Driven World The Monterey Issue. Sept/Oct 2021

THE MONTEREY ISSUE

SEPT/OCT 2021

drivenworld ISSUE SEPT/OCT 2021 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dustin Troyan ART DIRECTOR Staff COPY EDITOR Heather Troyan DESIGN Connected Media Group CONTRIBUTORS Dustin Troyan Ken Latka Greg Grudt Mike Grudt

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ON THE COVER: Monterey Photo by Greg Grudt

Cars and Cigars with the TMPCC Article and Photos by: Ken Latka

Article and Photos by: Ken Latka The Television Motion Picture Car Club held their first Cars & Cigars event since the Covid-19 pandemic began at Lavaggio, The Art of Auto Detailing on Saturday August 14, 2021. Everyone was delighted to return to some sort of normal and catch up on what their fellow members have been up to.

The event was sponsored by the TMPCC and Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard, with food from Bellini Bistro, award winning wines and cigars, and of course plenty of classic and modern muscle, sports cars, exotics and other vehicles on display.

The TMPCC would like to thank David Delrahim, Dustin Troyan and Tony Fiori of Vista Ford Lincoln of Oxnard for their help and support with this year’s event.

For those of you unfamiliar with the TMPCC, they are an entertainment industry car club with members who work in the television, motion picture, music, radio, sports and motorsports industries. From producers and directors, to actors, television and radio personalities, camera operators, sound mixers, grips, editors, picture car suppliers, stunt, precision and professional race car drivers, even Studio Presidents, it truly is a club like no other. If you would like to learn more, or if you are interested in joining, visit their website at TMPCC. ORG

Cars and Cigars Continued

R A C R SUPE Y A D N SU S N R RETU

PORSCHE MARQUE DAY SUNDAY, NOV 7TH, 2021 PIERCE COLLEGE 7AM-10AM PRESENTED BY

PORSCHE WOODLAND HILLS Please observe all rules of the CDC and the State of California regarding Covid-19. Please practice social distancing.

Masks are required. Please do not attend if you do not feel well. Complimentary masks and sanitizer will be available.

For more info: Dustin@connectedmediagroup.com | @the_guy_in_the_orange_hat | @supercarsunday_official

supercarsunday.com

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Article by Mike Grudt and photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

The first Pebble Beach Road Races were held in 1950 in the Del Monte Forest and the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance was a last minute edition to add style to the event with a social gathering. It was an important event and new to the West Coast. Races continued each year until racer Ernie McAfee was killed in 1956 and the races were then halted since the tight tree-lined roads of the forest were too dangerous to race through. The following year Laguna Seca Raceway was built in the hills nearby and the races eventually evolved into the historic races we enjoy today.

T his year the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion ran from Thursday to Sunday of Monterey Car Week and it was the largest event held that week. There was even a pre-race reunion held on the weekend prior. The 550 entrants were honored to be chosen from over one thousand applicants who submitted their requests.

Ford was the featured marque at the event which was fitting since they were a big part of the start of Trans Am series which celebrated the 55th anniversary this year. There were static displays of many of the winning Ford vehicles through the years and the Ford Mustang was a huge part of the racing series. In addition to the Mustangs it was exciting to see the Pontiac Firebirds, Camaro Z/28s, AMC Javelins, Dodge Challengers and other vintage racers battle one another on the track. The sound of numerous American V-8 muscle cars racing around the track was music to my ears. There were also noted drivers Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Tommy Kendall, Dorsey Schroeder and others for interviews and question-answer sessions held at the event.

My son Greg and I usually schedule at least two half day visits to Laguna Seca into our busy Car Week Schedule. Monterey Car Week events are spread out over a large area of the peninsula and it is imperative to have an accurate schedule to make sure nothing is omitted. This year we made three visits to the track due to the numerous special events that were scheduled.

