monterey 09

I cannot agree with you more. One of the things about Monterey is all the action. Whether it is the auctions, the concours,the races, the car shows and all the other events with different car clubs. If you think you are an automobile afficienado and can't find something you like in Monterey that week in August, something is drastically missing in you life. As far as CI goes,it is gone. I know both Kerry and Jerry kaye and I have had a lot of years attending both the Pocono and Monterey events. I liked the former owner of CI and supported his event from day one. The event Jerry is involved with at Pocono is one of the best run events anywhere and for those of you who know me, It will be a pleasure and an honor for me to support an event with real car guys. See you at Blackhorse.

 

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I think it's probably more accurate to say that the Pebble Beach Concours remains the granddaddy event of the weekend, around which everything else is based. These other shows will come and go, or morph into something else. New shows will arise, as did last year, and old shows will die, as CI appears to be doing. Change is good, it keeps the weekend fresh. The only certainty is that it'll cost you $400 a night to stay at a 3rd rate hotel downtown, with a 3-night minimum stay.

 

I don't mean to be argumentative either, but I would say The Pebble Beach Races (later moved to Laguna Seca ) is the birthplace and from this Pebble Beach was born. IMO the Pebble Beach event has more provinance than the Laguna Seca historics. Isn't it great that it's in our backyard!

When I start to get fustrated with the costs I think about all the airfare, rental cars and transport costs others pay to come and enjoy the weekend.

 

I heard from those in the know that Pebble started as the f1 guys meeting there and driving around the area to race and picnic. Maybe true, but I am not one to argue. I like the entire peninsula during that time of year (granted I never went to CI).

 

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is and will always be the granddaddy of events, done with the utmost class, and always fresh new features for spectators. Yes, they use to race through the Cypress trees on the pensula long before the track at Laguna Seca, the old photos are incredible, I'll try to post some tomorrow, I have a lot because I collect them but need to scan them and unsure if I have permission, I'll check.

I don't think any events are going away. The Monterey Car Week has evolved from a race and a concours to more than four classic car auctions, five concours or related car shows, two automobilia shows, races, several rallies coming from all directions and a whole slew of private parties. There's something for everyone. The whole thing is Coke and Pepsi. You can chose whichever one you like and both have their own unique attributes. Some like milk, other's like water. That's the beauty in life, we all have choices. I just think it's exciting that tens of thousands of classic car, exotic car and vintage car enthusiasts make the effort to journey to Monterey each year, it says something for the power of this realm, and it's ecumenical. People come from Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Australia, Canda, Japan, China and more. Not too many other events held around the world attract that kind of loyalty or offer this much diversity. Since the age of 17, I've dreamed of one day being able to drive to Monterey Car Week in my own little Italian sports car, and someday I will.

 

It's becoming more and more popular for people to stay out in Seaside to save on expensive accommodations since most agree they are "rarely" in their hotel/motel except to crash and shower. The 7 or 8 miles extra you drive in to town isn't anything compared to the blocks of congestion as you approach town, that can take more than an hour to get through. I vote for staying outta town. If I want to stay near 17 Mile Drive or downtown Monterey, I can do that any other time during the year when there are less visitors and it's comfortable to stroll around and play tourist. I've been using www.resort2me.com for 16 years. No matter who tells you there's no room at the Inn, these guys will find something, even 24 hours in advance, they are that connected and have worked hard on the Car Week for years. They didn't have a Website back in the day, heck, people barely had personal computers yet! Now, it's even more convenient to use them. They usually get first notice on cancellations too if you want to stay somewhere elaborate that is booked.

 

Everyone will deliver great eventa this year. When an event left the Quail years ago, people were highly critical of the new location. The Quail was brilliant to keep an event going at the same venue, and now, that event sells out in a matter of hours once tickets go on sale.

Eventually, people became enamoured with the Black Horse site and called it home. I think that anyone putting on an event in Monterey knows there's a high level of expectation to be met by entrants, sponsors, vendors, the media and spectators. This will keep all event organizers (over one dozen events in one week) focused on delivering great things, and everyone will have a great time, no matter what their choices.

 

Kerry,I just check to see if you added the entry forms yet,and sure enough its there,I printed out my entry form and it'll be going in the mail soon,do I need to send pic's? And what time to we need to be there on Friday to place our cars?I didn't see anything like that,like what time to what time,opening and time you can leave,I'll see there Kerry, www.montereybayconcours.com www.ladolcevitamontereybay.com

 

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I think that I will remain on the sidelines for the fifth year in a row. I have no doubt that both competing events will have lots of bugs that will not have been worked out. I suspect that one, if not both may flop. Good luck to both and I hope all who attend have a great weekend.

 

David,

My sentiments exactly!

I can't imagine how the traffic will get in and out of there!

Here is a collage I had made after the 20th anniversary of CI. All the items were originals as provided by the original CI then.

Glad I did it as it represents an end to a great era for me.
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http://www.concorso.com/broadcasts/LamLetter.jpg

-mick

 

Both the Lamborghini Club of America and the Ferrari Club of America will be joining the Concorso this year
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I agree...sounds like everything is starting to go in the right direction again with the new owners. I'll be there this year

 

I think there will always be room for a mass-market event like Concorso, and I'm actually happy to see that they appear to have brought it off life support. I think there is still room for an event which caters to the older cars (other than Quail, which is in yet another category altogether), so I can see both La Dolce Vita and Concorso establishing themselves as great shows to attend. For owners of cars pre-dating 1975 or so, the attendance of Lamborghini Club and/or Ferrari club is pretty much irrelevant, as those clubs lean towards owners of newer cars.

 

I will probably be going to Concorso if everything goes right.

 

I wish they would move one of the events to Thursday so I could do both

 

I welcome the deathmatch between Concorso and Dolce. Competition will bring out the best in one or both. It's game on. If I hear good things after this year, I might return after a six year hiatus. To keep things in perspective, the vast majority of exotic car owners in CA do not attend the Monterey festivities.

 

My understanding of FCA's involvement in CI is that it will provide support but there will be no class judging as has been the case in past CI's. But I suppose that could change. It is still a long time until August comes around.

 

really,no judging,can I put a for sale sign my car instead?

 

What! You want to sell your F-Car?

 

with construction that came to a halt and unemployment now for over three months,savings disapearing,It looks like I might have too,I can't live in it,and if the right time come around again I'll get another one,but it will never be as good as this one but thats ok,I been enjoying the ownership

 

I hear ya bro. Sold the 308 last Nov and hoping to hang on to the 348. So far so good, but for how long?

Construction here is picking up slightly but no where near previous years.

 

That bites! If I had somewhere to to park it, I would be very interested! But for now, I'll have to wait until I get out of this house before I can really get one.