MONTEREY CAR WEEK AUCTIONS

MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025

CAR GUY CHRONICLES’ JIM PALAM HITS THE LONG PEDAL AND RACES TO THE HIGH-OCTANE EVENTS DURING MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025.

Monterey Car Week is an unapologetic showoff. Heck, its ‘week’ lasts 10 days! Its calendar crams in over 35 official events. MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 attendees – and there were over 100,000 of them – travel from all over the world to the Monterey Peninsula for the privilege of getting stuck in traffic jams and paying three to five times the going rate for hotel and motel rooms – just so they can wear event lanyards and wrist bands, wave auction paddles, and hobnob with movers, shakers and superstars of the automotive and motorsports worlds.

Ahh, but the elixir that ultimately attracts and seduces these multitudes of Car Week fans, including myself, are magical machines – some over a century old and some still on the drawing board – that can not only transport us to destinations near and far, but also titillate our senses, break us free from mundane lives, help us embrace the concept of freedom, and ultimately move us into the immersive realm of possibility!

Nearly a year ago, with the best intentions, I began a process of foresightful preparation to overcome all obstacles that would prevent me from spending a full seven days as a freelance photojournalist covering MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025. Well, even with all my proactive and prudent planning, by August 1st, I had to accept the fact that ‘My Car Week’ would only last for four days. But I’m happy to report that I was able to cover these exciting events: Gooding Christie’s Auction (preview), Porsche Club of America Werks Reunion, Mecum Auction, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and the unparalleled Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

So, gang, let’s get my special Car Guy Chronicles MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 report rolling!

One of my favorite events during was the 51st Annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which ran from August 13th through the 16th. On Saturday morning, August 16th, I captured this shot, top, of Charles McKee wheel-hopping his ’66 Shelby GT350 down into the corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. He raced hard in the Group 4-Ken Miles GT Trophy-Race 1, finishing 15th in a competitive field of 26 cars.

An alarm clock miscalculation brought me to Laguna Seca an hour before the required 8 AM safety meeting, so I headed into the paddock to see who might be there early to prep for the day’s racing. A mechanic in the IROC (International Race of Champions) tent had just pulled a tire on this famous ‘05 Pontiac Firebird, which over the years has been driven by Mark Martin, Sam Hornish Jr., Max Papis, and Hélio Castroneves. This RWD racecar is powered by a 500-horsepower, 350 GM V8, mated to a Jerico 4-speed manual transmission.

Right after the National Anthem finished playing, I rushed to a trackside position behind the K-rail at Laguna Seca – just yards away from this charging field of iconic Formula 1 racecars as they were finishing their formation lap and heading towards the green flag. The reunion was celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Formula 1. In the excitement, I fumbled my earplugs and dropped them out of reach. These mid-1960s to mid-1980 cars are known for their ear-splitting, high-pitched engine screams that were unfiltered by today’s modern technology. Note to Self: Always-always-always carry a spare set of earplugs!

Racing buddies Charles Nearburg and Gunnar Jeannette entered two beautiful Lancia D50s in the Group 9-Juan Fangio Cup Rolex Race at the Annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. Charles finished the 9-lap race in first place in his ’54 D50A car No. 30, and Gunnar finished right behind him in P2 in his ’55 D50 car No. 50. I grabbed this shot of Charles skillfully twisting down the infamous Corkscrew.

MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 During my early Saturday morning exploration of the still-wet paddock at Laguna Seca, I discovered a 1917 Hispano-Suiza Boattail Racer in the Ragtime Racers display area. It was the only car at this early hour that was uncovered. This historic racecar features a 1917 Panhard chassis, a water-cooled 1918 Hispano-Suiza 8 aero engine, a 1920s Lorraine-Dietrich 4-speed transmission, and a dual-chain drive. This gem was found hidden in a barn in France and brought to America by its present owner, Kip Cyprus.

Back in 1998, the marketing gurus at Victoria’s Secret customized a white Lamborghini Diablo SV and featured it in a sexy two-page catalog spread. One of the clever things they did was invert the Diablo’s distinctive “SV” logo and splash large chrome VS decals along the sides of the car. The Diablo disappeared until Cannonball Runner and YouTuber Ed Bolian assembled a team to find the car and restore it back to its sexy glory. Not only was Ed’s VS Diablo one of the featured cars at the 2025 Concorso Italiano, it was also parked in my hotel’s parking lot!

So many of the MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 events are praiseworthy, but there’s still one that rouses dedicated fans out of their warm beds before sunrise. Dawn Patrollers line up along the entry road to the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links so they can be the first car enthusiasts to ogle and praise the show cars as they motor in to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. I captured this shot of Urban Outlaw Magnus Walker, his partner Hannah Elliot, and a business associate as they marched from the asphalt road to the manicured grass very early on Sunday morning, August 17th.