The first notable event was a static display of at least thirty-three examples of the very limited edition of 500 total Ferrari Monza SP1 (single seat) and SP2 (two seat) models. Each car sold for nearly $2M and they are now worth much more. There was a mix of the two models in so many different color combinations and stripe patterns that each vehicle was clearly unique. The cars do not have a roof and each one had a very small wind deflector for a windshield and they are not road legal in the United States. After we enjoyed viewing the cars the owners came to the parking area and each donned a helmet to prepare to hit the track. The cars ran a few “hot” laps and then staged on the Corkscrew for a group photo. I’m sure the majority of the vehicles will be tucked away in a climate controlled garage to appreciate in value, so seeing them that day was extra special for us.

Another scheduled event was the 50th Anniversary Rally to celebrate the Lamborghini Countach. There were at least twenty Countachs and a handful of special edition Diablos added to the mix we viewed in the paddock. The Countach Rally group even had a Lamborghini LM002 (Rambo Lambo) for their camera vehicle. The Lambos took to the track and ran a few laps with that amazing V-12 high pitched exhaust note that echoed through the hills surrounding the area.

The other notable scheduled event this year drew a lot of attention since it was such a rare occurrence. At least thirteen Pagani models graced the infield and also a bare carbon fiber Pagani Zonda R race car. A gathering that large comprised of this make was very exciting. The thirteen cars did some “parade” laps and looked and sounded amazing. Unfortunately the Zonda R didn’t make it out on the track, but the crew did fire it up and gave it some hard revs to the enjoyment of the small crowd in the area. It was another rare and memorable experience.

We visited the track again on Sunday afternoon to finish our Monterey Car Week exploits. We enjoyed some different classes compete and as the last racer took the checkered flag Greg and I made one final pass though the pits and then departed on our five hour journey home. We definitely stayed until the end and another Monterey Car Week came to a close. See you all next y

Pebble Beach Tour' Elegance Article by Mike Grudt and photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

One very special event held on Thursday during Car Week was the Pebble Beach Tour d’ Elegance. More than 150 Concours entrants participated in the drive which started in Pebble Beach, followed the 17-Mile Drive, continued down the California Coast on Highway One to Big Sur and returned to Pebble Beach. This was the first opportunity to view the Concours entrants and the only time the cars were actually driving. Most Concours entrants participated in this drive and if they completed the tour their vehicle would receive extra consideration in case of a tie in their class during judging.

We usually viewed this event when the cars returned on Thursday afternoon, but this year we decided to watch them depart in the morning.

We arrived early to make sure we had plenty of time to enjoy the vehicles.

The great thing about this event was the ability to view the cars closely while the owners were present to ask them questions. During Concours the vehicle owners aren’t always available and if they are present near their vehicles they are usually preoccupied or conversing with the judges.

Nearly every vehicle was rare or unique in some way and it was difficult to see them all in a short period of time. As we walked past the long lines of cars I spoke to one gentleman with a nearly 100 year old Packard.

His car was a beautiful silver color with bright red fenders and highlights, and a black cabriolet top with a rumble seat. I noticed a tiny picture smaller

than a postage stamp located at the center of the driver’s door near the top edge below the window. When I inquired he said it was a hand painted picture of his family coat-of-arms. It was so detailed for such a small picture I can’t imagine how fine the brush must have been to paint that. I could tell the owner was thrilled that I noticed this and he wasted no time talking about his car. I’m not a Packard expert, but I am much more knowledgeable now after our conversation.

I also spoke to the owner of one of my favorite classic cars, an Auburn Boattail Speedster. The car was immaculate and looked great for a nearly ninety-year-old vehicle. I believe the owner said the car was an 851 model from 1935, but he told me so much about the car I couldn’t remember everything he said. He was also a very passionate owner like every other person I spoke with at the event. There were so many great stories and obscure facts and details I learned from the car owners at the Tour.

A few of the vehicle owner’s and passengers dressed in period costumes while driving in this event which added a special element to the Tour. Some of the women wore fancy dresses and large hats and the men wore suits that were worn during the times their cars traveled our highways.

I even noticed a few old racecars where the driver and passenger donned old time helmets and goggles to set the tone.

