Monterey, 15th of August
On day three of the Monterey Car Week (as Monday was a day
off) the main event, the Concours d´Elegance saw it´s Tour
d´Elegance. Once invented to show that the cars could actually
drive more than just from the trailer to the field and the ramp the
tour became one of the highlights of the car week. This is the first
possibility to see many of the participating cars on the road and
for those who did not get a ticket for the concours on Sunday the
only chance to have a look at some of the most exciting cars in
the world.
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Early in the morning the participating cars were lined up in front of
the Gooding Auction tent in two groups (compared to three in
previous years) to take a new route up to Laguna Seca where
they had the possibility to compete the famous corkscrew in a
demonstration lap. The route led further over the nearby hilltop to
enter the Carmel valley to highway 1 south direction the turning
point at Big Sur. Three years after a landslide just before Brixby
Bridge there was still construction work on the road with a single
lane passage resulting in a massive traffic jam in front of the red
lights. Started 30 minutes apart the two groups were mixed up
after this section and cars were coming both directions on their
way. Finally most of the cars (except more than a dozen broken
down) reached Carmel-by -the-Sea for the lunch break were
thousands of spectators took the opportunity to inspect the cars
in detail. For all those who wanted to avoid the crowds in the
historic city centre this was the opportunity to head over to
Bonhams at the Quail Lodge to visit the preview of the auction on
Friday. After a rather weak year 2012 the auction of the traditional
British auction house is getting back to old strength with several
high class lots including the wonderful Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale
Berlinetta, a Bugatti T35 Grand Prix and one of three original
Blower Bentley built to Le Mans specification to the request of
their first owner. Being the first auction of the three competing
houses Bonhams, RM and Gooding tomorrow’s sale will give the
direction of the market during this weekend in Monterey where
several auction records are expected.
After the visit of Bonhams one had the possibility to get another
look at the Tour when entering the 17-miles drive through the
Carmel gate on the way back to the Lodge.
Again the field included several special cars including a couple of
Hispano-Suiza that are expected to be contenders for the Best of
Show award, again a great class of Ferrari plus more than 2
dozen Alfa Romeo 8C that will be displayed at Pebble before they
will be on an exclusive Tour on Monday.
Finally the day ended with a short trip back to the Quail to have a
look what was already set up for tomorrows Motorsport Gathering.
Amongst the classes to be seen there are special displays for the
Centenary of Aston Martin and the golden jubilee of Lamborghini.
The work of Pete Brock is also honoured including one of the very
rare Shelby Cobra Daytona.
Beside the Quail Motorsport Gathering Friday will see the
Concorso Italiano at the Laguna Seca Golf Course and the
auctions of Bonhams and RM so this will be again an action
packed day of the best car week of the season.
Report & images … Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
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