Monterey Week 2017: Day-by-day event guide

It’s that time of year again. For seven days in August the population of the Monterey Peninsula explodes and it’s wall-to-wall, non-stop automotive action. So what shouldn't you miss?

Saturday 12 August - Sunday 13 August

Monterey Pre-Reunion, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

A great start to 10 days on the Peninsula. Over 300 cars will contest a variety of races prior to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, including those for 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA, GT, GTX, AAGT (Porsche 935s, Chevy Monzas etc) and 1955-1962 GT Cars (250 GT SWBs, Porsche 356 Speedsters and more). And all for 25 bucks a day with free parking and paddock access available for purchase on the gate.

See www.mazdaraceway.com

Tuesday 15 August

Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue

Taking place from 10:00 to 17:00, for 2017 the free-to-the-public event will award a variety of trophies for cars in three distinct classes: multi-marques 1940 to 1973, Porsche 1948 to 1989 and Ferrari 1947 to 1989. It’s always an eclectic mix of American Woodies, Shelby Mustangs, 1960s Ferraris, Porsches from Speedsters to 1973 RSs, and unusual and desirable machinery. Last year’s Best of Show was Mike and Jo Heffernan’s 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB.

See www.carmelconcours.com

Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16 August

Automobilia Monterey, Ballroom of The Embassy Suites, Canyon Del Rey, Seaside, CA 93955

Always a ‘must-do’, Tony Singer brings more than 40 international dealers of automobilia, posters, models and rare books together for a ‘Mini Rétromobile’, held just 20 minutes or so from Carmel, right on Highway 1 and with easy parking. It’s open for two days, from 10:00 to 18:00 on both. One thing’s for sure – you’ll buy something, and remember there are no reproductions, everything is original. Admission is $15.00 for one day or $20.00 for both days.

See www.automobiliamonterey.com

Wednesday 16 August

Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival, Monterey Jet Center, 300 Sky Park Drive, Monterey CA 93940

Now in its 26th year, Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival is the first of the week’s evening events, and there might still be time left to buy a VIP ticket. The party starts at 17:00, and for those who can stand the pace… goes on to 22:00, with gates closing to entry at 21:00. Expect to see a mix of new supercars, executive jets, WW2 warbirds, watches and designer jewellery, and many of the classics likely to be at auction, on the concours lawn or on The Track later that week.

See www.mccallevents.com

Thursday 17 August

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex

The police-escorted cavalcade of cars entered in Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is not mandatory for Concours entries. Some cars are just too extreme to drive on the road but, come Sunday, it’s normal that if two cars tie on points it will be the car that entered the Tour that gets the nod from the judges.

Last year, due to forest fires burning at the Ventana wilderness to the east of Big Sur, the organisers took the decision to reroute and shorten the Tour. For 2017, the traditional route of 17-Mile-Drive, Carmel Valley Road and Highway 1 down to the turnaround point at Ripplewood Resort and then back to Pebble Beach via lunch in Carmel will be reinstated.

The cars will line up on Portola Road (near to Gooding’s marquee at the Equestrian Center) for an eight o’clock start. Most view the Tour from a lay-by on Highway 1, but if you can find a parking slot (tricky!) the lunch stop in Carmel is fun.

See www.pebblebeachconcours.net

Pebble Beach RetroAuto™

Held from Thursday 17 August to Saturday 19 August, Pebble Beach’s highly rated automobilia event is held in the ballrooms of The Inn at Spanish Bay, 09:30 to 17:30. Entry is free.

See www.pebblebeachconcours.net

Friday 18 August

Bonhams auction, Quail Lodge. Auction at 11:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday). See www.bonhams.com

'The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering', Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley

The tickets are hot and if you haven’t got one now, well, it’s a case of going along to Bonhams and seeing what you’ve missed through the fence. A highlight is the lunchtime visit by police-escorted cars from the Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca – yes, even Lola T70s and GT40s… As part of the company’s 70th celebrations, expect to see some top-notch Ferraris.

See www.signatureevents.peninsula.com/en/motorsports/motorsports

RM Sotheby’s auction at the Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center. Auction at 18:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). See www.rmauctions.com

Gooding & Co auction at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, Pebble Beach. Auction at 18:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  See www.goodingco.com

Saturday 19 August

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, from 17 August to 20 August.

It’s hard packing it all in during Monterey Week but a visit to The Track is an essential part of the Pebble Beach experience. Think you’ve been there and done it all with historic racing? Have a look through the entry list: how does the idea of eight Porsche 935s and 934s, nine Shelby 350 GTs and a host of Cobras sound?  The 1981-1991 IMSA GTP race includes 11 Porsche 962s. No Trans-Am or Can-Am cars this year as they are a biennial feature – make sure you’re there in 2018.