The cars were scheduled to depart at 9:00 AM so as we got close to

the start time we relocated to the roadway to get a great view as they drove past. Just like clockwork at 9:00 AM (which was expected since the event was sponsored by Rolex) the cars departed behind a CHP motor escort past our vantage point. I always enjoy the different sounds and smells coming from vehicles up to 100 years old or older. It is so much different watching the cars in motion versus a static display. As the final vehicle drove past we packed up and departed for the next stop on our busy schedule.

Article by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt - @exoticcarfotos

McCall's Motorworks Revival Article by Mike Grudt and photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

McCall’s Motorworks Revival pulled out all of the stops for their 30th Anniversary Celebration held during Car Week at the Monterey Jet Center. It is rare for any event to be held for three decades, especially those in the car world. There were amazing cars, motorcycles, aircraft and displays by exclusive high end proprietors.

As we entered the event we were greeted by a mariachi band playing some traditional songs. We walked toward the large Jet Center Hanger and just outside we saw two Le Mans winning Ford GT40s (gold #5 and light blue #1) and new models of the Ford GT adorned in similar livery. They looked amazing and the family resemblance was very apparent. Next to the race cars there was the original 1966 Ford Bronco prototype and a new model Ford Bronco. Again there was an obvious update to the look of the vehicle, but there was a strong family resemblance to the original model.

As per usual, for the opening ceremonies an inspiring rendition of the National Anthem was sung and Gordon McCall welcomed everyone to

30th Anniversary Celebration

his 30th Anniversary event. You could tell he was extremely proud to celebrate this milestone with us. Then like clockwork Brendan Murray’s vintage front engine AA/Fuel dragster fired up to the roar of the crowd as flames shot out of the short headers. That always gets everyone’s attention. Next to the dragster was a Barris model Bat cycle bicycle with a very loud small jet engine that also drew our attention.

I always enjoy checking out the latest offerings in the executive aircraft world. This year there were models from Gulfstream, Cessna, Pilatus and a few others. I toured the new Cessna Citation Longitude model which is a twelve passenger executive jet that sells for $25M - $30M. It looked and felt as plush as the most luxurious Rolls Royce with sumptuous leather seats and flawless wooden accent trim throughout. The cockpit was equipped with an array of video game like screens and was equally plush with sheepskin covers on the pilot’s seats. According to the knowledgeable Cessna representative I spoke with, this model has a range of 3,500 miles which is enough to

cross the Atlantic from New York or fly to Hawaii from Los Angeles. I’ll keep that in mind when I shop for my next executive jet.

There are always a few interesting people that I meet at the event and this year was no exception. I was looking at the two new models of the fiberglass Meyers Manx dune buggies and there was a Grumman HU-16 Albatross airplane behind them. The aircraft was a large twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat that was used by different branches of our military as a search and rescue aircraft from 19471983. An Italian gentleman named Pietro (I believe) asked if that was my airplane. I said it was not and he asked if I knew who the pilot was.

I again answered that I didn’t know and he proceeded to tell me he was a corporate pilot based in the Bay Area. He flies a Piaggo P.180 Avanti turboprop (Italian built of course and one of the fastest turboprop aircraft). Pietro was almost obsessed with amphibious aircraft though. He owns a Cessna float plane that he flies for fun and he has flown a few of the Albatross models. He was very knowledgeable of the different versions and said the PBY Catalina aircraft was sort of a precursor to the Albatross and flew much better. I received a volume of interesting information about amphibious aircraft. Later at the event I saw the Albatross pilot access the plane and I searched out Pietro so he could meet him.

There was a huge presence of CHP officers and other law enforcement personnel with bomb sniffing dogs due to world events and the fact the event was held on airport property. They wanted to make sure we were all safe. One of the CHP motor officers I saw was looking

at a Ducati Diavel Lamborghini Edition inside the hanger. It was a beautiful machine and he said he may purchase one. I noticed and casually asked him if he could catch a speeder riding one of those. After a long conversation of motorcycle stories and facts (or fiction) he said he rides a Kawasaki at work that is rev limited to 125mph or 135mph. He finished by saying of course he would catch a speeder because the rider could not out run their radios. Good to know.

