Monterey Auto Week is hard to describe, particularly since it lasts nearly two weeks. And Monterey Auto Week isn’t really an official name, either, because there isn’t an official name to all of the car-related activities on the Monterey Peninsula in August. Nonetheless, the sensory overload of all things automotive continued this week with the second Carmel-By-The Sea Concours on the Avenue.
Porsche and Ferrari were the attractions Monday on Ocean Avenue in Carmel and accompanying side streets. And on Tuesday marques from 1946-1971 were presented.
Both days were nirvana for car owners and automotive enthusiasts. But the Tuesday gathering was particularly enjoyable, classic Volkswagen Beetles to a rare Kaiser Darrin, pristine Mercedes Benz coupes to an early Toyota Corolla, a prime example of the most popular car ever made.
But what of this 10 days of automobile stuff? It begins with pre-historics at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and ends with granddaddy of offerings, the famed Concours d’Elegance.
Without an umbrella event overseeing the marketing, it seems like every event is out for itself. Which makes sense, since word on the street is that many of event organizers don’t get along.
Organizers of the Concours On The Avenue received keen reviews, particularly for a second-year event. And in its slick and informative magazine, it reprinted an article about the inaugural event in which author William Edgar provides an apropos description:
“Ten fabulous days in August frame the Monterey Pre-Historic and Historic Automobile Races, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, sundry vintage car auctions, tribute galas, corporate summits and elite dinners.”
Edgar got nearly everything in 28 words, but a few events are missing. Nonetheless, the Monterey Auto Week, Monterey Ten-Day Automania or whatever. It’s hard to beat even for someone with a mild interest in cars. But it’s finding a good name that’s proving difficult.
Article Last Updated: August 8, 2008.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.