The FREE "Concours on the Avenue" where the "Tour d'Elegance" stopped in downtown Carmel for lunch was an annual ritual for us. You could get a taste of Pebble without spending the big money. There were plenty of cars that did the "Tour" and were on display. Every year was a different theme, more of some vintages than others. We would take a morning drive from Paso Robles to Carmel, walk the Avenue, have lunch and drive away. It was somewhat crowded but it was always a lot of fun.

Then the founder/organizer, a guy named Freedman, passed away and that was that. It has yet to return

Yeah, the tour no longer has it's lunch stop in Carmel...I guess it was getting a little too busy with all the people trying to get a look at the cars. A good way to check out all the cars on the tour...and hear them run...is to be where they queue up for the start. It's in PB, right at the Gooding auction tent. Need to be early though...by 7am it starts getting busier with more people arriving.

This guy actually ran Tuesday's 'Concours-on-the-Avenue' which was absent last year due to his passing. That Tuesday slot's now been taken by 'Concours-for-a-Cause'...a similar event with the same mix of cars.

That mid-day Thursday stop in Carmel was part of the 'Tour d' Elegance' for cars that'll be shown in Sunday's concours.

The year I went/was involved I found just observing the people there really interesting. Almost as interesting as the cars.

Among the car owners I met you could divide nearly all of them into two categories, either super nice people or total douche's. It also was kind of funny seeing all the hot women with guys 20-30 years older, or mismatched. Really fit all the stereotypes.

Oh yeah, Pebble Beach and Carmel during car week is a show in more ways than one. It’s one of those events like the Kentucky Derby where you actually see rich people dressed like Thurston Howell on Gilligan’s Island. Completely hilarious, if you don’t take it too seriously. :)

Did anyone see Wayne’s Clockwork Orange car?