There were many other one-off and prototype vehicles and some high end production models on display to enjoy as the sun set. One unique feature of this event was the starting time in the late afternoon sunshine and then progressing into the evening darkness. The entire area looked completely different under the lighting changes which added to the ambiance of the evening.

I’m sure Gordon and his team will present another exclusive and unique next year and somehow best their efforts from this year. We can hardly wait, we’ll see you there next year!

Car Week has officially begun and we have a very full schedule to meet.

Monterey Car Week Auctions

Article by Mike Grudt and photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

The car auctions held in Monterey during Car Week typically draw buyers from around the world due to the top tier and unique offerings. Those buyers unable to attend also had the option to bid online for their collector vehicles. The four major auction houses have each had a strong presence during Monterey Car Week for many years as this tends to be their most important auction of the year. Overall the auctions offered 25% fewer vehicles for sale than 2019 with a much higher sellthrough rate of 80%. This year they enjoyed a 35% increase in total sales volume up to $345 million collectively due to higher prices and top tier offerings. At least 82 cars sold for $1 million or more and the average selling price for vehicles was $428K up from $334K at 2019 Monterey Car Week. It was a very successful week and showed the collector car market is very strong.

Bonhams Quail Auction – The oldest auction house on the Peninsula has its roots dating back to the late 1700’s in Europe. They have been in Monterey for twenty-four years and they are the Official Auction of Quail. Bonhams was located at the far end of the Quail Lodge and Golf Club Resort property on a grassy field where many of the vehicles could be seen outside of the small white fence surrounding the vehicles. It was fairly secluded and away from much of the crowds and traffic surrounding many other event and activities of Car Week.

Bonhams is the smallest of the four auctions, yet always offers high quality vehicles that usually land near the top in sales prices. This year they offered 139 lots and enjoyed a very solid 89% sell-through rate for total sales of $36.9 million. They once again sold a vehicle in the top ten, a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 S Type Supercharged Sports Tourer that was 8th and sold for $5.395 million. That was more than $1 million over the high estimate for the car and the only pre-war vehicle to make the top ten this year. Bonhams sold seven cars for over $1 million each.

The second most expensive car sold by Bonhams was a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable for $1.875 million. Three of the auctions offered a Ferrari F40 this year and Bonhams sold their example for $1.6 million. Another popular model this year was the Shelby Cobras up for auction. Bonhams sold two 1966 Shelby Cobra 427s, one for $1.05 million and the other for slightly less at $995K followed by a 1964 AC Cobra which also sold for $995K. Gooding – The Official Auction of Pebble Beach has been a major player in Monterey for over fifteen years. They are set up adjacent to the central Pebble Beach activities and easily accessible.

Gooding had a total of 172 lots available and sold a total over $107 million for the two day event.

They hold the distinction of selling the highest priced vehicle at auction since 2018, an immaculate 1995 McLaren F1 finished in one-off Creighton Brown with a tan and brown interior that sold for $20.5 million. It was a beautiful machine and we were present during the exciting bidding session wondering how high the price would climb.

Gooding sold four of the ten highest priced vehicles sold this year, the 1st one a 1995 McLaren F1 $20.5 million, 2nd a 1959 Ferrari 250 California LWB Competizione Spider for $10.8 million, 7th a 1929 Bugatti 35B Grand Prix Roadster for $5.6 million and 9th a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet SI for $4.4 million. They also sold at least 24 lots in excess of $1 million each.

Among the special offerings this year were a group of seven vehicles known as the “Silver Surfers”.

They were owned by the late drummer from the band “Rush”, Neil Peart. They included a 1963 Corvette Split Window, a 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S, a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe, two Maseratis, a Jaguar E-Type all in silver and a black 1969 Shelby Cobra 289.

Mecum – Once again the largest auction at Monterey Car Week offered 519 lots and this year became the most successful “Daytime Auction” to date during their three day event. They were set up in their usual location on the spacious Del Monte Golf Course adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel. Mecum enjoyed an 80% sell-through rate and overall sales totaled $57.4 million. Their top ten sales were each over $1 million and a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari led the way at over $3.4 million.

