Pebble, Concorso, Laguna Seca, Beaulieu, Schlumpf, Nethercutt, Goodwood etc. etc

[DHoffmann]

Oh, well hello there.

In 2006 there was a trip undertaken.

This trip started in LA, with some visits to dealers and museums. Marconi is a private collection containing some 70 cars, some that can't be seem anywhere else, and a very proud and friendly owner. He explained that he still had a great passion for motorsport despite being blind in one of his eyes, and has participated in Ferrari 348 races, his wife occasionally participating too.
The Nethercutt collection was somewhat more of a hoarding collection, albeit with some stunningly evocative machinery. They even had one of the very small handful of GM EV1s that escaped the crusher.

The next stop was Pebble Beach, the Monterey area for arguably the most car-centric weekend anywhere around the world. Not only was there a cacophony of vehicles at each of the very numerous events, but just roaming around the streets one could fill up on a year's worth of sightseeing in one day.

[Otto Puzzell]

Beautiful!

More, please.

[Paul Jaray]

Beautiful!

More, please.

[DHoffmann]

The first day in Monterey featured Concorso Italiano, as Quail was unfortunately already fully booked. Although not known for the highest level of vehicular attendance quality wise, there was still some stunning machinery on display.

Around the area were plenty of auctions and various cars on display all day every day, so one could - if in the area - view the cars at will.

One of the main features of this weekend for me particularly was an invitation to witness arguably the biggest step in coachbuilding rebirth in the form of the public unveiling of the Ferrari P4/5 by Jim Glickenhaus. A beautiful experience to say the least.

[Allemano]

A stunning set of pics Daan! The quality is amazing!
Very well done!

[DHoffmann]

A couple remaining images from P4/5 and 2 beauties standing proud for an auction.

Whilst most events last just a day, the Monterey Historics at the Laguna Seca circuit last the entire time, making for the perfect visit between Concorso and Pebble Beach. Seeing the cars in motion makes for quite an exciting alternative to 'sitting pretty'.

(Side note: Ford Mustang 1 and Lancia D50 1 are two of my favourite racing photos I've ever taken, Laguna Seca is a truly spectacular track.)

[DHoffmann]

Inevitably we hit Pebble Beach, falling on that most holy of Sundays for car fanatics, and the world's prime collection of cars presents itself on a golf course of itself world renowned quality.

The Daimler Double-Six was that year's best of show, although a good number of cars I connected with moreso than it. Personal choice I guess...




EDIT: I just realised that "Bugatti1" was actually from the Nethercutt collection and isn't in the correct spot, not a Pebble Beach image, sorry.
















.

[DHoffmann]

Some more Pebble Beach whydontcha!




Voisin was a featured marque in 2006, a truly stunning and unique one.

[DHoffmann]

Next in this trip was some time spent in Europe, with factories and museums visited in France, Italy, Germany and England.

Firstly Beaulieu, second Schlumpf and a spot of Mercedes Benz.

[DHoffmann]

Maybach/Merc/McLaren showroom underneath the Benz museum.



Porsche too, although when I went before the new museum was done, the Porsche dealer nearby actually had a better setting and a fiery red Carrera GT oustide.



Ferraris were observed, but they're already featured heavily and will be further on, so just one shot from them will do.



Also stopped in Monaco, which is undoubtedly one of my favourite places in the world.



Just as Monaco is my favourite location, Wiesmann is my favourite manufacturer. A car was allowed for a day, and a factory visit the next. A truly magnificent couple of days, ending in being a passenger in a new GT driven by Martin Wiesmann, which I guess was an experience akin to being driven in an F40 by Enzo Ferrari.

[DHoffmann]

Now for the factory visit of Wiesmann, as they were in the transition from their first and older building into their newer and much much larger, to allow for the new building capacity which had greatly increased.

[DHoffmann]

And we finish with the highlighting event of the show, although not chronologically, I've not quite been true to the original itinerary but in spirit this was by far the best event to finish on.


Firstly the 'atmosphere' of the Revival, where "period" is upheld in all senses, clothing, advertising, scenery etc.

Where else will you find a public parking lot like that, or a pace car of that caliber.

[DHoffmann]

And finally for the racing action in all it's glory.




The little red Corvette was Peter Brock's final completed race before his very saddening death back in Australia.

[DHoffmann]

Cont.

[DHoffmann]

And with that this trip comes to an end.

It was one of the best experiences of my life. It was such a perfect mixture of old and new, concourse and racing, clean museum and messy factory.

If anyone has a similar chance, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It was a life shaping experience, and one that I will have in my memory forever.

I hope that you enjoy these 120something images, which are a mere fraction of the total number but are my more accomplished shots and I think still tell the story accurately.

[Otto Puzzell]

Words fail me, so I'll say:

Wow!

And thank you!


(I spy Dusty Bonnet) 

[Paul Jaray]

each one of these pics deserve a place on a wall!
(haven't we met yet http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=4680.0 )

[Ultra]

Great stuff!   Thank you so much for sharing.

[DHoffmann]

Thankyou all for the kind words, I'm glad you appreciate the images.

Yes, Dusty Bonnet has made a second appearance, the first car in Wiesmann's history and the M6 next to it providing the donor engine for the as then unreleased MF5. Unfortunately that particular engine was involved in a high speed crash on the autobahn in the prototype GT.


I've found an as previously unreleased shot from pebble. I guess I didn't include it originally because the quality is quite shocking...

[pnegyesi]

You just made me recall one of the bust summers of my life - in 2001 I was paid a three-week trip to Dearborn to do some research at the Henry Ford Museum. As a sideline I went to the Concorso Italiano, Monterey Historic Races, Pebble Beach weekend, then hopped on a plane and arrived back to Europe in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show

[Otto Puzzell]

Front Page Feature!