The sunrise provided perfect lighting for William “Chip” Connor’s impeccable ‘32 Invicta 4.5 Litre S Type Carbodies Tourer sitting in front of a wondrous Spanish Bay backdrop. This rare, low-slung, four-seat British tourer features coachwork by Carbodies, a powerful 4.5-liter Meadows straight-six engine, Rotax headlights, and a center spotlight. The S-Type was Invicta’s most famous model, competing at Brooklands, winning the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally, and capable of hitting speeds well over 100 mph. This car won Pebble’s Gran Tourismo Trophy.

Size matters. With my 24-70 mm lens on my Canon, I could not step back far enough on the already crowded show field at Pebble Beach to fit the entire 18-foot length of this stunning 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo in the frame – and also include the two judges on the right. This impressive-in-every-way Best of Show winner was commissioned by aperitif heir, military pilot, and gentleman racer, André Dubonnet. The H6C is powered by an 8-liter overhead-cam engine and features stunning coachwork of riveted lightweight mahogany.

Racecar liveries have come a long way since a big number was painted on the side of a car using removable, water-based paint or even shoe polish. BMW brought its Le Mans M Hybrid V8 Art Car No. 20 to Pebble Beach, and it got more buzz about its Julie Mehretu artwork livery than it did about the car’s state-of-the-art racecar technology. Mehretu’s design features digitally altered photographs, which are superimposed in several layers of dot grids, neon-colored veils, and black markings. This car and its BMW hybrid running mate experienced technical issues back in June during the last two hours at Le Mans and did not finish.

MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 Heading back to my car after a long day at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I veered over to Concorso Ferrari, which is a central venue on the Pebble Beach Golf Links during the Concours. Here you could drool over billions of dollars’ worth of rare, collector, and new release Ferraris. This ‘24 Ferrari Daytona SP3 in blue quickly caught my eye – as it did with other Ferrari fans at the Concours. 599 SP3s were built, and those were only offered to Ferrari’s best customers – at a starting price of $2.2 million.

Close your eyes and imagine you’re a Venezuelan racecar driver, Mauricio Marcotuli. It’s March 15th, 1959, and you’re sitting in your custom-ordered, white, 12-cylinder 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rosa. You’re at the starting line at the La Trinidad Street Circuit outside of Caracas, Venezuela. When the race is over, you will be standing on the winner’s podium with a wreath hung around your neck. Now open your eyes. It’s August 14th, 2025. You’ve parked your TR in front of Goodings at Concours Village in Pebble Beach. You’ve just completed the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance. You haven’t aged a bit. Life is good!

There were lots of fabulous cars at Gooding Christie’s 2025 Pebble Beach Auctions. I had a chance to preview the cars a day ahead of the auction, and I’m excited to present some of my picks in this report. Having joined the Porsche ranks in 2020 with the purchase of a humble 914, I may have been a tad distracted by this eye-popping Porsche 911 RSR-17, which was sitting across the hall from the Big-Ticket Ferrari. It’s the first mid-engine 911 RSR Landmark Model representing the pinnacle of modern GT Racing. Specs: 503 horsepower DOHC Flat 6 engine, 6-speed transaxle, Heritage “Coca-Cola” livery. Sold for $2,260,000 – significantly under its $3.5 M estimate.

From August 15th to the 16^th, Gooding Christie’s realized $128,783,810 in sales, with an 85% sell-through rate. Their top seller was LOT 26, a sublime ‘61 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione that sold for $23.3M. This was the highest non-charity sale for all of the MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 auctions! It was also the top sale in Gooding’s two-decade-long car auction history. The lightweight aluminum-bodied Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione is a rare, race-oriented version of the California Spider.

This is what classic automotive style looks like, Comin’at-ya’. The 1930s were known as the Art Deco and Streamlining Era. Boxy functional design was shifting to more elegant and aerodynamic forms. Compared to today’s technology-driven minimalist forms, the front of this ‘37 Lagonda LG45 Rapide is a masterpiece of stunning symmetry. Only 25 LG45 Rapides were built. Power is from a 4.5 Liter OHV Inline-6 engine mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. The Gooding pre-auction estimated sale price was $700,000 – $900,000.

