The Concours de Elegance 2019: AKA Car Week in the Monterey Bay

If some of this is old news to car buffs, race fans, and vintage fashionistas I apologize with the caveat that all HISTORY is old news and the OLD, Classic, automobiles [sedans, coupes, saloons with their grand carriages] are my personal favorites and begin this Post with them.

I usually dress in 1930's- 1950's style in the hopes I’ll receive an invitation to sit myself in the lap of 1910 - 1950's luxurious leathers, burls, brass, chrome, gold doo-dahs, designed by the finest craftsmen for the financially & socially elite... You know, the swanky swells that would not have given me the time of day or a “fine how do you do” were they still among the living. As actual fortune would have it, they are gone but their coaches live on to enchant us thanks to CAR GUYS & GALS! It is we doing the living who have the good FORTUNE, no matter our bank accounts. Least I forget to mention it again, enjoy every single precious day: priceless.

The gentlemen and ladies who own, cherish, restore, maintain, store, and shine these rolling museums on wheels appreciate that we are here to admire and applaud their efforts sharing their treasured trinkets with a trunk. This is one of those times when we may safely ignore the "Never get in a strangers car" rule.

Let us remember, the sportscars began the Concours here at Pebble Beach in 1950. Those Fiery Ferraris, Magnificent Lamborghinis, Growling Jaguars and their ilk, began the event & are still showstoppers brand new and in classic versions.

After 1945, a few of our WWII veterans brought real world, hairpin turn, asphalt-gravel, arse-kicking, European-style road racing home. Where to rumble? Why, to a stretch of the 17-mile drive between Monterey and Carmel. Just regular car guys like Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill and Bill Pollock showed up, mottled in grease, adjusting their engines for more power. You know the type! They spend as much time under the cars as IN them. Bill Pollack, driving Tom Carsten’s Cadillac Allard, won the 1952 award.[1]

VRRRRROOOM... through the quiet forests hugged by the glistening Pacific Ocean from 1950- 1956 causing more than one Del Monte Forest resident to shake an angry golf-clubbed fist at the rip-roaring reprobates unless they put down the five iron and bought a racer themselves. The noise continued until 1956 when a Ferrari, and its driver, met death while straining his engine and ability towards the trophy on the semi-paved, two-lane, two miles of scenic eye-candy. This tragedy stole the thunder from the streets of the Del Monte Forest and Laguna Seca Raceway was born. The coveted big Sunday party portion, Best of Show was moved to the 18th green at Pebble Beach.

I did say Car Week. From the two-mile-ish race has morphed at LEAST 10 days of car-moto-mania, beauty, prestige and even whimsy in both the Pacific Grove “Little Car Show” and the Seaside “Concours de Lemon [as in LEMON-wreck-rust buckets and PROUD].”

You see me pictured at one of my favorite events, The Concours on the Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea since it is often a cornucopia of the classic oldies which are mobile sculptures that I love. My normal attire reflects affection for the styles of the past.

I buy vintage, when possible, and vintage inspired when not. The Cat's Meow at 601 Lighthouse in Monterey, Ritzy Rags at Dolores & 5th in Carmel are worth an unhurried look. My hat is new from Macys. The dress a new bargain online at New York & Company. The beauty of New York & Company is sizes aren't a problem. This dress came in 0-2X, Petite, Average & Tall. I added the belt and vintage black leather gloves. A bit of glove etiquette: leave them on sipping a drink. For dining take the gloves off, lay on your lap, place napkin on top of gloves and manjiare [eat].

You know I wrote the biography of the 1st female Captain of Industry, Tillie Lewis who was also a car nut. I have no idea where her 1941 Emerald Green Chrysler Newport Phaeton ended up, but actress Lana Turner’s red one is in a museum collection. I do hope you will read Tillie. The book celebrates American heroes, business, success, and food from 1896- 1986. Tillie Ehrlich-Weisberg- Lewis, born into Jewish tenement poverty, developed her business model of including all employees as family, treating everyone on her payroll with respect, asking for their ideas & help while being the role model who gave 100% in excellence to her customers, suppliers, "work family" and country. She ended her days as a Global consultant to Japan, Israel, Italy, Taiwan, Australia...and the United States without breaking a fingernail, mussing her San Marzano Tomato red hair, or running her stockings.

https://www.amazon.com/Tillie-Lewis-Kyle-Elizabeth-Wood/dp/153737267X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Tillie+Lewis%3A+The+Tomato+Queen&qid=1564956096

Things grow more crowded each year. Car Week has gotten overwhelmed with interested tourists, guests, and enthusiasts wisely spreading the venues ever further from that 2-miler on the 17-mile drive. That inclusion of other cities of this beautiful Monterey Bay is a good thing for this spectacle that draws more and more visitors to this Eden many of us are fortunate enough to call home.

Mark your calendars for 2020, 2nd week of August to start your engines, BID on the car of your dreams at the AUCTIONS [This year a 1964 “Goldfinger” Aston Martin fetched $6,400,000 at auction] stroll the shows, enjoy the fine hotels, eateries, ART WORK [do check out the art scene], music, and remember to THANK these car owners-offer a compliment to their moxie to bring their magnificent machines for us all to enjoy.

[1] www.dmtrg.com/category/news/

Del Monte Trophy Racing News. Loads more info and details here.

[1] www.dmtrg.com/category/news/

Del Monte Trophy Racing News. Loads more info and details here.