Monterey, 14th of August, 2013
Since the end of the Monterey Car Week in the third week of
August we have reported on various Concours and Auctions on
the Monterey Peninsula, one of our last reports is dedicated to
one of the few evening events, the McCall´s Motoworks Reunion,
a reception at the Jet Centre of the Monterey Airport. On
Wednesday the auction previews in the morning and the official
group shot of the Corvettes at the Laguna Seca race track in the
afternoon kept us busy before we headed to the Airport outside of
Monterey for the McCall party. When entering the car park one
was aware that this is one of the society must-be-there of the
area at this day as the visitors in line at the will call were very
decent clothed for a normal Wednesday evening, especially when
keeping in mind that normal evening outfit in this region is usual
very casual. Ladies in cocktail dresses and gentlemen in jacket
and tie were entering the event area in front of the hangar.
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Gordon McCall established this reception 22 years ago intended
for car guys made by car guys to meet during the car week in a
relaxed evening between some toys from the aviation and on four
wheels. Over the years the reception has permanently grown as
more and more luxury brands were keen to show their latest cars,
planes, watches and other products to a wealthy and interested
audience. Every year a variation of supercars could be seen in
front or inside the hangar from Bugatti, Pagani, Ferrari, Porsche
and others, private jets could be inspected on the runway with a
glass of champagne as good food and wine are also an important
part of the experience.
When looking over the apron one had the impression that the offer
was reduced this year as it usually takes more place on the
outside but a closer look showed that this was the first year the
reception span two full hangars so more space was given indoor
leaving more room for the visitors between the exhibits for the
typical reception chatting in small groups with a drink and some
finger food.
Main display in the first hangar was the booth of Aston Martin
celebrating their centenary. With some of their latest cars from
the current model range and a racing model of the Vantage the
company was very well presented. Just in front a very early car
from the Bertelli era, a 1928 short chassis T-Model showed were
the history of AM is coming from.
After several celebrations during the year the prestigious British
sports car manufacturer furthermore invited some good clients
and friends to a tour through the Napa Valley led by CEO Dr.
Ulrich Bez and arriving in a convoy this evening to round up their
display on the outside. Amongst the cars in the tour were two of
their latest supercars, the One-77 and the Vantage Zagato, both
of them surrounded by the public as soon as they entered the
field. The Vantage Zagato is the current version of the cooperation
between the Italian designer/coachbuilder and the British
manufacturer but it is not the latest project of the two. Just
opposite to the AM display Zagato showed two of their latest
creations prior to the delivery to their American customers. The
Aston Martin DB9 Zagato Volante Centennial made its US-debut
after it was first shown a few weeks earlier during the official
centenary celebration in Kensington Gardens. The second car
was a reconstruction of a Zagato Version of the Porsche 356
Speedster. This car was shown near completion already a few
months ago at the Unique Special Ones Concours in Florence but
just now the proud owner took delivery of the car. The Speedster
is a lighter and lower version compared to the original Porsche
design and situated somewhere between the Speedster and the
550 Spyder.
Although a newly reconstructed car this forged the bridge to the
classics on display with several Ferrari amongst others. Inside a
duo of 275 in open and closed form were joined by a yellow 250
GT Lusso on one side of the hangar whereas the winner of the
Carmel-by-the-Sea concours of the previous day, a Ferrari 375
MM (0362AM) was sitting on the other. From the same era was
the marvellous Fiat 8V with a one-off Vignale design in a stylish
two-tone metallic blue livery.
But the display did not just include Italian design as there was
some American metal present as well. Being featured at the
nearby raceway a Corvette could not be missed this evening and
the displayed 1975 Greenwood Corvette “Spirit of Sebring” was a
very special race version of the American Classic. A few years
older was the Ford GT40 MKIV Test Car (J-9) that was later seen
at the Quail Motorsport Gathering and that will be driven next
week at the Goodwood Revival Meeting were a special GT40 race
will be most likely the fastest race ever at the historic race track
in South Sussex.
Later that evening the Quail Rally arrived at the reception with
even more interesting cars including an Aston Martin DB4 GT
Zagato and the Blower Bentley owned by Bentley themselves.
This example of the rare supercharged 4 ½ Litre was once the
factory demonstrator car as it is now again beside the Birkin
Team car, that day it was driven by Richard Charlesworth , the
head of the VIP relations at Bentley Motors and presenter of the
Quail Concours. Unlike in previous years Bentley did not have an
own display but their partner Breitling again showed some gems
from their current watch collection. The cooperation of the watch
manufacturer and the car company is a good example for the
interaction of different luxury brands following the same concept
as the reception itself: giving the clients an entire experience of
different luxury accessories.
And just like the successful crossover of many of these brands is
showing that this is a very well working concept it certainly was
this evening in Monterey with a very colourful and interesting mix
well worth a visit.
Report & Images ... Peter Singhof
www.classiccarphotography.de
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