Monterey Car Week: Everything You Need To Know

The world's finest automakers have just finished showing off their wares at Monterey Car Week - in our opinion, now the best auto show in the world - showing off the most important motor cars on the prettiest golf courses. But if we're being technically accurate, this is not a single event, nor is it designed to be an auto show in the traditional sense. And it's not exclusive to golf courses, either.

So what is it, then? It's a multi-day smorgasbord of all things excellent in the world of automobility, offering exhibits, auctions, reveals, and even a spot of racing, and all of this takes place within a very small radius but at different venues on and around the Monterey Peninsula at various luxurious Monterey golf club venues. Various car clubs, auction houses, and automakers come together, making this a showcase of fine automobiles - some of the best ever made - alongside some of the most spectacular future creations. There's also plenty of racing action thanks to events like the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, among others.

But it was not always that way.

In 1950, the first-ever Pebble Beach Road Race was held in Monterey County in competition for the Del Monte Trophy. The Sports Car Club of America managed the races from 1950-1956 when Ernie McAfee slammed his Ferrari into a tree and died. This was the first and last major accident at the event, and no more Pebble Beach Road Races would be held. But there was something good that came of this. The following year, Laguna Seca Raceway was built on a dry lake bed, hence the name (Spanish for dry lagoon). The circuit continues to be a major drawcard, particularly around the final Monterey Car Weekend.

But back to 1950. Alongside the first Pebble Beach Road Race, the first Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance was held near the Del Monte Lodge, which is now known as The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Two years later, it moved to the 18th green of the Pebble Beach Golf Links golf course, overlooking the bay of Carmel Valley.

Besides 1960's show being canceled due to scheduling conflicts and 2020's 70th event moving to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not a single year has been missed since the inception of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It's become a fixture on the calendar, and always for very good reasons; it's never a disappointment.

With the world's wealthiest car fans descending on Car Week every year, the event has continually evolved to become what it is today. Some events will change here and there, but for the most part, the following is what can be expected from Monterey Car Week events every year.

Monterey Car Week Kick-Off And Pre-Reunions

On the first Friday of Monterey Car Week, exhibitors and competitors arrive in downtown Monterey for a small car show of 30 classic racers. On Saturday, the Monterey Pre-Reunion event takes place for the first time, but it is repeated on Sunday, too, and allows visitors to see over 300 racecars competing at Laguna Seca over two days before the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion - the real highlight - takes place. Also worth keeping in mind is that the paddock is open for showgoers to wander during the reunion event.

The Porsche Monterey Classic

On Monday, Monterey Car Week features the Porsche Monterey Classic, which exhibits several classic P-cars in an exclusive event that, like so many others at Monterey Car Week, this attraction is accompanied by fine whiskeys and wines, music, and hors d'oeuvres. Anybody with a classic Porsche can register for this event so long as their example is at least ten years old, but as one of the most popular shows each year, these slots fill up quickly.

Automobilia Monterey

Another highlight that you may not have heard of at Car Week is Automobilia Monterey, the largest automobilia show in America and, according to What's Up Monterey, the only event during Concours Week when one can find more than 40 international dealers in one venue, making it the ideal hunting ground for that old Steve McQueen poster, long-lost Duesenberg hood ornaments, vintage scale model cars, and much more. This takes place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Classic Motorsports Magazine Monterey Kickoff

The Classic Motorsports Magazine Monterey Kickoff is hosted by Hagerty and begins proceedings on Tuesday with an exhibition of several classic racers. This is one of the few Monterey Car Week events where spectator entry is free, and the ambiance is laid back. It's like taking a stroll at a country club, only that this country club happens to have loads of highly attractive automobiles littering its lawns. Of course, this aspect of the event is sometimes rained out, but the view of the cars glistening and sparkling in the sun immediately thereafter is worth hanging around for.

The Little Car Show

Wednesday is yet another car show, and the theme here is cars that are at least a quarter of a century old. When you say it like that, it sounds like we're talking about machines from the Stone Age, but cars that would qualify for that one criterion include the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, the second-generation Miata, and the E46 BMW 3 Series. For more context, the Wesley Snipes film Blade was released 25 years ago. Feeling old because your daily may soon be a classic car? Don't - just soak up the nostalgia as you meander down memory lane.

