15 replies to this topic

[Wirra]

I have been given a 7 day leave pass in August and thought I might attend some of the Auto Week activities including the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca and the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance.

Just wondering if anyone has done this and could offer some tips on any other activities (motorsport orientated!) I should take in, or where to go in particular on this quick trip. Also, are there any other Aussies planning to attend? Thanks.

http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

http://www.sportscar...eatures-can-am/

Edited by Wirra, 26 May 2011 - 01:54.

[RA Historian]

Have a great time and enjoy the experience. But be sure to bring money.

Plenty of money...

Lots of money...

[Loren Lundberg]

Have a great time and enjoy the experience. But be sure to bring money.

Plenty of money...

Lots of money...

Accept the fact that it is physically impossible, even with a jet helicopter and unlimited landing rights, to "do it all". But I would set aside EARLY Sunday AM for Pebble Beach - for me, the Best Of The Show is the awakening of the cars to be shown in the (probably) early morning fog and capturing their rumble from their giant rolling palaces (trailers) for their trek around the buildings to the Show Ground. Possibly also the only time that you can get a good photo before the cars are obscured by human bodies.
You HAVE to spend time at Laguna, and do it on the move, NOT from a grandstand seat - hike up the mountain to the "corkscrew" is mandatory. Questions in the pits seem to be welcomed by almost everyone. Photo Opportunities abound.
Auctions are auctions - read about them.

[bobLee]

Book your hotel now!

I have been give a leave pass in August and thought I might attend some of the Auto Week activities including the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca and the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance.

Just wondering if anyone has done this and could offer some tips on any other activities (motorsport orientated!) I should take in, or where to go in particular on this quick trip. Also, are there any other Aussies planning to attend? Thanks.

http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

http://www.sportscar...eatures-can-am/

If you don't have a room booked do it now. When Monterey fills up there are still good hotel deals in Salinas. Get your tickets for the Historic races in advance if possible. You don't want to be in line in a.m. trying to by tickets on the entry roads. Last year there was a screw up on the main entrance off of Highway 68 and people were not told their were no tickets for sale and got in line only to be turned away after a long wait. The ticket sales were available on the other access roads.

[David Birchall]

Accept the fact that it is physically impossible, even with a jet helicopter and unlimited landing rights, to "do it all". But I would set aside EARLY Sunday AM for Pebble Beach - for me, the Best Of The Show is the awakening of the cars to be shown in the (probably) early morning fog and capturing their rumble from their giant rolling palaces (trailers) for their trek around the buildings to the Show Ground. Possibly also the only time that you can get a good photo before the cars are obscured by human bodies.
You HAVE to spend time at Laguna, and do it on the move, NOT from a grandstand seat - hike up the mountain to the "corkscrew" is mandatory. Questions in the pits seem to be welcomed by almost everyone. Photo Opportunities abound.
Auctions are auctions - read about them.

Absolutely agree with all points. It is a great weekend but it is seen as an opportunity for the locals to make a LOT of money. There are cars there that you will see nowhere else, in settings that are spectacular. If you can, get an "inside line" by being part of somebodies support crew. ANYBODY OFFERING? Pebble Beach is worth seeing at least once, if only for the excess... Have fun.

[buckaluck]

Yes bring lots of money as tickets for Pebble Beach are really up there. If you go to Laguna on Friday you will get to see all the groups
practice. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is cool go early AM and you can make it back to Laguna for the races in the afternoon, it's not automotive but is fun.
And yes hurry and book your room. I live in the San Francisco Bay area and didn't want to drive back just to drive down the next day and one year I had to go all the way to Gilroy about half way home to be able to find a room.

Buck

[Wirra]

Many thanks for the info so far.

To get this leave pass I had to send the other half to Italy for two weeks last year so it has already cost me 'an arm' and I'm just regarding this as 'the leg'.

I'm finding the Salina hotels' reviews rather disconcerting, are people just nit-pickers or should I really be super careful?

Should I drive to Pebble Beach or use public transport - what is the parking like?

[Marc Sproule]

I live in Santa Cruz, about an hour from Laguna, and my recommendation is to consider the Red Roof Inn in Watsonville. It's right next to Highway 1 and is maybe 30 minutes from Highway 218, the back way into the circuit that I always take.

My recommendation is to go to the historics on Sat. and then Pebble Beach on Sun.

One of my neighbors races a Lotus 11 and I'm sure he'd be glad to chat with you if you look him up. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to go this year, but if I'm there I'll be glad to meet up with you and give you pointers about Laguna. I went to my first race there in '64 or '65 so I've logged a lot of time there.

If you're going to have some time to explore the area north of Monterey send me a pm and I'll be glad to give you some tips.

Like those above said, be prepared to spend plenty of money and make sure you bring layers of clothes. It can be blistering hot one minute and socked in with fog the next.

Edited by Marc Sproule, 26 May 2011 - 04:41.

[raceannouncer2003]

As for accomodations, depends on your taste, but we generally stay in a Motel 6 in Salinas.

A few things we like to attend:

The photo shoot of the featured cars at the track. There is one every year. It has been on the Thursday, but it was on the Wednesday last year (Gurney's cars). Jaguar this year...looks like practice starts on the Friday this year, so the shoot should be on the Thursday?

The Pebble Beach Tour...also on the Thursday. Many of the Pebble Beach cars are in this. They stop in Carmel for lunch for two hours, so you can see the cars close up, for free! Here is the link:

http://www.pebblebea.....ur_d'elegance

As for the auctions, we like wander around the RM, and Russo and Steele, auctions on the Friday and Saturday nights. You don't have to pay and go in to either auction, there is lots to see and hear without doing that. And the featured cars are on display on the days leading up to the auctions.

Vince H.

