Monterey Car Week 2015 - The Week Gets Busier
I missed Monterey Car Week last year moving back to the Bay Area. I went through severe withdrawal but after a year of rehab I think I'm back to normal.
Car Week runs from August 10th through the 16th unless you count the Pre-Reunion of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca that runs on the 9th and 10th. There is more car events and stuff than most people will be able to see or attend. Really it is that busy. So chose your events carefully and remember traffic can be horrendous and getting from downtown Monterey to Pebble Beach or the Carmel Valley could take you an hour. Parking is always scarce.
If you plan on dining in the area reservations are recommended for the busiest nights. The Monterey Peninsula has a wide variety of restaurants. Some places I've eaten and would recommend are The Crown & Anchor (British Pub), 150 W. Franklin, Monterey; Baja Cantina & Grill, (Mexican) 7166 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel; Sandbar & Grill, (Seafood) Municipal Wharf, Monterey; Monterey Fish House, (Seafood) 2114 Del Monte Ave, Monterey; Peppers Mexicali Restaurant, (Mexican) 170 Forest Ave, Pacifica Grove; Goodies Delicatessen (really good sandwiches and salads), 518 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove; and Duffy's Tavern & Family Restaurant, (Bar food, burgers) 282 High St, Monterey.
I could list all the events but others do an excellent job. The best source is Sports Car Digest; they always have a good listing; see it at http://www.sportscardigest.com/tag/monterey-week/. The Monterey County Herald, the local newspaper, always does a supplement for the week but it doesn't come out until just before the start.
I usually try to attend all of the auctions at least once just to take photos. I try to stop by a few to watch the action as well. Russo and Steele is always fun to watch. Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions are very posh. Check the listings for auctions - some allow free viewing.
When I went in 2013 I tried to squeeze in as many events as possible and I was frazzled. This year I think I'm going to be a little more selective. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elgance is a given for me; it takes up all of Sunday. Concorso Italiano is on Saturday and conflicts with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion but they are near each other so it is possible I'll do both, Exotics on Cannery Row (Friday) sounds interesting and it's free. The Little Car Show on Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove is always fun but I'm not sure if I'll be there on Wednesday. If you're in town on Tuesday you have to go to Concours On The Avenue, Carmel-By-The-Sea, also free.
Car Week runs from August 10th through the 16th unless you count the Pre-Reunion of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca that runs on the 9th and 10th. There is more car events and stuff than most people will be able to see or attend. Really it is that busy. So chose your events carefully and remember traffic can be horrendous and getting from downtown Monterey to Pebble Beach or the Carmel Valley could take you an hour. Parking is always scarce.
If you plan on dining in the area reservations are recommended for the busiest nights. The Monterey Peninsula has a wide variety of restaurants. Some places I've eaten and would recommend are The Crown & Anchor (British Pub), 150 W. Franklin, Monterey; Baja Cantina & Grill, (Mexican) 7166 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel; Sandbar & Grill, (Seafood) Municipal Wharf, Monterey; Monterey Fish House, (Seafood) 2114 Del Monte Ave, Monterey; Peppers Mexicali Restaurant, (Mexican) 170 Forest Ave, Pacifica Grove; Goodies Delicatessen (really good sandwiches and salads), 518 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove; and Duffy's Tavern & Family Restaurant, (Bar food, burgers) 282 High St, Monterey.
I could list all the events but others do an excellent job. The best source is Sports Car Digest; they always have a good listing; see it at http://www.sportscardigest.com/tag/monterey-week/. The Monterey County Herald, the local newspaper, always does a supplement for the week but it doesn't come out until just before the start.
I usually try to attend all of the auctions at least once just to take photos. I try to stop by a few to watch the action as well. Russo and Steele is always fun to watch. Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions are very posh. Check the listings for auctions - some allow free viewing.
When I went in 2013 I tried to squeeze in as many events as possible and I was frazzled. This year I think I'm going to be a little more selective. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elgance is a given for me; it takes up all of Sunday. Concorso Italiano is on Saturday and conflicts with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion but they are near each other so it is possible I'll do both, Exotics on Cannery Row (Friday) sounds interesting and it's free. The Little Car Show on Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove is always fun but I'm not sure if I'll be there on Wednesday. If you're in town on Tuesday you have to go to Concours On The Avenue, Carmel-By-The-Sea, also free.
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