Automotive Preeminence in Paradise

Monterey Historics
The 31st Monterey Historics, sponsored by Rolex, and once again presented by Chrysler offered, as always, a dazzling array of historic racecars. The amazing displays of vehicles were just the icing on the cake as it was the racing of these celebrated and famous racecars, driven by many renowned racers, which captured the essence of the motorsports festivities. In most normal situations these cars should be in museums of their own, but here they were, meticulously prepared and accelerating through corners, perhaps not at "full chat," but pretty close. And under the expert control of their enthusiastic (and respectful) pilots, these revolutionary racecars put on a wonderful display of skill and beauty as they mixed it up on the straightaways and the infamous corkscrew of Laguna Seca. It was an incredible treat for those who hugged the fences.


The whole three-day weekend was in fact a celebration of the automobile, and in particular, the value of the automobile. Besides the wonderful car exhibitions were a number of high-dollar auctions, offering up some very desirable, but extremely expensive vehicles. Bonhams & Butterfields, the third largest auction house in the world, held "an important sale of collectors' motor cars, automobilia and fine watches" at the Quail Lodge, formerly the home of Concorso Italiano. Not to be outdone, Kruse International held a "select" auction, while on its heels was the Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction held in downtown Monterey and presented by Canadian-based RM Auctions. The highlight of RM's event was the large collection of Carroll Shelby-created cars, which were viewed and endorsed by the legend himself. Ten Shelby Mustangs and Cobras were offered for sale, including a 2004 Shelby-AC Cars FIA Cobra, the first produced since 1967.

What a Duesy
A relative newcomer, offering its fourth sale on the Monterey Peninsula, was Russo & Steele. The variety of high-quality cars was appreciated by fans and bidders, and covered a wide spectrum of categories, from European sports cars to American musclecars, custom-built automobiles and hot rods. At nearby Pebble Beach, Santa Monica-based Gooding & Company was selected to hold the final auction of the weekend. Top billing went to the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster, the "Duesenberg Special," also known as the Mormon Meteor because it set land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the 1930s. Before it entered the auction block at Pebble Beach, it had been in the same ownership for 50 years. The very fast Duesy sold for nearly $4.5 million.


The auctions were not the only places where one could spend money. Besides the shopping options available in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, exhibitor booths were prominent at both Concorso Italiano and at the Historics at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, offering fine art, posters, die-cast cars, models, sculptures and gobs of apparel. When one is an aficionado of a particular marque, there is no limit to the amount and variety of clothing, hats, flags and anything else that bears its logo one will consume.


And for those who love automobiles, there is nothing like the exciting atmosphere that is Carmel and Monterey in the summertime.