I attended the Pebble Beach Concours for the 15th consecutive time this year and found that despite the great collection of Ferrari GTO cars, that it seemed quite a bit weaker than past events. I think this is do to the fact that for the last 10 or so years they have literally showed every great car that is available, often in the same year and now they have to wait 10 years to show there again.
This has opened up an opportunity for smaller concours to grow and compete with Pebble.
Is Pebble fine the way it is or should they consider opening up their categories further?
Pebble may have been a bit weak, but it still is an amazing show. Here's a little sampling of a few pics I took thorough the weekend. Thanks to BMW for providing us with the massively entertaining 1 Series M!
There were at least a dozen 250 GTOs there (out of 26 made)
The Mercedes touring cars were amazing!
Caddilac's new Cien concept looks like a sure bet for the CTS-V Coupe replacement
Tahoe
New Reader
8/26/11 10:40 p.m.
Interesting, because I skipped Pebble this year. After 35 years of catching most of the events, I only attended the Motorsports Reunion this year, and found it to be a big let down as well. I thought they did an incredible job last year, but I was so uninspired this year I'm questioning my return next year. Maybe it's time to explore new bucket list events next year.
I am going to Monterey for sure next year, seeing as how the Cobra is being featured. I usually stay in Salinas but I would like to start looking for a place in the Carmel area now. I know it will be pricey, but could anyone recommend a place to stay?
Sunday was completely dead at the track this year, it was very pronounced. I hope this doesn't kill off the vendors or car attendance. I figured everyone was at Pebble, but I guess not?
Pebble was pretty crowded as usual this year. The track is usually pretty dead on Sunday morning. The traffic did seem light on Sunday afternoon too though.
Although this year perhaps wasn't the best ever, it certainly wasn't a slouch. Anyplace you get to see and touch the Alfa that Nuvalari won the 1935 GP in is a pretty cool event! They didn't really play up the E-Type birthday as much as I had hoped though.
TBlack, what kind of budget are you working with? Easier to back into the place that way. :)
Andy
Are you sure you guys aren't simply getting jaded to all this? Although Andy gave some solid reasons for his disappointment but why the letdown at the track?
I am not jaded. I love this event, I've been going since 1986. Sunday was super low attendance, even the vendors were remarking on it. I wondered if the fact that there are MORE events of this kind on the calendar, including Steve Earle's, and MORE events in Monterey that week, etc. contributed.
