[TCracingCA]

I thought I heard someone say the RM or the Sports car Auction, which is the one that has snubbed the public. If it is at Gooding, I think it was like $60- $70 or something to view, but I am not sure about that. Usually with them, they only have 2 or 3 cars that I would like to actually look at, and it isn't worth it for that. I would have to see what they are charging just to go in (non-auction) for a look!

That whole weekend now consists of pulling the wallet out constantly. Luckily I am a race car enthusiast and tend to spend most of the weekend there.

Just to help guys, I have been doing Monterey since the 70's! If you want to see auction cars, then I would recommend getting in there on Friday, because even the Russo Steele closes off the viewing paddock once the auction starts. Thus you have to get there Friday afternoon. The RM usually they have some of the higher end cars parked in the public lobby and outside the event, but just a few! They move the cars from the paddock which is fenced and they put up a barrier so you no longer can view them just thru the fence. But as they move them up to the staging, one by one if you want to stand there all day and evening, you get a glimpse where the public can see them being moved from paddock to staging. And then in the staging it is a little crowded and the viewing position might not be ideal, but the public can get some viewing in the pre-staging or staging outside, but over the waist high fence there (it tends to be crowded there).

For the Auctions out on 17 mile drive (Goodings, Christies, Blackhawks, etc.) or whoever is doing one. It gets crazy on Sunday, so I would recommend a trip over when parking is difficult but possible and there are no restrictive road controls in the Pebble Beach area on Friday or Saturday, but some just close to or adjacent to the events. I have a technique that has gotten me in the Pebble Beach Concourse free for quite a number of years, but if you are on a budget and do want to experience some of the Sunday activities, there is some free stuff still. On Sunday I don't care what you are driving-- you will only be parking where they point you and then you will be riding a bus in from those areas. As the bus gets in there, you had the Motorcycle auction free at least it still was last year, the Retro something with memorabilia for sell which is cool, and a lot of new car vendors have displays on the golf courses from where the buses drop or pick up and the big event. You can buy the viewing passes for the some of the auction houses, but the other thing that still remains free is the prototype cars displayed inside the lodge quad. You also in the parking lots around the Lodge have quite a number of high end cars parked randomly, usually a lot belonging to the people showing cars at the Pebble Beach or people staying in the Lodge or getting there early etc. I won't share my trick to get in, because they would shut that down, and twice lately, it didn't work! But on the way back to the parking by bus, usually if it is later around 9;30am or so, then once past all of the initial traffic controls, you can get around the general 17 mile drive with only restriction near the lodge.
And there are a whole lot of other tips for that weekend! And they are too numerous to type.

As for stories of fame, I have had run ins with quite a number from one of the old guys of the Indianapolis Miller Family who I ate breakfast with, to sitting in the booth next to Larry Shinoda and GM gang (Ron Fellows etc.) at breakfast, to getting a quick lift by Carroll Shelby himself in his golf cart and some others!