Back in the 1960s, there was a very vocal and often demonstrative competition between Ford and Chevy. As a showman, racecar driver, and car builder, Carroll Shelby’s star grew brighter and brighter. The Chevy boys at Bill Thomas Race Cars in Anaheim, CA, decided enough was enough. In 1963, they introduced the Cheetah GT Coupe, a lightweight, fiberglass-bodied, Chevy-powered sports car. Only two dozen “Cobra Killers” were built between 1963 and 1966. This documented, four-owner ’66 was lot 168 at the Gooding Pebble Beach Auction. It is powered by a Rochester Ramjet Fuel Injected 327 Chevy V8.

My first MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 destination on Friday, August 15th, was over to the Monterey Pines Golf Course, where Porsche Club of America had set up their sprawling PCA Werks Reunion 2025 across four manicured fairways. Over 12,000 enthusiasts attended to get up close to more than 700 original, restored, and customized Porsches. It was impossible to pick just one for this report, but Jorge Fuente’s ‘Harlekin’ 993 Tribute Car was impossible to ignore. Porsche built and painted the original for the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. Jorge’s 911 GT tribute car was built by AP Car Design in Germany and vinyl-wrapped by 405 Motoring in Inglewood, CA.

Mecum Auctions Monterey 2025 was located on the Del Monte Golf Course, a mile or so from the Werks Reunion. So, Part Two of my Friday was spent exploring the staging areas at Mecum. As soon as I spotted the low-slung Monza Red ’93 Jaguar XJ220, I knew this unique supercar would be in my report. At the time of its introduction, the aerodynamic XJ220 was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 542 horsepower, which helped make it the fastest production car in the world. Questionable changes in engine specs soon dethroned the XJ220. Designed by Keith Helfet, the XJ220 is approximately 5 meters long by 2 meters wide.

Not many of us like a tease, but this rare car tease was more than acceptable. The hard-working team at Mecum Auctions has been at it since 1988, and they know that dangling a tasty collector car carrot in front of a captive enthusiast audience – like MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025 attendees – will get them some bites. So, this very rare ‘62 ‘Bianco Speciale’ Ferrari 250 GTO was unveiled this August at their Monterey 2025 Auction. Chassis No. 3729GT was the only 250 GTO to leave the Ferrari factory in white. It will be the featured car at Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction in January 2026.

Covering Monterey Car Week is an honor, but it can be demanding both physically and mentally. As my assignment was wrapping up, I made a final stop, this time at Arkadia-Life’s exhibit in Concours Village. I was hoping the folks there would let me chill out in their high-tech sofa chair that looks like the front end of a vintage Porsche. Some of its impressive features are seven E-Storage zones that are activated by a knock of your knuckle, a 13-speaker audio system, and adaptive ambient lighting. Everything is brought together using luxury-grade automotive craftsmanship with Swiss-watch-caliber assembly precision. By the way, you’ll need at least $20,000 to get started to get seated. Ahhh…

Story & Photos © Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

For more information about MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2025, please visit https://www.seemonterey.com/events/sporting/concours/

MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023

CGC’s Jim Palam presents highlights from events that fill the most exciting week on the concours and historic racing calendar, MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023.

“Suddenly, as if by magic, the cars appeared!” I have to admit that I was like a kid at a magic show when I took in the sights, sounds, pomp and pizazz of MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023. How the organizers, presenters, participants and attendees managed to all come together to revel, rejoice, race and reward in the relatively limited confines and congested roadways of Monterey and Carmel is at times mystifying. Top photo, Kode61 Birdcage Concept; Left, Dea Wison, President, Ferrari Club of America, Sacramento Chapter.

For those who have attended Car Week you know that you’ll need a bag of tricks and another bag of money to secure accommodations anywhere within 50 miles of Monterey during Car Week. Even though I have more than ten years of practice for this “Room Booking” trick, things did not go as planned when upon my arrival I discovered my motel was well, not the kind of place you’d stay if you care about your health, safety and relationship with the Almighty!

