What I Saw/Heard and Think

It wasn't a problem finding a parking spot for your Private Jet.
If you wanted to buy a Private Hanger for your Jet that wasn't a problem either.
If you needed a Hotel Room that wasn't an issue.
If you wanted 10 homes on 17 Mile Drive that could happen.
If you wanted Lox and Caviar at the Breakfast Buffet you were out of luck.
If you wanted AC between 2am and 6am you weren't getting any.
Parking wasn't a problem.
Getting into restaurants wasn't an issue.
Buying designer shoes at 50% off could be very easily done.
If you wanted a great car you could save 35% YOY.
If you wanted a good car you could save 45% YOY.
If you wanted a new Lambo or a Veyron from a Bank at a very nice price they could accommodate you.
If you wanted a new 16M it wasn't a problem.
The new RR Ghost believed that less is more. (I kinda of liked it)
Quail was wonderful.
Two other events on the same day is a idea I don't understand.
A Charity Event that had 1000 people last year had 250 this year.
There were some wonderful cars to see.
An owner of several huge cars put $15 of gas into one of them.
I was offered MANY Huge Vintage Ferraris. Some at silly prices some much more reasonably.
I saw pieces of History Destroyed by restorations.
There were fewer Homeless Teenage Tweekers but finding an Anorexic Blond Coke Head in Pucci Dress wasn't a problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4SrIooY_58

 

So what did you do with the blond in the Pucci when you found her?

 

Jim,

Thanks for summarising your impressions for those who couldn't attend

From what I read a lot of sellers still have their heads in the clouds, if the number of N/S is anything to go by.

This economy isn't going to make the blonde less anorexic either!

 

Gently stepped back so that she was no longer pressing her breasts into my arm, scooped up some Eggs Benedict and went back to sit with my wife...

 

Hi Jim,

well I only see a small yellow car on your link, where is the silicon hoetsie poetsie?

ciao
Oscar

 

Jim,

Of the Huge vintage Ferraris were any of them surprising; one's that had been assumed to have permanent homes? Were any of these being ones that were offered at "friendly" numbers? Any of them tempting to you?

Jeff

 

Surprising? Yes.
Friendly numbers? Getting closer to them.
Yes, but I'm not in a rush and I think the prices have a ways to go on the downside.

 

Hhmmm....

Smaller crowds at top events, great cars in the collection, breakfast with the wife.....

All good!

Charity events suffering, not so good......

Thanks for the observations Jim!

 

Damn. I *knew* this was the year to go.....

 

I thought they let way too many people into Pebble Beach Concours, and those people holding signs to win a free car walking around was a bad idea. The Quail is expensive but a much nicer show all around.

 

That raffle badgering was strange at Pebble.

 

I thought so too, but since this was my first time there, I assumed this was traditional. Was that something new??

Thanks for filling in some blanks on the stuff I didn't get to check out or observe. Too bad I didn't run into you either. Oh well, I still had a good time .

 

There seemed to be more of it this year.

 

Gram Parson's gf is still there?

Thanks for your impressions, interesting as always.......

 

We'll go NEXT year then, it'll be even more desperate.......

I'll have to tune something.......

 

It's a deal.

 

Thanks for the commentary!

Everything you note was expected, save for the part about History being destroyed by (presumed botched) restorations. That I don't understand.

Did people just run out of money and rush the jobs?

 

I would assume that historically significant racecars were probably restored at all or over-restored?

 

Yes. Patina obliterated, incorrect parts used, over restored.

 

Ahhh, "investors" at work instead of true enthusiasts. Pity.

 

No ethnic food at breakfast?
What has this world come to?
Thanks for the comments.

 

Thanks, Napolis. That is the absolute best summery of the event that I have read.
It's a real shame about the "over-restored" cars. Better to leave them as-is, with their character and dignity intact...

 

Well said, though I would add:

If you wanted to find a cool breeze at Laguna Seca, that was not a problem. (finally!)
If you wanted to find a really cool PF designed Nash-Rambler at Pebble, that was not a problem.
If you wanted to find a clean, working bathroom at Pebble, that was a BIG problem.
If you wanted to find and talk to Napolis, that no problem at all...

 

That Palm Beach Nash was wonderful!

Cheers