We’d put this event alongside the Goodwood Revival, the Le Mans Classic and the Monaco Historics as one of the world’s very best historic race meetings. And as out-of-towners, we love watching the cars and grids you just don’t see this side of the Pond.

The usual routine is to go to Laguna Seca on the Saturday, leaving Friday for The Quail and Sunday for Pebble itself. Gooding’s new Saturday morning slot puts a spanner in the works but we’re sure you’ll work it out. There’s practice on Thursday and Friday, as well as top-notch racing on the Sunday, too. Many do the ‘Dawn Patrol’ at Pebble, then head back to The Track for some R&R.

Do check out the timetable and make your plans. It starts off chilly, then can get very, very hot – take plenty of layers, water and sun-block. We can’t wait – it’s a highlight of the week.

See www.mazdaraceway.com

Concorso Italiano®, Black Horse Golf Course in Monterey Bay, from 09:30 to 17:00.

A big event for those interested in all things Italian, be they cars from Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini, or food, fashion and wine. More of a modern car event and less ‘old school’ than others – gold chains, stilettos and cigars not always a prerequisite.

See www.concorso.com

Concours d'Lemons, Seaside City Hall, 440 Harcourt Ave, Seaside, 93955 CA. From 10:00 “until they throw us out…” Judging 10:00 - 11:00, Awards Ceremony 13:00 to 13:30.

Describing itself as “an ugly oil stain on the Pebble Beach Auto Week”, proudly showcasing “Hoopties, Rust Buckets, Misfits, Mistakes and the worst of the automotive world”, it’s the antidote to stuffiness and the best part is that the show is free for participants and spectators, “so you’ll get exactly what you pay for”. It does come recommended.

See www.concoursdlemons.com

RM Sotheby’s auction at the Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center. Auction at 18:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). See www.rmauctions.com

Gooding & Co auction at Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. Auction at 11:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).  See www.goodingco.com

Sunday 20 August

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The event that first set the Monterey Week ball rolling, for many the Fairway to Heaven. Winning at Pebble is the pinnacle of achievement on the concours field and we guarantee that the cars lined up on the famous 18th Fairway will be the best of their type in the world.

Will a post-War car ever win again after Jon Shirley’s 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupé scooped Best of Show in 2014? Who knows. In 2016 it was Richard Mattei’s sensuous 1936 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet that came out on top.

This year, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will feature the following marques and special classes: Isotta Fraschini; Castagna Coachwork; American Dream Cars of the 1960s; Ferrari Major Race Winners; Ferrari One-off Spéciales. There’s also a category for Significant Cars of India. Plus the usual classes for Duesenberg, Pre- and Post-War Preservation, Ferraris, American Classics, Antiques and many more.

The action starts early for the famous ‘Dawn Patrol’ for entrants. At 10:30 the Field is open to spectators, and the awards are presented from 13:30 onwards. It all finishes around 18:00 when Best of Show is announced.

See www.pebblebeachconcours.net

You can download a complete lotlist of all cars offered by Bonhams, Gooding & Co and RM Sotheby's sorted by make and model HERE.

Monterey Week 2017 auction schedule:

Mecum – sales Wednesday 16 August to Saturday 19 August. Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey, CA 93940. Gates open at 08:00. Auctions at 10:00 (16 August at 13:00). See www.mecum.com

Russo & Steele – sales Thursday 17 August to Saturday 19 August.  Downtown Monterey on the waterfront by Fisherman’s Wharf, 290 Figueroa Street, Monterey, CA 93940. Auctions at 17:00. See www.russoandsteele.com

Worldwide Auctioneers – sale Thursday 17 August. Pacific Golf Municipal Golf Links 77 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Auction at 17:00 (preview Tuesday and Wednesday). See www.worldwide-auctioneers.com

Bonhams – sale Friday 18 August. Quail Lodge, 8205 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923. Auction at 10:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday). See www.bonhams.com

RM Sotheby’s – sales Friday 18 August, Saturday 19 August. Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center, 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940. Auctions at 18:00 (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday). See www.rmauctions.com

Gooding & Co – sales Friday 18 August, Saturday 19 August. Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, Corner of Stevenson Drive and Portola Road, Pebble Beach CA 93953. Auctions at 18:00 Friday 18 August, 11:00 Saturday 19 August (preview Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  See www.goodingco.com