Unlike the other auctions, Mecum offered a nice selection of vintage motorcycles in Monterey and this year they sold three for over $100K each. The top motorcycle sold was a 1953 Vincent Black Shadow for $148.5K followed by a 1914 Harley-Davidson Model 10F Two Speed at $101.2K and then a 1917 Henderson 4-Cylinder Racer for $101.1K. They also auctioned a special 2022 Triumph Scrambler 1200 Steve McQueen Edition motorcycle that sold for $55K which was three times the base price. The proceeds went to the Boys Republic non-profit facility where Steve McQueen spent time as a youth.

Since Mecum is known to offer American Muscle cars it wasn’t surprising to see their 2nd top sale vehicle, a 1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi Competition’ Cobra for $2.86 million and 3rd a fairly recent one-off fully functional concept car a 2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept known as “Daisy” at $2.64 million. They also sold a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan (old cars have such long names) for $2.65 million as 5th, and 9th top seller was the “winningest” Shelby ever with 17 straight wins from 1968-69. It was a 1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback that went for $1.265 million. It was nice to see American cars commanding top dollar this year.

RM Sotheby’s – Known to provide only the best in collector vehicles, RM was set up at the Portola Hotel near downtown Monterey for their 24th annual event. Their three day auction garnered $148.5 million in sales to lead the other auctions in total sales this year. The 161 lots

included 43 vehicles selling for over $1 million and a stellar 90% sell-through rate. RM’s top offering was a 1970 Porsche 917K race car with an estimate of $16 million - $18 million that didn’t meet the reserve price. They did however sell five of the top ten highest priced cars in Monterey led by the sale of a 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Coupe for $9.5 million as the third highest seller.

Number two sold by RM was a 1962 Ferrari 268 SP Spider for $7.7 million followed by a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Alloy Competizione Coupe also for $7.7 million and then a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB “Tour de France” Coupe for $6 million. Rounding out the top ten highest selling cars during Car Week was the number five highest sold at RM, a 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Works at $4.1 million which was by far the highest priced Cobra sold

among the auctions in Monterey.

RM sold so many other high quality and rare vehicles including a one of ten 2016 Ferrari F60 America for $3.635 million, a 2020 McLaren Speedtail for $3.14 million, a 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport at $2.755 million and a 1991 Jaguar XJR-15 for $1.9 million. One surprise at RM was the sale of a 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package sold for $1.6 million making it the highest price Japanese road car ever sold at public auction.

MOTOR4TOYS Photos by James Stanley & Greg Grudt

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Concorso Italiano Article and Photos by Greg Grudt @exoticcarfotos

The picturesque Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside (which overlooks Monterey Bay) was once again the site for Concorso Italiano. This event has been held for thirty-five years and has grown to become the world’s largest luxury and exotic Italian Car show. Concorso is considered to be a luxury lifestyle event for all things Italian, not just cars. It was also a must attend event to enjoy during car week for all car lovers.

This year over 800 Italian and other exotic vehicles were displayed on the perfectly manicured golf course fairways. There were a few notable celebrations at the event including the 30th Anniversary of the Lamborghini Diablo (which wasn’t held last year due to Covid) and a continuation of the Alfa Romeo celebration which started a few years ago. Alfa

Guiletta Sprints, 2000, 2600 and Montreal models were the primary “Alfa” models celebrated this year.

Upon entering the venue as you began to walk down the golf cart path, the view across the fairways was difficult to describe. It was a sea of predominately red vehicles grouped by manufacturers and models up and down the undulating lush green fairways. Off in the distance was a clear view of Monterey Bay which is somewhat rare in the early morning. It was a breath taking sight and a real treat to be a part of such a renowned event.

Each and every vehicle was unique in its own way and the very passionate owners were happily available to answer any and all questions. Many models may have looked identical, but subtle differences not readily apparent to most casual observers and

the history of each vehicle added to the charm of the event. I spoke to a few owners and learned many bits of information that would be difficult to gain except by word of mouth.