I won’t bore you with the details but the upshot of this discovery forced me to cut my Car Week stay from five days to two. The good news is that those two days included time at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to check out the Heritage Corvettes participating in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the 70th Anniversary of the Corvette – and a gorgeous day at beautiful Pebble Beach to cover the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. So, clear your mind of all things dull and tedious – because it’s time for a little MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023.Renowned Austrian sports car restoration expert Egon Zweimüller was up before sunrise to drive the loud and fabled ’64 McLaren M1A past the tony Pebble Beach Lodge and onto the show field at the Concours D’Elegance. I chose this grainy photo for this caption because it shows Egon’s high quiff hairdo and sideburns – an homage perhaps to Elvis Presley who drove the M1A in the 1966 motion picture Spinout.” This car was awarded the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy at Pebble, the award for the most significant car of British origin.What a thrill to rise before sun-up for “Dawn Patrol” and watch historic and fabled cars from bygone eras roll along the entrance road and onto the manicured Pebble Beach show field! This is no illusion I thought as I watched this blue, 2-seater Delahaye 135 CS Competition Spéciale cruise-by. Only 17 examples of this 1930s era racer were ever built. It features a shortened chassis, a powerful in-line 6 cylinder, 170 horsepower motor and race-carved bodywork by Figoni.When you build your own car, you have the freedom to design whatever strikes your fancy, and the freedom to name your creation any name you want. Lou Fageol was a bus and truck builder who built a spectacular, streamlined car dubbed the “Supersonic.” That car debuted in 1949, toured the auto shows and ended up stored on the family’s farm. In 1952 Lou’s son Ray reimagined the car with a new body and wrap-around windshield and named the rebuilt car by combining his name and his wife Pat’s name. Fast-track to August 20, 2023 where the Pataray rolled up onto the awards ramp at Pebble Beach to take the Class V: American Dream Cars of the 1950s 3rd Place award.If you’re a “Boomer” you might remember the post-war decade of the 1950s as a truly magical one. In the design world anything was possible and almost everything took on a streamlined, space-age look. This 1953 Kurtiss Sorrell SR-100 Roadster is a great example of 1950s zeitgeist, with its “Looks Fast Sitting Still” sweeping lines. After grabbing this shot during Dawn Patrol the Sorrell grabbed first place in the Class V: American Dream Cars of the 1950s Class at Pebble.Designing sleek automobiles certainly was not just a 1950s paradigm. The 1921 Rumpler Tropenwagen is considered to be one of the first serially produced aerodynamic cars to be manufactured. Take a look out your window now and there’s a good possibility you’ll spot something sleek, albeit likely chiseled as well. When I first got to Laguna Seca on Saturday, I spotted this streamlined beauty atop a trailer making its way to its exhibition spot in the paddock. Corvette historians will recognize the Bill Mitchell helmed, mid-engine, gull-winged 1976 Aerovette. Targeted for a 1980 production run, the Aerovette’s magic just wasn’t there in the eyes of Corvette Chief Engineer Dave McLellan, who instead gave a green light to a new front-engine C4 Corvette for 1984.Was GM’s Vice-President of Design Bill Mitchell a motorsport magician? A staunch supporter of Zora Arkus-Duntov, he was the guiding force behind head-turning Corvette racecars when GM was not officially racing, including the 1959 Corvette Stingray XP-87. Its chassis was influenced by the Mercedes 300SL. Power was originally from a high-performance 283 V8. The car achieved 155 mph on a test run with Dick Thompson behind the wheel. Check out my short video of the XP-87 and two other Heritage Corvettes as they were staged for an exhibition run at Laguna Seca.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_txd4kuCEg Known in racing circles as “The Lightweight Corvette”, 125 Grand Sports were originally planned to be built in the early 1960s; only 5 are currently documented. However, there was a 6^th! So yes, I was excited and yes, it was magical to discover the fabled 1963 Corvette Grand Sport #003 sitting in the Heritage Corvettes exhibition tent at Laguna Seca. There’s lots of racing lore surrounding these Grand Sports, the most valuable Corvettes in private collections. These vicious Vettes were built to face off in the GT Class against the then dominating Shelby Cobras.There was another magic-maker at GM in the heydays, Zora Arkus-Duntov, who joined Chevrolet Engineering Research and Development in 1953 as an assistant staff engineer. Not only was he an exceptional engineer, Zora was also a racecar driver who applied his track experience and vision to help build the Corvette’s performance legacy. One of the many Corvette racecars that Zora and his team produced was this bad-to-the-headrest-bullet, magnesium shell, fuel-injected Corvette SS, known within GM as the XP-64. With Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel during a practice lap at Sebring in 1957, it turned a 3:27.4 lap. Unfortunately, there were suspension and overheating problems by lap 23 and the XP-64 failed to finish the race.While the words “historic” and “vintage” are used in association with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion that fires-up during Monterey Car Week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, it’s an illusion to think you won’t see historic and significant racecars running at high speeds around the fabled and freshly-repaved 2.238- mile road course. Then again, there are the Ragtime Racers, a dedicated group of vintage race car owners who charge their 100- year-old machines around the 11 turns and through the Corkscrew to thrill the spectators. The bright yellow No. 7 Lexington is a fan favorite.It’s hard to not notice yellow cars, but it’s almost impossible to ignore a rare and fast Porsche 906E Weinsberg Coupe finished in black and yellow, caution stripes – even if its roof is just 38.6 inches from the ground. This year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance featured a carefully curated display of historically significant Porsches from 1948 to 1973 that included sports and competition cars – like this ready-to-race 1967 906E Weinsberg Coupe from the famous Ingram Porsche Collection in Durham, NC. The 906Es were revised for the 1967 racing season with a change to Bosch fuel injection. Total production was 54 cars.OK, I could have selected a red Ferrari for this spot, but you’ve seen plenty of them, right? So, I’m sticking to our yellow car formula one more time to bring you this stunning, 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione