x
Breaking News
More () »

Concours d'Elegance celebrates its 70th anniversary in Monterey

A celebration of car excellence that lasts a week.

Concours d'Elegance is celebrating its 70th anniversary in Monterey. It's a celebration of car excellence that lasts a week. 

We start at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca where we found three San Diegans. 

"I'm in the FIA and IMSA group, 1973 - 1981. There's more modern LMP cars so each run group is part of history," said Mark Lenard,  

Don Anderson has campaigned his 1964 Bobsy Porsche over 2 decades.

"This car wet with me, 10 gallons of gas, 17 quarts of oil and a drive at 175 pounds weighs 1375 pounds." 

That lets Don drive the way he likes.

"If the car isn't moving around and drifting through the corners you're not going fast enough."

Pancho Guzman was running his Porsche Duralite that started as a 550A.

"The owner crashed the car when it was brand new, so he couldn't afford a new body from the factory, so he decided to build this one, it's one of a kind."

The Historics are celebrating Pony cars in Trans-Am racing. So, while cars are on display,  those at the track can also be part of what's going on in the pits.

Concorso Italiano is all Italian... San Diegan Gary Bobileff has been Chief judge for 23 years. 

"This year it's a tribute to Lamborghini, it's the Countach 50 anniversary. Italian cars offer something that typical German or American cars do not, as nice as they are they are. The Italian cars are flamboyant."

John Buckman from San Diego is the original owner of this 1971 Di Tomaso Pantera and the Love affair continues.

"The lines of the car, the fact that it was ahead of its time for the '70s."

It's not all pay to play. Concours on the Avenues starts the week, The Little Car Show is delightful... and if Porsche runs in your veins there's the Werks.

And then there's the Concours d'Elegance where I spoke with San Diegan, Jonathan Segal.

"So, this is the premier event for automobile display in the entire world. When anybody in any level of car collecting says their car went to Pebble you instantly know it's a car unsurpassed by any other."

Segal has won at Pebble 3 times and is going for the grand slam

"We have a 1956 Maserati A6 G2000 Zagato Coupe."

And like Jonatan the Zagato has San Diego roots

"In 1956 this car was sold out of San Francisco to the owner, James Hoke in San Diego."

There were three evolutions of the Zagato.

"The third one split the bumpers across, added 2 pieces on top so it evolved, and this is the last one made."

Russel Hook from La Jolla brought his families one-off Pininfarina Mercedes Benz 230 SL  

"Mercedes normally designs their own cars in house. This is one of the rare times to be stylized at a custom coach house."

The artistry and engineering is amazing... some of the rarest... to the fastest cars in the world could be seen on the lawn at the Concours d'Elegance. Not to mention 40 of the best in show were on display from the past 70 years. 

And Jonathan Segal got his Grand Slam.

Before You Leave, Check This Out