[brucemoxon]

Peter, you should be able to get press photographer accreditation. That's a free ticket and access to good picture places.

Let me know if you need a hand with that.




BM

[Mark Godfrey]

I suggest a room in Carmel (ideally with a full kitchen for convenient & cost-effective culinary fare). Contact Inns-By-The-Sea (a group of 8 hotels) to get a cancellation. http://www.innsbythesea.com/

For preferred parking at events; rent a Fiat 500, Jaguar, or a Mazda MX5 in Los Angeles (or San Francisco).

After attending the weekend 30 times I have a few tips to share, though no personal experience on mid-week, or pre-historic events, as I don't get to Monterey 'till early Thursday. But if you are near Seaside on Tuesday or Wednesday go to The Embassy Suites for Automobilia Monterey. http://www.automobil....com/index.html

As mentioned, get to Carmel on Thursday to see the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance. Expect a Large crowd when the tour stops downtown at the park at Noon. Preview the Gooding & Company auctions at Pebble Beach, also look for a Mercedes exhibit near the Palmerro Way entrance. Go to the Quail Lodge Golf Club, Carmel Valley to see the Bonhams auction preview including the BMW M1 Pro Car painted by Frank Stella http://www.bonhams.com Adjacent Quail is the popular Baja Cantina http://www.carmelval...a.com/baja.html

Friday is the Concorso Italiano, Laguna Seca Golf Ranch. If two people in your party, save on ticket price & get up front parking by registering the Fiat 500 as an "Italian Show Car" for $115, before May 31. https://secure.conco...dex.php/italian

Saturday, drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea through the Carmel Valley over the Laureles Grade to Laguna Seca Raceway. Park the Mazda or Jaguar in the corral parking area reserved in advance. In the evening, back in Carmel, go to the Hogs Breath Inn for drinks http://www.hogsbreathinn.net/

Sunday, arrive at Pebble Beach close to Dawn, get a cappuccino & watch the cars driving to the lawn. The Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS) exhibit opens at 10:30. See Horton's for books at the Pebble Beach RetroAuto (or go on Friday or Saturday). At 1pm I would join the far fewer spectators back at Laguna Seca. Stroll vendor row & see books from Wine Country MotorSports, David Bull, and Automobilia Collectibles. Get an ice cream from the Boy Scouts before they sell out. Consider staying for the awards about 5:30pm.

If driving to Los Angeles, take Highway 1 South, stop at Nepenthe Restaurant, Big Sur -- make sure you have the top down on the Mazda MX5. http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

Museums to consider include:
The Blackhawk Collection in Danville. One hour East of San Francisco Airport, Two hours North of Monterey. May have free admission on Monday after Pebble Beach. http://www.blackhawkcollection.com/

The Petersen Automotive Museum 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles http://www.petersen.org is 30 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport.

The Mullin Museum in Oxnard, http://www.mullinaut...nformation.html is about 1 hour North of Los Angeles. It is only open a few times per month, closest dates listed to Monterey are Wed, Aug 10, & Sat 27, 2011. The focus are Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hispano Suiza, Talbot-Lago and Voisin.

Send me a PM or email if you want any more info. (If you get media or photo credentials, I have advice on access gates, lessor known spots, media shuttles -- and food service.)

About 10 years ago I attended the weekend with a nice fellow from Australia who was thrilled with the relative bargains, and now the Australian dollar is at an all time high compared to the US dollar -- Enjoy!

Mark
Carpinteria, Calif.

[Ray Bell]

What's the good of all this, Peter?

There won't be a Vee to be seen!

[Wirra]

Mark et al. Wonderful, wonderful information, many thanks.

Looks like I will head for San Francisco rather than LA because of the relative proximity to Carmel. Unfortunately there are no direct flights so I have to go via LAX and some of the SF connecting flight times are poor - a minor inconvenience. I initially thought I would just 'wing it' when I was there but it looks like I can start planning a fairly detailed intinerary.

Last time I saw a BMW ProCar they were doing what they were supposed to do. Here are Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet at Dijon-Prenois in 1979 - Yes, I was fortunate enough to be at the famous Villeneuve Arnoux French Grand Prix meeting. I was also at the Guggenheim a few years ago but didn't see the Frank Stella car there, pity, I might have been able to make some sense out of the place - a bit too 'out there' for an Arts philistine like myself.



Ray - I sense some envy in your post - I'll bring you back a T-shirt.

Edited by Wirra, 26 May 2011 - 22:22.

[David Birchall]

Wirra, you can fly into Monterey airport-probably not from Sidney though...

[Vettefinderjim]

Accept the fact that it is physically impossible, even with a jet helicopter and unlimited landing rights, to "do it all". But I would set aside EARLY Sunday AM for Pebble Beach - for me, the Best Of The Show is the awakening of the cars to be shown in the (probably) early morning fog and capturing their rumble from their giant rolling palaces (trailers) for their trek around the buildings to the Show Ground. Possibly also the only time that you can get a good photo before the cars are obscured by human bodies.
You HAVE to spend time at Laguna, and do it on the move, NOT from a grandstand seat - hike up the mountain to the "corkscrew" is mandatory. Questions in the pits seem to be welcomed by almost everyone. Photo Opportunities abound.
Auctions are auctions - read about them.

Loren is correct. I love to go to the track ALL DAY FRIDAY, as every group races. Saturday cars in the morning, and Sunday cars in the afternoon. At least you get a chance to see every car run. I love turn 4, the "Corkscrew", and the Gandstands at start finish is fun also.

The other shows are great also. Cost per day dicitates to plan ahead.

[Wirra]

...Auctions are auctions - read about them.

I'm beginning to think one in particular might be the highlight of the trip!

http://forums.autosp...howtopic=149777