Motorlux

Things move a little more upmarket with the event formerly known as McCall's Motorworks Revival. Motorlux by Hagerty (often referred to as the Jet Center Party) is a VIP event that shows off some of the world's best cars, motorcycles, and even aircraft. Vintage vehicles are on display, too, but this is essentially the beginning of Monterey Car Week sales, with most exhibits showing off the latest and greatest luxury mobility solutions. In addition, the Motorlux by Broad Arrow Group helps host the Monterey Jet Center Auction. This invitation-only event is the place to be if you're looking for a new private jet or want to add to your collection of exotic automobiles. If you get bored of the Jet Center Party, you can head to The Lodge at Pebble Beach to see the best collector cars as they arrive from a tour of the peninsula.

Pebble Beach Auctions

Things kick into high gear at Monterey Car Week with several auction previews of the most exquisite classic and exotic cars taking place. Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auction is the headline event and the only auction that takes place within the gates of Monterey's famous 17-Mile Drive. Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction is the next biggest thing, boasting more than 130 cars on offer for Monterey Car Week 2023. RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction is also a regular feature and worth checking out and has historically recorded some of the world's highest sale prices. A preview of the luxury vehicles on offer is held at the Monterey Conference Center, and these often include some of the best listings of the year.

The Mecum Monterey auction starts the following day, with the 2023 event offering some 600 consignments at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course. With so many cars on offer, each of the auctions takes place over several days, and you can find everything from supercars to antique motorcycles.

Prancing Ponies Women's Car Show

Thursday kicks off with an event celebrating women car enthusiasts and car collectors, with a wide variety of female-owned luxury cars on display. You'd think a Prancing Ponies car would have to be a Ferrari, but no. Exotics, muscle cars, sports cars, EVs - everything is there. Proceeds from the event support the Prancing Ponies Foundation, which aims to "create women leaders one girl at a time." Registered guests mingle with the exhibitors in a VIP lounge that offers breakfast, lunch, and wine throughout the day. In addition, a fashion show shines a light on local models and designers, and if you like what they wear, the foundation's garb is sold at a discounted price.

Legends of the Autobahn

If you think Legends of the Autobahn features German automobiles, you're correct. The BMW Car Club of America, the Mercedes Club of America, and - you guessed it - the Audi Club of North America each show off members' rides in a display of the finest German cars across several generations and eras. For those who find the world of exotics and pre-war classics a bit too flashy or a bit too stale, this is the perfect place to get up close and personal with (mostly) attainable machines that don't cost a mortgage to maintain. As a side note, Legends of the Autobahn once included Porsches, too, but eventually, P-cars got their own separate event, discussed later in the article.

Pebble Beach RetroAuto

This covers a load of different retail and manufacturing categories, offering a look at rare collectibles and historic automobilia, art and literature, technological tools, official Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance merchandise, and other luxury goods. One might consider this the most upper-class flea market in the world, and it's open from Friday to Sunday.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the biggest driving event of Monterey Car Week, and it's unmissable. It's been described as a museum springing to life, and that is certainly true - the cars don't simply gather to draw admiring gazes from onlookers; they get on the track and race like in the old days. As you probably guessed, the track is the WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway, keeping traditions alive and enabling enthusiasts to see their dream cars doing what they do best.

Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum

The Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum, presented by AIG & Alliant, is for those who are invested in the world of classic cars and wish to learn more. The world's foremost car collectors are here to discuss all things relevant to the collector car world today. It's basically a place where you can learn all about this changing landscape, from keeping cars maintained to selling them to other collectors. Whatever the biggest news in the classic car world is, this is where industry experts convene to unpack it all from Friday to Sunday.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is the highlight of Monterey Car Week for those who want to see what the latest and greatest cars look like under the California sun. New supercars, bespoke iterations of existing exotics, and concept cars are all shown off here. In 2022, this spectacular event brought us several stunning talking points, including the highly innovative Koenigsegg CC850. This year's edition of the Motorsports Gathering was no less exciting, with the reveals of the first electric Lamborghini and a new Mustang GTD supercar. We're already excited to see what next year may bring.

Porsche Werks Reunion

This event was started by the Porsche Club of America and was established in 2014 as a spin-off of the abovementioned Legends of the Autobahn event. It was traditionally held at the Rancho Canada Golf Club in Carmel Valley, but this has since closed. The event now takes place at the Monterey Pines Golf Club, showing off P-cars old and new. Race categories include Trans-Am racers from 1966-1972 and GT cars from 1955-1962, but there is something for everyone here. Not affiliated with Car Week, the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in September is a Porschephile's wet dream, with racing Porsches from the past, present, and future all taking to the track.

Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally

Yet another display of classic cars and exotic supercars takes place in the downtown business area of Pacific Grove on Lighthouse Avenue. More than 200 cars are on display away from the golf club setting. If you are unable to secure a ticket to enter one of the main venues, this provides the best opportunity to see what you're missing out on. But keep in mind that you won't see automakers showing off their latest wares here - the Pacific Grove event is all about real owners and the cars they love to drive.

Monterey Motorsports Festival

Saturday sees the Monterey County Fair & Event Center's 22 acres populated by loads of attractions, from the latest electric and solar technology, including electric motorcycles and bicycles, to exotics, classics, sports cars, muscle cars, racing cars, and even airplanes. Quads and off-road vehicles are joined by heavy machinery from brands like Caterpillar, John Deere, Bobcat, and more. Even Army tanks and SWAT trucks are shown off, making this a truly diverse event.

Exotics on Broadway

The event previously known as Exotics on Cannery Row is another big highlight for the public, with 2022's event attracting more than 35,000 visitors. Modern supercars and hypercars are just a few feet away, so if you've never seen one in the metal, this annual event is the ideal place to see a large variety of them.

Concorso Italiano

As the name suggests, this is focused on exciting cars from Italy, and more than 1,000 vehicles can be seen, allowing visitors to take in the similarities and differences between various types of cars produced by the Mediterranean country. A Lamborghini Centenario is right at home alongside historic and rare vehicles like a Fiat 600 Multipla. This traditionally takes place at the Bayonet & Blackhorse Golf Club.

Concours d'LeMons Monterey

This is one of the less money-obsessed events, celebrating cars that are far from perfect, have been butchered, or are otherwise less than popular. Collector cars have no place here. A rusty old Buick? It'll be on display. An F-100 modified in the Seventies? It's being ogled. A lifted wagon with a US flag on the roof, chromed wheels, and wrapped fake wood vinyl? The owner is a hero on these grounds. As a palate cleanser and an entertaining, lighthearted way to enjoy cars, this is definitely worth checking out. Some vintage muscle cars can also be spotted in good condition, but most vehicles shown here are just enjoyed for everything except their looks. If you think crappy cars aren't cool, sorry, but you're wrong.

Barnyard Ferrari Owners Club Gathering

Ferrari motorcars are far too special to be surrounded by offerings from other marques, and in this exclusive event, showgoers get access to live music and a great selection of food paired with wines produced by acclaimed Monterey Peninsula makers of fermented grape juice - all in the setting of a huge selection of privately owned Fezzas.

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Without the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, one of the most hotly anticipated collector car events, there may never have been a Monterey Car Week, and as a result, it's the main attraction for those who love seeing cars perfectly preserved by loving owners who will spare no expense to ensure their automobiles are as close to perfect as possible. To make the massive event easier to navigate, there are several classes. Nearby, the Concept Lawn provides a contrast between meticulously maintained classics and the futuristic designs of tomorrow.

The Concours d'Elegance is preceded by the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance, where the competing classics drive a glorious route around Monterey, proving their cars' driveability to earn extra points in the Concours. It also lets the public see and hear these cars in action rather than just parked on a lawn. Considering the exotic race cars that often compete, seeing them on the road is a true privilege.

Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day

2023 was this event's second year. Taking place on the Sunday at Laguna Seca Raceway, drivers take on the circuit in reverse, but only a short portion of it. The timed section starts at Turn 11 and finishes at the top of Turn 8, better known as the treacherous Corkscrew. With major elevation changes here, you finish the race just moments after your hood has been aimed at the moon. Sounds scary, is fun.

What are the highlights of the Monterey Car Week schedule?

It genuinely depends on what your favorite niche of the automotive space is, but our favorite Monterey Car Events are The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and the Concours d'LeMons. If you're looking to acquire automobiles, any of the auctions taking place during Monterey Speed Week are worth checking out.

What is the Monterey Car Week location?

There is not one specific venue or location for the festivities of Monterey Week, but nearly all of them take place on various golf course lawns, besides one or two in town, like the Pacific Grove event. Raceway Laguna Seca is also a popular venue for the world's premier celebration of all things automotive.

When does Monterey Car Week take place?

The dates differ slightly each year, but it is traditionally held in the month of August, usually starting on the second weekend of the month. Monterey Car Week 2023 took place from August 11-20.