We walked to the very end of the display area and worked our way back toward the entrance to enjoy the cars. Due to the sheer number of quality entrants and time constraints, it was very difficult to truly see everything in detail. There were a couple of vehicles that stood out including an amazing Marrone Eklipsis (Brown color) Lamborghini Diablo SE (which was number 40 of 40 and the last unit built) and a Monterey Blue Lamborghini Diablo GTR race car. We later saw the blue car driving on the streets of Carmel and it looked and sounded amazing. There were not as many Diablos present for the 30th Anniversary as

one would expect, but the ones that attended were very special.

The Lamborghini section seemed somewhat lighter in number this year. It’s difficult to know for sure due to the various hills and separations of the venue. There were still many fine examples to enjoy including two immaculate versions of the 1970’s era Lamborghini Urraco 2+2 models. This model is a rare sight at any car event and a real surprise to see in person. All of the Lamborghinis were adorned in bright colors which helped to extenuate their beautiful lines and added a special flair to the vehicles.

As we enjoyed countless other Italian vehicles the Ferrari collection as per usual was overwhelming with the sheer number of cars. There were so many different models represented and multiple specs that it was

easy to lose track. I especially enjoyed the Ferrari Dino models since they were present in a large array of colors not normally associated with Ferrari.

Most people usually think of Rosso Corso (red) when they envision a Ferrari. The Dinos at the event were mostly anything but red including lime green, brown, different shades of blue, gunmetal gray, silver and many other colors not commonly found on

other Ferrari models.

Next we saw the Lancia vehicles which are always some of the rarest and most unique vehicles on display at Concorso. There was a dark green right hand drive Lancia Lambda which was built nearly 100 years ago and driven regularly by the California owners. The vehicle also inspired the painting on the cover photo of

the Concorso Italiano Program book celebrating the 100th anniversary of this vehicle. There was also a crazy looking dark red and black 1927 Lancia Lambda 7th Series Albany Airway model with a small raised roof on top of the sloped roof. I had never seen or heard of this model.

This is the type of vehicle that only would be present at a huge event such as this. There were also some

Lancia rally cars and other unique examples of this Italian make.

After viewing the endless groups of Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Fiats, Panteras and other cars and motorcycles we moved on to the next stop on our schedule, Laguna Seca race track. When you visit Car Week next year make sure to attend Concorso Italiano.

70th AnnualPebble Beach Concours d' Elegance

Article by Mike Grudt and photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

The 70th Anniversary of Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance was recently held and was the signature event of Monterey Car Week. What started in 1950 to compliment a local road race has evolved into the premier Concours event in the world. Monterey Car Week has also evolved into a week-long celebration of events related to cars and other vehicles leading up to this special show. That was a huge milestone and they had many featured vehicle classes to insure the event lived up to the expectations of the 15,000 attendees.

A few of the noteworthy featured classes were, Porsche 917, Lamborghini Countach, past Best of Show cars, Pebble Beach Road Race winners and others. We were excited to view each of those vehicles and the others that didn’t participate in the Tour d’Elegance we saw a few days prior.

We always schedule time to visit the Concours venue the night before the event as some of the entrants are staging their vehicles on the lawn.

This year we were treated to a special photo shoot of the thirteen Porsche 917 racecars. The Pebble Beach photographer set up a bucket truck to get an aerial view of the amazing cars. He had them arranged in a group in the center of the grass overlooking the rocky shores of nearby Stillwater Cove. We joined a small group of lucky enthusiasts who just happened to be present to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity to see that group of rare vehicles. One beautiful car in the group adorned in the traditional Gulf

livery was owned by Jerry Seinfeld. His car was used in the classic 1971 Steve McQueen film, “Le Mans”. After departing we checked some of the other vehicle displays being set up in the Pebble Beach Village including the Le Domaine Bugatti display area.

Early Sunday morning the big day had arrived and we parked along the beach at our shuttle bus pick up location. We had some friends arrive early for “Dawn Patrol”, but we chose to arrive a little later due to our full schedule on Sunday. The Concours organizers did an excellent job of coordinating traffic allowing mostly shuttle busses only to transport the spectators to the event. It was very smooth and efficient. As we enjoyed the short bus ride to Concours we saw a number of deer on the dew covered golf courses as we passed on the way.

