The pursuit of excellence, a passion for the enduring and a sense of tradition are the core values of the international classic car scene. These ideals are shared by Rolex and are in abundance each August on California’s Monterey Peninsula, as a region is transformed into a hub of vintage automobile excellence for Monterey Classic Car Week, with which the Swiss watchmaker has been deeply involved since 1997.
The Monterey Classic Car Week, the most important annual gathering of premium classic racing and road cars in North America, has broken all records in 2015. The Monterey magic was working at full revs for not only were the cars the stars, but a vast number of legendary racing drivers reading like a ‘Who’s Who’ of the motor sport world, was in attendance to add further spice to what has become one of the most significant motoring events in the global motoring calendar.
The ‘Week, which concluded yesterday with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance staged at the former home of the US Open, the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, has been acclaimed by many authoritative commentators from around the world. Three times FIA Formula 1 World Champion and Rolex Testimonee, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE speaking at Pebble Beach: “What we have here is an outstanding series of events that are a great celebration of the car over many decades. Long may it thrive”.
For Rolex the Monterey Classic Car Week got underway in earnest on Thursday 13th August with the Tour, a feature introduced in 1998 and partnered by Rolex, since 2007. The event is now of greater significance since participation could help when the result of the final event, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, may be influenced in the event of a tie, by one car’s performance in the Tour.
This year nearly 200 varied but highly valued classics took part in the 80 mile (129 kilometers) drive, ranging from a 1902 Panhard et Lavassor TB1 saloon to unusually, a Mercedes-Benz yet to go on sale – the AMG GT-S. But, it is the classics that dominate the entry much to the delight of the thousands of enthusiasts lining the route, filming and waving as the valuable classics drive serenely by.
Tour entrant Bill Kuettel took passengers in his rare 1928 Lincoln Cabriolet this year so that they could share the excitement of the experience. Through pine forests and scrubland, the Lincoln headed East on the historic 17 mile drive in bright sunshine to the first stop at Clint Eastwood’s Tehama Country Club where entrants were able to take refreshments while admiring each other’s classics.
The Tour then headed West before turning South onto the famously scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 to Big Sur for the second stop. Rolex fan, 85 year old Bill was wearing his 25 year old Rolex Cellini and also spoke fondly of his 18 K yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
Bill then drove the Lincoln to the lunch stop on Ocean Avenue in Carmel where the entrants were practically mobbed by a huge crowd, keen to become part of what has become a great celebration of the car from all ages. Lunch in the sunshine was followed by a return to the start in Pebble Beach by 2.00pm, all knowing they had taken part in a very popular and significant, part of the Monterey Classic Car Week.
The Quail is regarded by many as a jewel of the week and is a crucial element of the Monterey programme. Rolex has been the Official Timepiece of The Quail since 2005. The day, which is by paid admission only, takes the form of a well-dressed, very large garden party with fine food accompanied by displays of a wide variety of beautiful classic cars from around the world.
Amongst the attendees, former Formula 1 Grand Prix star and proud Rolex owner Jochen Mass summed up The Quail: “It has developed over the past ten years to be the most important event of the week. It is a special and unique setting.” Mass admitted that his favourite Rolex is his Cosmograph Daytona whilst also mentioning his Submariner.
There is a always wide variety of exhibits at The Quail and this year was no exception. A recent creation, called an Auburn-Bugatti Delahaye Boattail Seepdster, drew particular attention. The stunning, artistic aerodynamic creation is the brainchild of Terry Cook.
An ex-Le Mans original Ford GT40 race car that had won the Rolex 24 At Daytona which was displayed alongside the latest Ford GT, was also a draw, while a Maserati 200SI once raced in 1956 by Sir Stirling Moss, also caused a stir.
The race day at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday was another action-packed, scorching hot day for the many thousands of classic race (and road) car fans. While the whole Monterey Peninsula was awash with priceless supercars of today, a rich mix of racing cars from all eras including pre 1940s up to IMSA GTP & GTO classes from 1981 to 1991, were competing. Also a new feature this year was a race featuring Formula 1 cars from 1967 to 1984.
The Rolex-supported event was a bonanza for all car enthusiasts with close racing a feature of all classes. Also marking the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Mustang, there were parade laps completed by a collection of Carroll Shelby’s iconic Ford Mustang performance cars to mark this important milestone.
Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart took part in a very amusing question and answer session with US racer Scott Pruett at an event called “Picnic in the Park”. The session, chaired by BRDC member and former race driver himself Murray Smith, caused great amusement as both drivers recounted tales of their careers in the top echelons of international motor sport.
In perfect weather conditions, nearly 200 classic cars entered for the Concours were viewed by a capacity crowd from the early hours of Sunday 16th through until the presentation of the category awards culminating in the most prestigious, The Best of Show Award, in the late afternoon. Staged on the 18th fairway of the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links beside the Pacific Ocean, the event takes the form of a garden party with attendant displays and classical music.
The quality of the entrants, many of them priceless, is very high. Such a large number of very rare and immaculate classics, presents a challenge to the many judges. This year, they chose a rare Isotta Fraschinio Tipo 8A manufactured in Milan in 1924.
The owner, Jim Patterson of Louisville, Kentucky, acquired the car at Retromobile, Paris in early 2014. Since then the very impressive car was subject to a comprehensive restoration programme, involving every nut and bolt and the result clearly convinced the judges.
Mr Patterson who has a collection of “several dozen cars”, plans to take the Isotta Fraschinio to more Concourse events. A Rolex devotee of many years, Mr Patterson has in his collection two of the time pieces one of which is an example of a ‘vintage’ President Day-Date 18 K yellow gold.
Among the international roll-call of stars attending the Monterey Classic Car Week, were from the UK: Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Sir Stirling Moss OBE, DerekBell MBE, Brian Redman and Alain de Cadenet. US stars included Bob Bondurant, Scott Pruett, Bobby Rahal, Hurley Heywood, Danny Sullivan, Lynn St James, Skip Barber, Tony Adamovicz, John Morton, David Donohue (Grand-Am’s Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class), Bill Auberlen and New Zealand’s Howden Ganley.
As the Official Timepiece of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Rolex maintains its shared motivation: a passion for endurance, innovation and tradition, with total success.