Regional Park, 501 Monterey, Salinas
www.concoursdlemons.com
916-207-4645
This offbeat car event celebrates the oddball and mundane — and “awful” — vehicles of the automotive world.

HMSA Monterey Pre-Reunion
Aug. 11-12, time to be announced
Location: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas
www.hmsausa.com
818-249-3515
The Historic Motor Sports Association events feature historic production cars built through 1966 and purpose-built Formula, Sports Racing and IMSA cars built through 1984. (See related story.)

AUCTIONS

For additional details regarding the August Monterey-area auctions, click on their websites.

RM Auctions
Aug. 15-16, 10 a.m. (preview)
Aug. 17-18, 6:30 p.m. (auction)
Location: The Portola Plaza Hotel, Monterey
www.rmauctions.com
519-352-4575

Russo & Steele Auction
Aug. 15-18, 10 a.m. (preview)
Aug. 16-18, 5 p.m. (auction)
Location: On the Waterfront of downtown Monterey, Calif., by Fisherman’s Wharf at 290 Figueroa Street
www.russoandsteele.com
602-252-2697

Mecum Auctions
Aug. 16-18, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, Monterey
www.mecumauction.com
815-568-8888

Bonhams & Butterfields Auction
Aug. 16-17
Location: Quail Lodge grounds, Carmel, Calif.
www.bonhams.com

MidAmerica Motorcycle Marketplace
Aug. 17-19
Location: Adjacent to main Pebble Beach Concours pedestrian entrance
www.midamericaauctions.com
651-633-9655/800-473-2324

Gooding & Co. auction
Aug. 18-19
Location: Pebble Beach Equestrian Center
www.goodingco.com
310-899-1960