We walked past the vast Casa Ferrari display as we continued toward the venue. Most of the Ferraris were still covered with plastic due to the damp weather, so we viewed those cars later when the sheets came off.

We also checked out the cars on the Concept Lawn near the entrance. Most of the examples had been displayed at other Car Week shows earlier in the week so we moved on to the main event.

Greg and I have attended Concours d’ Elegance for nearly ten years, but I still get a feeling of awe that a first time attendee may experience when I enter the event. The combination of so many unique and one-of-a-

kind vehicles, the beautiful surroundings, the historical nature of the event and the worldwide stature is difficult to describe and must be experienced firsthand.

I made my way over to the end row of vehicles that ran along the edge of the fairway parallel to and above the coast line. This year the previous Best of Show winners were displayed in the area and a large portion of past winners were present at the event. The winners of the original Pebble Beach Road Races from 1950-1956 were staged next to them at the far end. There were so many vehicles to view that I had never seen or heard of prior to the event. I looked for three best of show winners and only two were at the show.

One vehicle was the 1955 winner owned by racer Phil Hill. The car was a 1931 Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Town Car Cabriolet that Phil learned to drive in. He completely restored the car and drove it to Concours to win Best of Show in 1955. That was the first classic car to win and the single owner car remains with the Hill family to this day.

I also wanted to see two of the three ultra rare Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantics scheduled for display. The 2003 winning car was one that I had seen at the Mullin Museum in Oxnard and I enjoyed seeing it again. Unfortunately the second car which is owned by Ralph Lauren was not present that day.

The five winning cars of the seven Pebble Beach Road Races were next to the Best of Show winners (two cars won the race twice). Phil Hill won three of the seven races including the inaugural event in 1950 in a Jaguar XK120 Roadster and two races in different model Ferraris. In 1955 he raced a Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spyder and won and his Pierce-Arrow entry also won Best of show at Concours. It was a great year for Phil and he went on to become the first American-born race driver to win the Formula 1 Grand Prix World Championship in 1961.

There were so many cars to enjoy it was overwhelming. Two special examples were the first production Lamborghini Countach and the last production unit in their 50th Anniversary tribute class. I also enjoyed seeing a 1964 Fer-

rari 250 GTO Scaglietti Berinetta Series 2 model that was the only GTO raced as a “works” entry. The storied vehicle had been driven by six different Formula One drivers during its successful racing career.

As the show began to wind down the crowd waited in anticipation for the announcement of the winners. This year the Best of Show winner was a stunning example 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier. Mercedes only built two of this model and this car is the only one remaining and it still has the original equipment. This win makes a total of nine wins for Mercedes-Benz and ties the record held by Bugatti. It was another unbelievable event and I’m looking forward to the 71st show next year.

The Quail The Motorsport Gathering Article by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

The 18th Annual “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering” was recently held during Monterey Car week. Quail always plans a few surprises and this year during the opening ceremony a vintage Grumman Albatross Amphibious Aircraft made two level passes to buzz the crowd. That definitely got our attention. This event was on the very short list of top tier exclusive events to attend during Monterey Car Week. Attendance was limited to 5,000 from the usual 6,000 to allow for more distancing due to Covid restrictions. Quail never seemed crowded in previous years and this year seemed to have the same level of attendees.

In addition to the usual vehicle classes, Quail featured three special classes, Cars of Curiosity, the Alfa Romeo Montreal 50th Anniversary and French Cars including

the Citroen SM 50th Anniversary.

The event also included 12 vehicle debuts from at least seven automotive manufacturers. Quail is known to display many vehicles first prior to showing at other venues, car shows or the general public. This adds an additional air of exclusivity to the lucky attendees of the event.

During one of the vehicle debuts, a Radford Lotus Type 62-2 track car based on the look of the late 1960s Lotus type 62 racers with updated technology was revealed.

Ant Anstead and former Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button held a press conference to explain the details of this very special limited production machine. The stunning red and white car adorned in the traditional livery looked amazing.

