Franz-Peter Hudek Pebble Beach and more
August 28, 2012
N och four other events besides the Pebble Beach Concours make the trip to the Pacific coast a worthwhile undertaking. Franz-Peter Hudek looked around and visited The Quail, the Concorso Italiano, The Tour of LeMons and the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the Laguna Seca circuit.
Friday, August 17, 10:00 Uhr, Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
This 'get-together of motorsports' shows classics in a colorful mix with modern luxury cars on a large golf course surrounded by restaurant and automobile exhibition tents and sports cars. Of course, only vehicles from the well-known premium brands that compete in a concours competition in certain categories. Quality food and drinks, which are included in the entrance fee ($ 450 per person), play an important role. By and large, the event is dominated by European luxury brands, some of which were also represented by the factory for the 10th anniversary of The Quail. More information at www.quaillodgeevents.com.
Friday, 17 August, 2:30 pm, Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey, Concorso Italiano
The summit for drivers of Italian cars from Fiat 500 to Ferrari F50. Here, too, there is an award for vehicles according to certain criteria. There are well over 700 cars and their owners on site, who pursue the Dolce Vita with more or less effort. Accordingly, there is also fashion and culinary delights to discover. The visitor entrance fee: a staggering 175 dollars per person. More at www.concorso.com .
Saturday, August 18, 10:00 a.m., 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside, Tour of LeMons
The best news at the beginning: Admission is free. Or, to be more precise: the access, because the whole thing takes place in a public park area. Around 50 cars meet here that are mistaken for lemons by their owners. This also includes beautifully restored classic cars that weren't exactly a market hit. Of course there is an award here too. In an original way, the participants are also the judges and each receive a voting slipthe five assessment categories such as 'Identical Twin' (car and driver go together) or 'Gre-Nader' (the most dangerous car). More at www.hagerty.com/monterey/Tours .
Saturday, August 18th, 1 p.m., Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas, Monterey Motorsports Reunion
For me the real highlight, especially because of the many American racing cars that we otherwise never see in Europe : the pony cars of the Trans Am series and of course the NASCAR racers. In addition, I already knew the racetrack from a PC racing game I played at home (!), But reality beats everything. Above all, the difference in height with the fast ascent to the Corkscrew with the treacherous left bend of Turn 6 is gigantic. there are also real tire stacks and gravel beds. So the slope isn't just painted on. Driving mistakes are severely punished.