which was beckoning on the lawn in front of Casa Ferrari at Pebble Beach. Now there’s a complicated history for this car with multiple owners since 1960, race entries at Le Mans, Goodwood and Montlhéry and a well-documented restoration. It was originally identified as a 1931 GT and later rechristened as a Comp/60, chassis 2021 GT. That’s the easy part of its provenance; it gets way more complicated. So, I’m just going to finish with stating the obvious: it is one of the most beautiful sports cars ever produced!There’s a certain etiquette that one needs to follow when attending a high-end Concours. It’s markedly different from the behavior on display at the Piggly Wiggly Cars & Coffee! One needs to dress well, be mindful of your language and by all means, do not get in front of a judge who is inspecting a show car. In this shot, owners, judges and car caretakers gather for a “Concours Klatsch” alongside the Peter Mullin Museum’s 1939 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Note that there are no containers of coffee in this klatsch!The 2025 Mustang GTD is a street-legal, track-ready Supercar that was revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours, and it got lots of attention. You’ll need around $300,000 to buy one and for that you’ll get a true Supercar, that will be initially built by Ford and finished and fine-tuned by the racecar magicians at Multimatic in Canada. According to Ford, “Every line drives unrelenting, aerodynamic performance on the streets — and the track — for a corner-obliterating, pulse-raising experience.” It’s powered by a supercharged 800 horsepower, 5.2L V8 mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. This setup is, according to Ford, “…tuned for monstrous potency on pavement.” Look out…Speaking of Mustangs, I couldn’t help but draw a connection between this beautiful 1956 Ferrari 250 GT’s roof louvers and the mid-1960s Mustang GT Fastback’s louvered roof detail. I was also a bit concerned about identifying this Ferrari based on the show placard that offered only the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT designation. I could not find another 1956 250 GT that has these high, straight and peaked rear fenders – until I found just one 1956 GT that was a prototype for the famous 14-louver 250 GT competition car. If my research is correct, this is the one-off 1956 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Scaglietti Berlinetta. Ferrari experts are encouraged to chime-in.The sweeping Art Deco lines of this striking 1937 Peugeot Darl’Mat Pourtout Roadster owe their sexiness to custom sports cars builder Emile Darl’Mat, coach- builder Marcel Pourtout, designer Georges Paulin and their collaboration with Peugeot. Emile had a very supportive relationship with Peugeot and as such they gave him the resources to develop his own sports car. The Darl’Mat had successful runs at Le Mans in 1937 and 1938. A total of 104 Darl’Mats were built in coupe, convertible, roadster and competition roadster styles. It’s estimated that there are 30 remaining today.Ferrari has built over 220,000 cars since its founding by Enzo Ferrari in 1939. The company built its first car in 1940 but it wasn’t until 1948 that we got the first Ferrari road car – the Ferrari 166 Inter. What’s impressive is not the number of cars but the consistent excellence and excitement built into the brand. The first thing I did when I entered the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was check out the Ferrari Monza SP1, a forerunner in Ferrari’s limited edition “Icona” (Icon) line. An Icona showcases modern aesthetics and technologically advanced components to deliver the highest performance possible. The SP1’s V12 engine produces 785 horsepower. Top speed is 186 mph. Thrills, are no doubt unlimited!When this beautiful deep blue convertible rolled past me during Dawn Patrol at Pebble Beach, I at first thought it was a 1950s vintage Italian car sports car. Well, I was right about the decade but I later learned that this is a 1954 Edwards America Convertible. One of only 5 built, the Edwards America was conceived by West Coast sportsman and industrialist Sterling Edwards who hired legendary fabricator Phil Remington and engineer Norman Timbs to make his American Sports Car dream a reality. The bodies were fiberglass, the Rocket V8 motors and transmissions were from Oldsmobile. The design and coachbuilding were exceptional but production costs were astronomical by mid-century comparisons. Sticker prices ran between $5,000 to $8,000, but unfortunately, few buyers ran to the showroom.As I’ve mentioned in previous CarGuyChronicles reports, one of the reasons I love going to automotive events and carguy gatherings is the opportunity it presents to meet fascinating people. During my shortened, two-day stay to produce MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023, I met dozens of wonderful car owners, celebrities, racers, crew members, journalists and support personnel. One of the nicest guys I met is Meguiar’s car care products company CEO Barry Meguiar. He, his wife Karen and friends were standing next to me at Dawn Patrol. Just about every other car driver that passed by yelled out “Hey Barry!” and he knew them all by their first names. Many will also remember Barry as the always smiling host of the successful TV show Car Crazy.Car Guy Celebrities are hard to pigeonhole. They come from all walks of life; all parts of the world. Some are wealthy, some are struggling – but all share a passion for motor-powered vehicles. I can’t think of a better car guy contrast than the always smiling, always natty Barry Meguiar and one of the other car guy VIPs I met ‘Urban Outlaw’ and Porsche disciple, Magnus Walker. Magnus is hard to miss: his long dreadlocks cascading down from his straw hat, his long legs covered in worn denim. We met under the Heritage Corvettes tent at Laguna Seca and struck-up a friendly conversation. For a great look into Magnus’ life and Porsche collection, check out Tamir Moscovici’s film Urban Outlaw by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdvPwr_77A0 A quick shuttle ride from the Pebble Beach Lodge and the Concours is Concours Village, which is billed as a premier location for manufacturer displays. It’s also where you go for speaker panels, automobilia treasures, retail concessions, Will Call and the Media Center. It was here, in the Maybach pavilion that I discovered the monster-truck-size PROJECT MONDO G, the ahh, well, uhm, moon vehicle? OK, I’m not sure how to categorize this creation, but it is a show car collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and fashion-forward puffy garment maker Moncler. I think if we’ve learned anything since Carl Benz applied for his motorized vehicle patent back in 1886, it’s that innovation and progress will sometime confound, sometimes amuse – but almost always amaze. You could say it’s something magical!

MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023 Words & Photos © Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

For more information on MOTORSPORT MAGIC: MONTEREY CAR WEEK 2023, please visit https://www.seemonterey.com/events/sporting/concours/

MONTEREY CAR WEEK: LET’S RACE.

Legends of Le Mans grab the spotlight at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Our Jim Palam was trackside and brings us highlights of MONTEREY CAR WEEK: LET’S RACE.

There’s no doubt about it – it’s an addiction that overrides the allure of champagne parties on velvet lawns, pageants of coach-building luxury, or hobnobs with motoring’s fast and famous. It’s estimated that more than 15 million speed junkies attend U.S. motorsports events annually, and I just couldn’t wait to get to Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to get my fix.

This four-day racing celebration began on Wednesday, August 17^th and ran through Saturday, August 20^th. It was preceded by two days of the Monterey Pre-Reunion on the 13^th and 14^th. In that my Car Guy Chronicles assignment would afford me just one day at Laguna Seca, my plan was to hit it hard on Friday and run it fast. I hustled to trackside photo-op locations, roamed the paddock lanes for close-ups of the cars, drivers and crews and finally ended up on a small tower at Turn 8 where I grabbed this report’s lead photo of Interscope’s beautiful black, Lola T600 charging out of Turn 7 and down into the infamous Corkscrew. This Lola design was one of the first sports cars to use ground effects – reduced space between the car’s floor and the track’s surface – to create greater downforce.

One of the big draws to this year’s reunion was the Le Mans Centennial Heritage Display presented by Motul. It was curated exclusively for Car Week’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca to honor the historic significance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and to kick-off the year-long celebration of the event’s upcoming 100^th anniversary in 2023.

The Le Mans cars on display were generally overall winners or class winners from private collections and museums. A number of these legends were fired up for exhibition laps and ran at relatively safe speeds behind the Lexus Safety Cars. Together with the cars racing in the four Le Mans-specific run groups, it was arguably the largest such gathering of authentic Le Mans cars ever assembled in America. So, buckle-up gang… Let’s Race!

This ‘51 Fabulous Hudson Hornet was impossible to miss on the paddock side of the WeatherTech Raceway pedestrian bridge. It was strategically parked across from the Hagerty Drivers Club Building which is adorned with the slogan The Track is Calling. Now if the track could indeed talk it might sound like Paul Newman who was the voice for the ‘Doctor Hudson Hornet’ car in the 2006 Pixar animated film, Cars.

The Le Mans Centennial Heritage Display got the red-carpet treatment. It was laid out with the cars carefully presented under a sturdy, high-roof open paddock garage. There was plenty of room to walk around each car – like car No. 36, the silver Porsche 356 Abarth Carrera GTL. Easy viewing of the cars’ histories and specs were provided by the display of large placards that hung from the metal roof beams.

Don’t let its beauty fool you; this ‘65 Iso Bizzarrini A3/c Corsa was a formidable competitor at Le Mans, winning its class and finishing ninth overall in 1965. Currently owned by Bruce Meyer, the A3/c Corsa is described as a “front-mid-engine” design with the engine practically sitting in the driver’s lap. Now forgive me, but that’s a lap dance I’d love to personally experience!

