Events
Life’s a beach: A brief look at this year’s Pebble Beach
The 69th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance gets bigger and better each year. The event encompasses many different events through the week in over fifty different venues, leading to the Concours d’Elegance. Auctions during the week included those organized by Gooding & Company, Bonham’s Auctions, RM, Sotheby’s and Mecum Auctions This gives collectors the chance to purchase a new vehicle for their collections and get a good idea of what different vehicles are worth. One thing to keep in mind is finding a good hotel; it’s just about impossible, unless you book way ahead or know someone in the business.
Events during the week included the Werks Reunion Monterey – a Porsche Automotive Gathering; Rolex Monterey Motorsports Gathering; Barnyard Ferrari Event; Italian Stampede and the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex. With so much to see, if you are a car buff it is a must on your bucket list.
Another event, the Legends of Auto Gala sponsored by Mecum Auctions and Auto Global News, was held at the Embassy Suites hotel in Seaside. This event pays homage to individuals in the car industry who have been a part of the vintage car history, as well as items for new vehicles. Here are a few of the automotive legends inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame: George Barris, King of the Kustomizers; Bert and Beau Boeckmann of Galpin Ford; Corky Coker of Coker Tire; Lyn St. James, driver and commentator; Indy winner Parnelli Jones; Barry Meguiar, and – of course – many others.
Jay Leno, who auctions off special tours of his car collection museum in Burbank CA, raised over $100K for the Boys and Girls Club, while the Pebble Beach 2019 Charitable Donations surpassed $2 million this year. Best of Show was a 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Touring, owned by The Hon. Michael Kadoorie of Hong Kong. Best of Show nominees included a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Cabriolet, 1936 Mercedes Benz 540K Erdmann & Rossi Special Cabriolet and a 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Coupe. With over 31 Special awards and 84 other entries there is – literally – something for everyone.
Next year the Concours will take place on August 16th, celebrating 70 years of Pebble Beach Concours Best of Show winners, coachbuilder Pininfarina and Porsche’s iconic 917. For more detailed information and a video of the winner’s presentation visit the website www.pebblebeachconcours.net.
