Pebble Beach

[stiffy]

Hello Cobra Folk,

I am planning to go to next years Pebble Beach Auto Week.

Has anyone been to the event? if so I would like some tips on where to stay/eat/drink and so on.

Thanks in advance


STIFFY

[Varmit]

Originally Posted by stiffy

Hello Cobra Folk,

I am planning to go to next years Pebble Beach Auto Week.

Has anyone been to the event? if so I would like some tips on where to stay/eat/drink and so on.

Thanks in advance


STIFFY

You probably need to make hotel reservations about now!!!!!! We are planning on heading over. I'm going with guys who have been there before, and they advise we need to get started....rooms are at a very exclusie rate during that week.

[RodKnock]

Keith Martin's "Sports Car Market" magazine publishes an excellent guide on the entire week's events, places to go, people to see, things to do. Hopefully this link will work for you:

MontereySupplement2011

[Bxx1]

I have been attending the Pebble Beach/Monterey car events for years. Love driving down Hwy 1. The link is a comprehensive list of automotive events/auctions during the week in August, 2012. You should be able to find a few events you like.
And... get your room reservation at least 6 months in advance.


http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/t...83dc1df89e.pdf

[Bxx1]

AND....those traveling to the Monterey area in August from northern CA might be interested in a Cobra caravan - - perhaps we can make some arrangements and make some noise down the coast.

[stiffy]

Guy's,

Thanks for the prompt reply's.

I want to organise accomodation well in advance hence the post.

I will be travelling without a car and dont want to hire one as I like a beer or two ( even American one's ) what is the taxi/cab situation like? is there shuttle bus's available? any info will be great,

Cheers Stiffy

[decooney]

Stiffy,

Do not wait another day to try and find and secure a hotel room. Monterey Car Week is one of the most significant gatherings on the planet for historic car nuts. I see you are from Melbourne, our local group has friends who come over from Australia every year. Some in the group going to Monterey for 35 years, every year. I've been going on/off for the past 15 years myself, skipped the past two years - but not skipping this year. Its a must do at least once, and something not to miss this year in particular with 50th anniversary of you know what going on. Heads up, rooms are very expensive during this time. Many of us go on return waiting lists just to get a room Thursday through Sunday anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula during car week. Usually, its a four night minimum on rooms at most lodging locations on the peninsula. The track at Laguna Seca on Sat or Sun over the weekend, maybe Concours Italiano on Friday, and if you like high end older fancy stuff and maybe seeing some new prototype cars, Sunday at Concours De Elegance at the lodge at Pebble Beach Golf course is cool to do at least once. Checking out the auctions in downtown monterey is lots of fun too in the evenings on Friday and Saturday nights. If you like vintage, or vintage race cars, you can see more here in one week than many other events all year long. Good Luck.

Here is another website to check out for all the major events: Monterey Car Week, Monterey, California, your only source for complete events schedules and local information.*

[badrich]

Rohan: I see you got the local group. I sent you a personal message. I'll check with my mechanic who is in Monterey and see if can give me more important details on hotels, etc. Rich

[stiffy]

Hey Duane,

Thanks for the link, great mag.

Badrich stayed at my place a few years back for the Melbourne F1 race.

Got your PM cheers,

STIFFY

[Pumpkin]

Monterey Peninsula Car week. Hey Stiffy, This event has almost morphed into car month.
I live here and the peninsula is comprised of 3 main cities(towns) Monterey, Pebble Beach & Carmel. There are many fine hotels, but as others have pointed out they fill up fast and well in advance.
My choice would be the La Playa Hotel in Carmel, but it sold recently and has closed for rennovations. It should be open by next year's event. There are many smaller bed & breakfast type places also. If you stay in Carmel, you are close to all the action except for the auctions and Laguna Seca historic races. There is good taxi service available and you can rent a car if you find the need to do so. There are shuttles offered and the larger hotels offer shuttles too. Parking is hell at the height of the activity.
Mission Ranch. Pine Inn, Carmel Mission Inn for lodging in Carmel.
You should be able to find your way around pretty easily. In Monterey, you might try some of the larger hotels of which there are several. Marriott, Sheraton, Hyatt. On the fringe of Monterey is the Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn Express and some others.
There are no shortage of restaurants either, The warf has some, but they typically are not the upscale ones but do offer decent seafood. Carmel has some really nice spots, then in Pebble Beach there is the Lodge @ Pebble Beach and over @ Spanish Bay, the Inn @ Spanish Bay has some real upscale dining spots. Pacific Grove might offer you some opportunities as well. It is located along the coast between Monterey & Pebble Beach. An older victorian era town with vintage housing and quaint BnB's. Cannery Row in Monterey also has a couple hotels, but that is further from the action and transportation would be helpful, althought close to the auctions in Monterey.
Good Luck, Bring your wallet.
Glenn

[PANAVIA]

You may also want to get intouch with some of the local clubs, and figure out private accommodations and definitely DO IT NOW. -- 2012 with the Cobras 50th will be one for the record books in attendance. -

Steve

[mickmate]

My missus booked us a place to stay for a few days. When she called back to change it to the whole week it was considerably more on the room rate. Prices are already climbing so now you need to be booked in somewhere. It is sounding like a good place for a bunch of us to meet each other and have some good times.

