For the past several years, motorcycles have been a major part of the concours, Brits, American, Italian, German and this year French. I stopped in at the Concours office in Carmel Valley and was joking with Peeble Beach media boss, Kandace Hawkinson, about French motorcycles and she pulled out a list of entrants with French brand names I had never heard of and probably neither have any of you.

 

On Sunday, August 18, 2013, at dawn with the usual heavy cold fog making visibility difficult, dozens of the greatest motorcars and motorcycles in the world are driven, ridden, and pushed to their places on the 18th fairway of the iconic Pebble Beach golf course. The judges wander among  the automobiles and motorcycles and decide after hearing each and every one start and run, which are the best of the best. At 10 am  the paying public was allowed on the fairway to view these vehicles and enjoy the company of others who share their passion. General admission tickets this year were $225 in advance and $275 at the gate. This event raises more than $1 million annually for local charities.

 

“Considered The Premior American Concours,” says The New York Times. Even car collector and jokester, Jay Leno, says, “Pebble Beach Concours is the best. It’s the one that can give a car a pedigree. By winning your class, or even coming in second or third there, gives your car a pedigree that no other show can.” I must agree, there ain’t nothin like it. When I was at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction when some classic cars were rolled onto the auction lane, the auctioneer will reverently announce “This car was on the grass at Pebble Beach,” and that said,  it would bring a premium price.

 

The huge amount of effort to create this show is amazing. Temporary tent buildings are constructed for car manufacturers, auctions, and vendors. The logistics to put this together are mind boggling. Meanwhile, during this entire project, golfers are still smacking little white balls and then trying to find them. In the Pebble Beach community there are hundreds of homes connected with skinny two-lane twisting roads jammed with exotic cars, tractor trailers, and all the things that keeps a village going. The end result is the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach on the final 18th fairway of a exclusive golf course was once again an indescribable, unbelievable collection of motorized vehicles on two, three, and four wheels in one of the most beautiful areas on the edge of the  American continent.

 

Many thanks to Kandace and Aya, you were great.