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09-07-2008, 11:24 AM
http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=770469
(http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=770469)Pomp and prestige at Pebble Beach
David Grainger, National Post Published: Friday, September 05, 2008
http://www.nationalpost.com/story-printer.html?size=194x131
MONTEREY, Calif. - Each year, automobile aficionados make a pilgrimage to what is unquestionably the greatest series of car shows in the world.
These shows occur on the Monterey Peninsula in central California in the third week of August. For a full seven days, the cities of Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove and the private reserve of Pebble Beach resonate with the strident wail of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, vintage Bugattis, Rolls-Royces, Delages, Hispano-Suizas and a host of the world's greatest and most expensive automobiles.
For the most devout enthusiasts, there is a Concours d'Elegance held on Monday and Tuesday in Carmel, an event I have yet to attend. While I have heard that this event was quite successful, it may just be gilding the lily.
My personal favourite kickoff event -- and the one that is the most recognized as the beginning of this great automotive indulgence -- is Gordon McCall's soiree at the Monterey Jet Center. My other favourite event is the show held at the Quail Lodge, which is, incidentally, also hosted by McCall.
These two events are truly must-attends for those savvy enough to buy tickets early to avoid the disappointment of being told they are both sold out, and they do sell out very quickly.
The Jet Center show is held in a spacious hangar where music, fast cars, vintage wines and gourmet foods jostle for one's attention. The very few sponsor booths that one can find are organized by companies such as Breitling watches and Infiniti and they are in the best of taste in keeping with the rest of the event.
This immense cocktail party is a great opportunity for those who are connected to refresh those connections or for those who aren't to make some. If hobnobbing isn't your thing, there are still plenty of other events to keep you entertained.
The assortment of cars ranges from truly historical racing greats to the latest prototypes. Once you are finished with those, you can wander around, under and even inside a great assortment of vintage aircraft including Second World War fighters and trainers and even a beautiful Grumman flying boat from the 1930s.
Getting bored? No chance. Spend the next hour or so leading the lifestyle of the mega-rich by browsing through an assortment of the finest luxury and business jets in the world. You can sit and drink expensive wines in high style. It is literally high style, as you examine the furnishing options and even the cockpits of aircraft made by Bombardier, Hawker Siddeley Beechcraft, Embraer and Dassault.
I almost bought the little six-passenger Beechcraft jet. Actually, I just thought about it. It was more of a fantasy and perhaps even a delusion, but the very low-key and personable salesman really thought I was a contender. Or maybe he was just being kind.
My favourite vehicle of any sort at the show was the Aptera, a car that I have already tried to buy but was turned down because I don't live in California.
The Aptera is deserving of its very own column, which I will pen shortly, but McCall's party allowed me to whine at the company's chairman, Bob Kavner, who is a really great chap and is also one of the company's chief engineers. I have his card and I'm going to call.
The only trouble I saw with the car was the tight-fitting wheel covers that would pack up with frozen slush during winter driving. When I mentioned it, Kavner became a little bit pale and said that, if they had to remove the covers over the wheels, it would reduce the fuel efficiency by a full 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Drat. That wrecks it. With only 1.1 L/100 km, I can't possibly afford one with fuel prices the way they are.
david@guildclassiccars.com
(http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=770469)
(http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=770469)Pomp and prestige at Pebble Beach
David Grainger, National Post Published: Friday, September 05, 2008
http://www.nationalpost.com/story-printer.html?size=194x131
MONTEREY, Calif. - Each year, automobile aficionados make a pilgrimage to what is unquestionably the greatest series of car shows in the world.
These shows occur on the Monterey Peninsula in central California in the third week of August. For a full seven days, the cities of Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove and the private reserve of Pebble Beach resonate with the strident wail of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, vintage Bugattis, Rolls-Royces, Delages, Hispano-Suizas and a host of the world's greatest and most expensive automobiles.
For the most devout enthusiasts, there is a Concours d'Elegance held on Monday and Tuesday in Carmel, an event I have yet to attend. While I have heard that this event was quite successful, it may just be gilding the lily.
My personal favourite kickoff event -- and the one that is the most recognized as the beginning of this great automotive indulgence -- is Gordon McCall's soiree at the Monterey Jet Center. My other favourite event is the show held at the Quail Lodge, which is, incidentally, also hosted by McCall.
These two events are truly must-attends for those savvy enough to buy tickets early to avoid the disappointment of being told they are both sold out, and they do sell out very quickly.
The Jet Center show is held in a spacious hangar where music, fast cars, vintage wines and gourmet foods jostle for one's attention. The very few sponsor booths that one can find are organized by companies such as Breitling watches and Infiniti and they are in the best of taste in keeping with the rest of the event.
This immense cocktail party is a great opportunity for those who are connected to refresh those connections or for those who aren't to make some. If hobnobbing isn't your thing, there are still plenty of other events to keep you entertained.
The assortment of cars ranges from truly historical racing greats to the latest prototypes. Once you are finished with those, you can wander around, under and even inside a great assortment of vintage aircraft including Second World War fighters and trainers and even a beautiful Grumman flying boat from the 1930s.
Getting bored? No chance. Spend the next hour or so leading the lifestyle of the mega-rich by browsing through an assortment of the finest luxury and business jets in the world. You can sit and drink expensive wines in high style. It is literally high style, as you examine the furnishing options and even the cockpits of aircraft made by Bombardier, Hawker Siddeley Beechcraft, Embraer and Dassault.
I almost bought the little six-passenger Beechcraft jet. Actually, I just thought about it. It was more of a fantasy and perhaps even a delusion, but the very low-key and personable salesman really thought I was a contender. Or maybe he was just being kind.
My favourite vehicle of any sort at the show was the Aptera, a car that I have already tried to buy but was turned down because I don't live in California.
The Aptera is deserving of its very own column, which I will pen shortly, but McCall's party allowed me to whine at the company's chairman, Bob Kavner, who is a really great chap and is also one of the company's chief engineers. I have his card and I'm going to call.
The only trouble I saw with the car was the tight-fitting wheel covers that would pack up with frozen slush during winter driving. When I mentioned it, Kavner became a little bit pale and said that, if they had to remove the covers over the wheels, it would reduce the fuel efficiency by a full 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Drat. That wrecks it. With only 1.1 L/100 km, I can't possibly afford one with fuel prices the way they are.
david@guildclassiccars.com
(http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=770469)