[stiffy]

Hi Guy's,

I have put my name on a number of accommodation lists already ( thanks to tthis forum and the official PB site )

I want to stay from the Monday to Monday to get it all, I thought there
was a recession in USA, not according to the accommodaation costs I have been quoted I asked if a girl was included, they said its BYO ONLY .

STIFFY

[larryamyers]

Stay in Carmel. There are lots of nice places and all close to shops and eats. You need to rent a car, but if you party in Carmel, you can walk everywhere. Most want a three day stay at that time of year. I just got back, you need to to to Spanish Bay and have drinks before sunset and hear the bagpipper come up from the coast while sitting around the fire. Fishwife is just outside the gate with great food cheap. Cheif Roys Ahi Tuna at Spanish Bay is awesome. To avoid the charge to drive on 17 mile drive, make a reservation at Pebble Beach or Spanish Bay then you go thru the gate for free. Anton & Michell is a great French Resturant if want a NICE dinner in Carmel. The Forge in Carmel has great food very resonable, also in Carmel. Go, don't miss it!

[Mark Thompson]

This is one of the best automobile extravaganzas in the world; you will have a blast. I agree that you should stay in Carmel. It is an easy walk to the lodge for the concours on Sunday and during the week there is more interesting machinery parked along the street than you will find at most shows. Lots of good food there too. Our two favorites are Casanova and Mundaka.

In terms of events, the PB Concours gets the attention, but the Monterey Historic races that weekend at Laguna Seca are the best opportunity to see amazing original machinery up close and also in action. Be sure to buy a paddock pass. You will casually see things like 6 original Cobra FIA cars parked in a line. I have the picture! Bring a good quality point and shoot. On Tuesday there is (usually) the Carmel concours downtown that rivals the PB event in terms of variety and car quality. The PB cars also make a run south on highway 1. Monastery Beach is a great place to sit and watch with the Pacific on one side and the cars going by on the other. The one event I find disappointing is Concorso Italiano. I am a Ferrari owner and fan of all things Ferrari, but it is grievously overpriced and doesn't attract anything very special. This year there were 23 GTOs at PB, six at Laguna Seca, and 0 at the Concorso. I have scratched it from my list.

Have fun, Mark

[stiffy]

Guy's,

My plan is as follows,

Arrive Fri to LA, drive to San Fran to have a beer with Badrich and spend a few days there.

Arrive at Carmel on the Monday for the week. Would like to see the street car shows on the Tuesday/Wednesday and enjoy the ocean and food ( I dont eat seafood so that will restrict it a bit ) then an auction, Quail on the Friday, Leguna Seca on the Saturday and then PB on the Sunday. Go for liver transplant in Hawaii on the way home

How does that sound,

STIFFY

[stiffy]

Guy's,

A thought, as accommodation is so expensive and difficult to get
AND that I need a car to get around.

What would be the option to hire a Motor Home ???

driveability / difficulty parking at the events / licensing requirements / can you park in the car parks and stay overnight at Carmel/Monterey/Laguna Seca?

Let me know your thoughts,

STIFFY

[Mulv]

You can park housecars at Laguna Seca, they have a campground . I have a feeling that it might be slightly pricey to get one in either LA or SF and then to park it at Pebble may be a challenge. Carmel too as on-street parking might be tough. The Concourse and the LS races are on the same day as well and it is a staggering $400- for two people to go to the Pebble event. Personally , I detest car shows and prefer events that have the cars in motion like the Laguna Seca Historics but that may not be as you think, perhaps you like to see some of the elegant cars of the 30's and 40's.
These races are like a parade by the way, and not like vintage races in Europe where they actually go flat out and bang fenders on their way to the chequered flag which I suspect they do at Phillip Island as well. The people who live in Northern Cal have no idea what lucky tomatoes they are to avoid all of these logistics to see things that week...

[stiffy]

Guy's,

I have had the accommodation and Sunday Concourse d'Elegance confirmed, just waiting for the Quale raffle to see if I can do the double, if not it will be another friday event.


Thanks for the info guys, hopefully I will see a few of you there....


STIFFY

[mickmate]

Do you think the best place for 3 days is the Raceway? Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
or take Sunday off for the Concourse? The Concourse is a $200 ticket for one day, I wondered if you guys thought it was worth it.