Monterey Car Week on the cheap.

[rcooled]

In a little over a month, the world's finest classics, exotics and vintage sports and racing cars will be assembling in Monterey, CA for what's become known simply as Car Week. It's seriously expensive to attend many of the A-list events, but there's also a lot to see & do that's low cost, or even free.


Tuesday, August 12th:
Concours on the Avenue, which is held in downtown Carmel, is a great way to start the week. The show is free, and it draws an abundance of hi-caliber entrants. Many good restaurants and shops to visit too.

Wednesday August 13th:
You have a couple of options.
The Little Car Show in Pacific Grove is a free event. You'll see a lot of cool pint-sized vehicles, micro-cars, and other offbeat stuff.
The Monterey Car Week Rally is another free-to-spectators event. All cars are welcome to participate...cost is only $10. If you wish to see the rally cars at the starting line, they'll be gathering in the Shoreline Community Church parking lot at 2500 Garden Rd., Monterey‎

Thursday August 14th:
Wanna see Concours d'Elegance cars for free? The Tour d'Elegance lets you see many of the cars that'll be on the fairway in Sunday's Concours actually driving on the open road. And they'll all be parked in downtown Carmel for a couple of hours on their lunch stop if you wanna get up close.

Friday August 15th:
Legends of the Autobahn is great event full of BMWs, Mercedes, Porsches and Audis. Just pay for parking, and you're in.
The Pacific Grove Auto Rally is similar to the event on Wednesday, but a bit more organized. Open to anyone with a car, the eclectic group of entrants begin staging in downtown Pacific Grove around 1:00. You can also plant yourself along the route and watch the parade go by. Free to spectators.

The Mecum Auction preview is free to spectators. I'd recommend checking this one out if you can.

Saturday August 16th:
There's a Cars & Coffee at the Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey that's hosted by Barrett-Jackson.
The Concorso Italiano wraps up in the early evening, and all the exotica leaving the event is a sight to behold. Nice soundtrack too. A good place to park is on York Rd. off highway 68.
On Saturday night, cars in the RM Auction can be seen in front of the Portola Plaza hotel in downtown Monterey, where they line up before crossing the block. Russo & Steele Auctions will have their cars staged on Fisherman's Wharf. There’s plenty of fine restaurants and bars to enjoy some food & drink in the downtown area too.

There are also exhibits and displays set up in the area around the lodge in Pebble Beach. These are all free, but you might need to pay an entrance fee to get into the area.

[djantlive]

CI is Saturday this year btw

[dos531]

Wish I could get rooms! Everything is either booked or mega overpriced

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by dos531

Wish I could get rooms! Everything is either booked or mega overpriced

I have to be there Thursday night for an event at the Hilton Garden Inn. I am bringing a display hifi system to wow the attendees at the party that follows the Italian Stampede rally. The Garden Inn was $550 per night with a 3 night minimum. We will commute in from Gilroy . . . and I will be gone by Friday.

Ian

[ckelly78z]

I'va always wanted to go to Monterey for the auctions, the car shows, and the track action. It will probably be another 10 years when I retire, before I have the time and money to do it comfortably.

[RonDent]

Holiday Inn Express in Watsonville. 30 mims away.$250.00

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by djantlive

CI is Saturday this year btw

Thanks...fixed it.

Originally Posted by dos531

Wish I could get rooms! Everything is either booked or mega overpriced

For better prices on rooms, check in Salinas, Marina, Seaside or Watsonville. Watsonville is the furthest out...about 25 minutes from Monterey.

[Balloonmeister]

New this year, on Friday, August 15, will be a PCA-sponsored event, Porsche Werks Reunion, to be held at the Rancho Canada Golf Club, in Carmel Valley. Check out the details on the PCA website.

[wildthing]

PCA LPR/GGR Autocross in Marina Aug. 16/17. I will be there on the Sunday.

Still thinking about that Werks Reunion.

[Manny Alban]

Werks Reunion is at 300 Porsches entered and we're still over a month away. Bob Ingram is bringing some nice rides from his collection in North Carolina. I can't wait...will be Porsche heaven on Friday.