This Porsche 550A Le Mans Coupe is powered by a 1,498-cc air-cooled DOHC flat four. It finished 5th overall and 1st in class at the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans. From 1956 -1960 it racked-up 19 podium finishes including 2nd in class at the 1957 12 hours of Sebring. Among the acclaimed drivers behind its wheel were Ken Miles, Jean Pierre Kunstle and AK Smith.

Who’s the lucky soul riding shotgun in this drop-dead gorgeous Ferrari 250TR? Mechanic? Best friend? Insurance agent? Well, your guess is as good as mine but whoever the passenger and driver are they are no doubt grinning from ear-to-ear. This car raced in the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans but didn’t finish after being involved in an accident on its 72^nd lap.

It’s immediately recognizable in its powder blue and marigold orange Gulf livery. This is the famous Ford GT40 P/1075 in which Jackie Ickx won the 1969 Le Mans, beating the Porsche he was drafting by two seconds. It was one of the closest competitive finishes in the race’s history and the second win for the car using the same chassis. Ickx would credit the mechanics and the team’s mantra of “Dare to Win” for the victory.

Raced and crashed during practice at Le Mans in 1966, this silver Scuderia Bear GT40 P/1029 was resurrected some time ago and has since been competing in exhibition races like the Goodwood Revival in Sussex, UK and here at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. I captured this staging lane moment with driver and mechanic, laser-focused on directions from the race officials.

The Whittington Brothers Racing Porsche 935 Turbo kisses the paint at the bottom of the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. These American brothers, Don and Bill, along with German co-driver Klaus Ludwig won its class at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans in their 3.0L twin turbo Porsche 930 for Kremer Racing of Germany. Of note in 1979 was the presence of fellow racer Paul Newman who was driving for Dick Barbour Racing.

Don’t forget to add masking tape and brown Kraft paper to your race-prep tool box! It’ll come in handy when you enter your priceless Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta TdF Coupe in an exhibition race at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. This shiny red and mustard yellow example was a crowd pleaser in the Le Mans Centennial Heritage Display area.

She’s drop-dead gorgeous and rather intimidating. No, I’m not talking about Supermodel Bella Hadid; I’m talking about this wicked Peugeot 908 HDi race car, owned and raced by David Porter. Every angle of this storied race winner oozes sexiness, power and unnerving superiority. It was yet another reason I spent so much time drooling over the 40 cars I discovered in the Le Mans Heritage Display area during MONTEREY CAR WEEK: LET’S RACE.

Speaking of sexiness, this Briggs Cunningham fielded 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans racecar has the kind of body only a mother or, in this case, a builder could love! It rides on a Cadillac Series 61 chassis and is powered by a Cadillac V8. Such beauty quickly earned this aluminum bodied endurance racer the nickname, “Le Monstre.” Grumman Aircraft Company assisted with the body design and fabrication.

Belying its age and rising like Melville’s Moby Dick from the crest at Turn 7 is the large and in charge ‘29 Bentley Old Number One. To say this beautiful beast is legendary is an understatement – as it was the first racecar to win at Le Mans twice – winning in 1929 and again 1930. Its final race win was in 1931 at Brooklands.

Back in 1963 advertising Creative Director Bill Backer penned the jingle, Things Go Better with Coke. Perhaps that was the unfair advantage Porsche was looking for with its Coke-liveried 962 GT. As the story goes, “Porsche built a single works 962 for testing and development purposes. It was entered for Mario and Michael Andretti in the 1984 Daytona 24 Hours race. As a sign of things to come, they easily qualified the car on pole with a margin of nearly two seconds over the next fastest car. Sadly, the race ended early for them due to a transmission problem.” Coke did not change its jingle to, “Things Sometimes Go Better with Coke!”

It is about half the weight, horsepower and aerodynamic drag of a typical Le Mans Prototype and in 2012, it thrilled Le Mans racing fans until it was pushed off the road by a Toyota prototype. It unfortunately could not recover to get back to the pits after a hard impact into the wall by the Porsche Curves. The Nissan DeltaWing was designed by Ben Bowlby and developed with the help of Dan Gurney, Chip Ganassi and Duncan Dayton.

WORDS & PHOTOS: Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

Many thanks to the thousands of volunteers without who the fabulous Monterey Car Week shows and events, and MONTEREY CAR WEEK: LET’S RACE wouldn’t happen.

