t was the ultimate Porschefile's "Love In." Porsche cars and Porsche people from all over the world gathered during the Monterey Historic Auto Races/Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance weekend in August, to celebrate what Ferdinand hath wrought. And those who weren't there in person were certainly represented in spirit.
Historic sights and sounds were everywhere: breathtaking 917s and 935s, driven in anger on the Laguna Seca race course by the racing legends who piloted them "back then"; more 550 and other Spyder variants than we've ever seen in one place at one time; hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Porsches filling the lots and hillside parking places; our own C. Van Tune, slashing at the wheel of an open-wheel F2 machine from the Porsche Museum.
Pebble Beach did its part, as well, presenting several special Porsche classes, though Best of Show honors were bestowed upon John Mozart's most deserving '38 Bugatti Type 57SC Corsica Roadster. Jerry Seinfeld, who is one serious collector, was on hand to display a significant pair of Porsches: the first built-and last built-air-cooled 911s; the "first" being Dr. Porsche's personal ride.
Events to remember, they were; appropriate tributes to the people, machines, and company that have forever changed postwar motorsport and the world's definition of a sports car. Laguna Seca announced that the Saturday attendance at the Historic Races was the largest single-day motorsport crowd in the history of the track; if you didn't have tickets, and weren't there by about 1 p.m. or so, you probably wouldn't have gotten in.
And they said Woodstock was a big deal.
Pebble Beach: On The RoadMotor Trend Sponsors First Annual Pebble Beach: The TourThe Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held each year at The Lodge in Pebble Beach, California, is perhaps the world's most significant car show. But Pebble Beach has been under attack recently-mostly by the European media-because, as with most concours, it's essentially a static display. "Cars are moving objects-they should move more!" cried the critics. And now, they do.
Pebble Beach has taken about 45 percent of its show on the road, for the first time ever. Co-sponsored by Audi and Motor Trend, this new rolling concours is dubbed Pebble Beach: The Tour. "We felt it was time to get away from the reputation of hosting only 'trailer queens,'" notes Jules Heumann, cochairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Tour took place on the Thursday prior to the Concours. And it wasn't just a quick lap around the golf course: The 46-mile route began at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center before meandering through Monterey's historic Cannery Row. Then it was up and over the Laurales Pass, a twisty, climbing mountain road that has left newer cars gasping for air or radiator water. After an alfresco lunch at the Holman Ranch, it was back down the hill via Highway 68-passing by Laguna Seca Raceway-then through downtown Carmel. From there, the entrants returned to Pebble Beach for a final stamp of the event passport, and a much-welcomed glass of champagne. All but four of the 70-plus cars made it.
My ride in The Tour began in a '31 Cord L-29 convertible sedan, ably chauffeured by Thomas and Pat Bourn of Haynesville, Louisiana. The Bourns have owned this elegant tourer nearly 30 years and recently restored it themselves. The story goes that this particular Cord was purchased new by President Hoover, as a gift for the president of Uruguay.
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