Monterey, Wednesday 17th of August

Wednesday is the day for the auction previews before the cars go over the block at the weekend. The day started with a visit at RM Auctions in center Monterey at the Portola Hotel just to find out that there was a delay with the deliverance of the cars so at the beginning of the viewing just a part of the lots were set up already. During all the day cars were brought in their final position in the preview space behind the hotel as the main lots were set up in the hotel itself. This years auction will feature a wonderful selection of supercharged Mercedes-Benz of the 8-cylinder era with no less than 3 special roadsters, a cabriolet A and an even rarer special coupé. These gems were set up in the ballroom on the carpet. The other important group of Ferrari were displayed at the lobby of the hotel. The RM auction will be at Friday and Saturday.

After looking around in the outer display the next visit was at Gooding&Company in the Pebble Beach grounds with a not less impressive line-up. Star lot of the auction is the Ferrari 250 TR Prototype that is expected to set the highest price of the weekend if not even the all time auction record. Another star lot is a supercharged Mercedes as well but this time from the previous 6-cylinder period with the engine designed by Ferdinand Porsche. The Gooding Auction is the official Pebble Beach auction and will take place on Saturday and Sunday after the concours.
After the previews of the 2 biggest auctions the next stop was Laguna Seca were the annual group shot of the featured marque was done, this year Jaguar. Several racing E-Types celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, XKs and Racing C- and D-Types were joined by their younger cousins of the XJR era. This years shot was done again under the bridge after turn 3 instead of the last years set-up on the start-finish straight.

The day ended at the McCall Jet Center Party at the Monterey airport. The social part of the week brings together collectors, visitors of the car week and the wealthy of the area to enjoy some food and wine in a relaxed atmosphere between classic cars, jets and new supercars.

Tomorrow will see the Pebble Beach Tour were many of the entered cars of Sundays concours could be seen for the first time on the road by the public.

Text&Images Peter Singhof www.ClassicCarPhotography.de