For more information about the Reunion, please visit https://hsrrace.com/rolexmontereymotorsportsreunion2022/

Check out information about events at Laguna Seca @ https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/government-links/weathertech-raceway

RUF PORSCHE BERGMEISTER

Carbon-skinned RUF PORSCHE BERGMEISTER lightweight prototype broke cover today alongside the RUF SCR at the exclusive Quail Motorsports Gathering.

RUF Automobile, manufacturer of exclusive and authentic high-performance sports cars, revealed two special vehicles at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. Project RBS, or “Bergmeister,” made its world debut alongside the naturally aspirated SCR, which is being seen for the first time in North America.

The never-before-seen Bergmeister is inspired by the legendary Porsche 906, the 909 Bergspyder and the 718 RS 60 Spyder hillclimb cars, and was designed by Tony Hatter. Mounted in the rear is a dry sump, RUF-engineered, air-cooled 3.6-liter single-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 450 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, connected to a six-speed manual transmission.

The RUF PORSCHE BERGMEISTER all-carbon skinned roadster combines the best of classic design and modern engineering in a package ready to master both road and track. True to RUF’s heritage, the pursuit of the perfect driving experience has never been more visceral. Black Alcantara lines the entire interior and the driver sits in bucket seats, with an Alcantara-clad steering wheel rounding out the driving experience. With its direct steering, the Bergmeister responds to the slightest wheel input and ensures precise handling.

“When we began building our own automobiles in 1974 it was all for the thrill of the drive,” said Alois Ruf, owner of RUF Automobile GmbH. “We are honored to be featured at The Quail and to celebrate the passion for driving with our friends. Bergmeister embodies the most elemental driving experience, while the SCR highlights the latest technology offerings from our team in Pfaffenhausen.”

Alongside Bergmeister and debuting in North America for the first time, the newly developed SCR prototype carries much of the same DNA as the 1978 original dressed in a modern package using RUF’s latest technology and engineering. The carbon-fiber monocoque and bodywork deliver maximum strength with minimum weight, while an integrated roll cage and rear space frame provide rigidity.

The iconic SCR build, below, is designed as a state-of-the-art sports car for those who prefer the soundtrack of a naturally aspirated engine. The consistent light-weight construction and powerful engine result in the feeling of a racecar built for the street. The 4.0-liter flat-six produces 510 horsepower at 8,270 RPM and 346 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, giving the car the optimal mechanical feel.

For more information on the RUF PORSCHE BERGMEISTER and the SCR, and other performance vehicles, please visit https://www.ruf-automobile.de/en/

MOTORLUX @ MONTEREY CAR WEEK

Introducing Motorlux @ MONTEREY CAR WEEK, a reimagined event that builds on McCall’s Motorworks Revival’s Monterey Jet Center legacy.

Hagerty’s Motorlux is a fresh take on Monterey Car Week’s kick-off party which builds on the foundation of McCall’s Motorworks Revival. Returning to the Monterey Jet Center on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, Motorlux remains faithful to its elegant entertaining roots while creating elevated and artfully curated experiences that celebrate automotive, aviation and culinary culture.

“We are grateful to Gordon and Molly McCall for entrusting us as stewards of this prestigious gathering that they founded and grew into a world-class event,” said Soon Hagerty, Senior Vice President of Brand, Hagerty. “Monterey Car Week is the most anticipated annual enthusiast automotive event and we’re dedicated to ensuring that Motorlux remains the benchmark celebration of cars, craft and community that sets the stage for the days to come.”

With refinements throughout, Motorlux will feature a themed approach to food and beverage with menus and signature cocktails created by local culinary experts. Immersive displays, showcasing automotive, aviation, fashion and design innovators will set the stage for networking and community, encouraged by a new seating concept throughout the hangar.

New this year, Motorlux and the Monterey Jet Center will serve as a live automotive auction platform. The boutique auction, offering approximately 80 exceptional motor cars, will be presented by Broad Arrow Auctions and its team of industry veterans. The auction preview is set to take place on Wednesday, August 17, with the sale scheduled for Thursday, August 18. Additional information on the auction can be found at https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/

MOTORLUX @ MONTEREY CAR WEEK is proud to continue to support the CHP 11-99 Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping families of California Highway Patrol officers in times of need. Since 1982, it has provided over $42 million in assistance, including $35 million in vocational and academic scholarships.

“We love the CHP 11-99 Foundation’s mission and we are so proud to help them provide emergency assistance and scholarship support to the families of California Highway Patrol officers,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “Charitable giving has always been integral to this event. We want to honor that legacy by building on this wonderful tradition as part of our commitment to doing well by doing good.”

For more details about MOTORLUX @ MONTEREY CAR WEEK Please visit https://www.motorlux.com/

For more information about Hagerty, please visit https://www.hagerty.com/