Lamborghini also chose Quail to unveil some special vehicles, including the global debut

of a white Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 based on design queues from the original car of fifty years ago. They also displayed the Aventador LP870-4 Ultimae (their last naturally aspirated V-12 model) and the Essenza SCV12 track only vehicle for their North American debuts. Not one to be outdone, Bugatti brought out a bright green Chiron Super Sport and an over-the-top blue over black Bolide track car. The one-off Bolide concept received such high interest when it was released last year that Bugatti decided to offer a limited run of forty vehicles starting at $5.7 million each.

There were so many special vehicles including the new Koenigsegg Gemera Four Seater, Rimic Nevera, Bentley Mulliner Bacalar and an Audi Skysphere Roadster Concept. The Audi was built to showcase the future of automotive luxury and excellence. The look is difficult to describe and the two

seat convertible can go from “Sport” mode at 4.94 meters long to “Grand Touring” mode extending 250 millimeters (nearly 10 inches) to 5.19 meters long with the touch of a button. Audi has included so many unique features into the vehicle I can’t even begin to list the details. It was another amazing debut at Quail.

Among the many special treats at Quail this year was the arrival of a large group of 1970s era Trans Am race cars that were actually driven from Laguna Seca over the Laureles Grade in Carmel to the event. At first glance they appeared to be following a pace car when in fact it was members of their CHP escort team leading the way. That must have been a fun drive. The loud American V-8 Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, Javelins and others really made a statement.

Starting in 2015 Quail has displayed the annual Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award vehicle which is a vehicle chosen from a select group of winners from various Concours events during the year. This year the award went to an

immaculate black 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza with Coachwork by Scaglietti which had an impressive racing history including the Pebble Beach Road Races and other notable races in Europe and the United States.

After an amazing day enjoying unique cars and motorcycles and enjoying the other aspects of the show the award ceremony began. The “Best of Show” winner was an imposing black 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster. The vehicle was one of only twenty-five built as an autobahn cruiser just prior to World War II and only a small handful are known to have survived.

The “Hagerty Drivers Foundation & Preservation Award” was presented to the “Big Oly” Bronco Off-Road truck, driven by Parnelli Jones to multiple wins at the Baja 1000 and other major off-road races in the early 1970s which helped to legitimize off-road racing. The truck looked and sounded as if it could still compete today.

Another of the numerous awards, “Spirit of the Quail” went to a well deserved 1902 Indian Single Cylinder which was the 14th production motorcycle the company built. The very informative display surrounding the motorcycle was filled with original parts and accessories and stated the original owner was a college student in New England. Upon graduation he become a professor at Rutgers University and decided riding a motorcycle to work wouldn’t fit his image so he cobbled together a wooden crate and stored the bike in his basement. After some 111 years the bike was uncrated, cleaned up and put back into running condition.

This fine example is known as the oldest original, unrestored and running American production motorcycle.

As another successful Quail event concluded we proceeded to our next stop at Monterey Car Week.

We had two days remaining and some major events to attend including Concours d’ Elegance on Sunday.

Bugatti at Pebble Beach 2021 Article and Photos by Greg Grudt / @exoticcarfotos

The exclusive Le Domaine Bugatti in Pebble Beach is always a special treat to experience during Monterey Car Week. This year the focus was on the Super Sport Bugatti variants. Featured outside the private VIP area was the brand new Chiron Super Sport in green which was next to a white Veyron Super Sport (1 of 48 produced). Next in line was an extremely rare EB110 Super Sport in silver (1 of 32 produced). Lastly, there was a gorgeous blue Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport (1 of 38 produced). Inside the VIP owner’s lounge was a sharp looking Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport and another Chiron on display. The ultra exclusive Bugatti Bolide was featured in the center on a turntable slowly spinning to provide a 360 degree view of the incredible design. The Chiron Super Sport and the Bolide were both unveiled two days prior at The Quail. Light snacks and drinks were served and Bugatti designers and engineers were available to answer questions.

Special thanks to the Bugatti team for always providing us with amazing hospitality during our visit. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next year!