Robb Report’s Monterey Car Week Package Treats You Like a Concours VIP for 5 Nights
Although Northern California’s Monterey County is impacted by three major geologic fault zones, the primary seismic activity it experiences is on the automotive landscape, as the region becomes the industry’s annual epicenter every August. Monterey Car Week celebrates motoring at the highest level, drawing the world’s leading automakers, prominent collectors, racing cognoscenti, and general enthusiasts across all demographics.
The origin story dates back to 1950 and the debut of the Pebble Beach Road Races, initially conducted on a 1.8-mile circuit that comprised the tree-lined, serpentine byways of what’s now iconic 17-Mile Drive. Racer Phil Hill piloted a Jaguar XK120 to victory at the inaugural contest, while Carroll Shelby took the honors at the last competition in 1956.
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Though the races had a fairly short run, the complementing concours has gone on to become the preeminent event of its kind, one that’s arguably the ultimate enhancement to any accepted entry’s provenance and value, as it was for last year’s Best of Show, a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster.
On August 18, the 73rd edition of Pebble’s storied showcase will feature specialty categories that include a tribute to the 125th anniversary of Packard, a look back at the golden age of Maserati, and a retrospective on cars campaigned in the BPR and FIA GT race series of the 1990s.
Yet while the show lawn at Pebble remains the pièce de resistance on Sunday, the menu of events throughout the week leading up to it has grown exponentially since 1950, and can be daunting to even veteran attendees trying to cover as much ground as possible. A well-mapped route of exploration is key, which is why, for more than a decade, Robb Report has curated a guided package that turns what can be an overwhelming cacophony into a finely tuned, exclusively orchestrated experience.
“What makes our experience so special for guests is the unfettered access we provide to OEM’s and their CEO’s, exclusive previews to launches, and sneak-peeks at the auctions,” says Luke Bahrenburg, president of Robb Report.
For the luxury journal’s RR1 club members and others who opt for the package, the 500-acre Carmel Valley Ranch will provide accommodations for the duration of the trip, with check-in on August 14. For 2024, the program will include a new component, the House of Robb. Open August 16 and 17 at the same location, the invite-only enclave—also opened for SXSW and the Las Vegas Grand Prix—is where the publication comes to life. “House of Robb will be a venue for discussions, test drives, tastings, and convening—a home base to welcome our car enthusiasts and prospective members,” says Bahrenburg.
Along with Sunday’s concours, other highlights will include the Quail, a Motorsports Gathering on Friday, and Saturday’s private viewing of a selection of rarified machines that will cross the block through Gooding & Company, Pebble’s official auction house—a preview hosted by founder David Gooding.
Last year, Gooding and his team were responsible for $91.6 million in sales out of the $400.1 million in total (according to classic-car insurer Hagerty) garnered by five major auction houses. Gooding’s top performer was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Coupe that fetched $9.465 million.
While the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance remains Monterey Car Week’s raison d’être and is unmatched in stature, the Quail’s exhibition—at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley—has quickly become both the more exclusive ticket and the chosen venue for global model debuts by the most renowned automakers. In 2023, the event saw 17 reveals from such names as Lamborghini, Pininfarina, McLaren, and Bugatti. The 2024 edition will commemorate the centenary of MG, five decades of the Porsche 911, and the 30th anniversary of hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg Automotive. And it’s all complemented by several all-inclusive catering pavilions by the Peninsula Hotels.
Fine dining is also a hallmark of Robb Report’s entire itinerary, with wine-paired dinners often either preceded or followed by customized tastings, which have ranged from caviar to cognac in years past. What makes the package truly unique, though, are the private receptions hosted by luxury and high-performance marques.
Last year, the latter included a continental breakfast and briefing with the founder of Czinger, a trackside meet-and-greet with some of the squad at newly resurrected Bizzarrini, and face time with executives of Lamborghini and Bentley at their respective villas. These afford participants the opportunity to, in some cases, be among the first to see, have seat time in, and even order limited-edition supercars and hypercars. After all, walking the show lawn at any concours is always better when a car of your own is on it.
“The events and auctions that comprise Monterey Car Week are unrivaled for the quality and variety of the collector cars, and every new luxury marque is there too, says Robb Report’s automotive editor at large, Robert Ross, who will serve as guide. Ross likens it to “a four-wheel beauty pageant and a master’s class in automotive history, combined,” adding that he’s “made the annual pilgrimage for nearly 25 years, and every time promises to be a new adventure.”
To embark on this adventure with Robb Report, or for more information, click here.
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