By Bill Stansbeary
Princess Pamela and Craig Jackson enjoy the Monterey Historic Automobile Races held at the Laguna Seca Raceway, California, during the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links hosted 175 vintage vehicles and thousands of spectators on August 20 at the 56th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Concours competition, which included judging in 25 classes, culminated when a 1931 Daimler Double-Six 50 Corsica Drophead Coupe, owned by Robert M. Lee from Reno, Nev., was named “Best of Show.”
“This is my first ‘Best of Show’ at Pebble Beach in 20 years. I think I’m dreaming,” said Lee, who has been competing at the Pebble Beach Concours since 1986. “I purchased this car because it made my heart skip a beat. I guess the judges today agreed with my heart.”
Competitors from 27 states and 13 countries, from as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Argentina, were among the participants who brought their prized automotive possessions to the Monterey Peninsula for judging.
“The Pebble Beach Concours has truly become the world’s Concours, with vintage car owners from around the globe bringing their exotic, historic masterpieces here to compete each year,” said Pebble Beach Concours Chairman Sandra Kasky Button. “For our spectators, the event has become an automotive time capsule, with the finest automotive artistry and design on display from the more than 100 years of the automobile.”
Martin Eberhard, Tesla Motors president and founder, exhibited the Tesla all-electric powered sports car featuring super car performance with just one penny per mile cost of operation for charging the battery.
The 2006 event, which had more than $200 million worth of classic cars spread along the Monterey coastline, showcased early 20th century style and technology from French manufactures Voisin and Delahaye, which served as featured marques. The cars that raced in the Pebble Beach Sports Car Road Races (1950-56) were also feted during the day.
“We’re blessed to have the Pacific Ocean as our backdrop and one of the most spectacular pieces of golf real estate as our host,” said Kasky Button. “And while this year’s collection of cars was once again astounding, we’re especially gratified that the 2006 Concours was able to raise nearly $1 million for charity.”
For more information, visit [http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net].
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- Volvo, Bentley, General Motors, Nissan, Chrysler, VW, Audi, Mazda, Porsche and Pininfarina designed more than one dozen engineless gravity racers to race and then sell on eBay to benefit various Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance charities.
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- Dylan Haynie, Bombardier Flexjet sales director, displayed this Learjet model and various fractional jet programs.
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- Corrado Lopresto, from Milano, Italy, showed this purple and chrome 1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Castagna convertible sedan.
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- In 1938, this Delahaye Type 145 V-12 won the “Million Franc Prize.” Peter Mullin, from Los Angeles, now owns it. It was unveiled at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, more than 60 years after it became a French racing icon.