Monterey Car Week: Update 3

Welcome to Pebble Beach. Please leave your drones at the door.

We got up around 7 am and headed over to the 18th hole. For the first time in days Keith did not have to MC anything or orchestrate seminars or oversee some grand concours event. We fired up the loaner Chevy Volt and silently headed over to the show under full battery power. We hit the Chubb lounge for breakfast and then made our way down to the show field. Special thanks to Jim Fiske at Chubb for all the hospitality. Having the Chubb lounge available to us was like having an on-demand oasis in a dry desert. The crowds and cars we overwhelming at times and it sure helped to have the plush couches of Chubb available all day as a respite from the madness of Pebble.

Sunday at Pebble Beach is not just another car show. THESE ARE CARS! Two dozen Delahaye’s and a row of Ford GT 40’s. A full selection of Duesenbergs. An abundance of rare Zagato coachwork. Every car at Pebble could be best of show at any car show in the world.

Keith and I chatted with Mark Hyman who had his rare Delahaye 135 on display. I introduced him to Frank and Milli Ricciardelli and Steve and Raty Bauer. The Ricciardelli’s brought their stunning 1926 Hispano-Suiza and the Bauer’s had their authentic police-livery BMW Isetta. It was really fun to know a few people with cars on the fairway.

Countless people reminisced to Keith about all the cars they owned in the past and the many regrets they still harbor from selling. Indeed, many astute collectors longed for a cry cloth as they waxed poetically about the many beautiful and rare cars that passed through their hands over the years. The parabolic rise in value of collector cars was not predicted by even the most sophisticated collectors. Many people sold their 300 SL’s for $50,000 seeing no upside. Now they trade regularly for over $1,000,000. Indeed, everyone had a story of a car they regretted selling.

Keith and I strolled the fairway for a few hours and inspected every car and motorcycle. Each vehicle was an education for me as Keith explained small nuances that only a real insider could know. For example, Keith showed me a Ford GT 40 that had a small bulge in the roof for a LeMans driver who was just too tall for the car. This little detail was probably missed by most people. Because of the growing success of Keith’s TV show What’s My Car Worth we were stopped dozens of times for photos and autographs. Always gracious, Keith never balked at having a photo taken with an enthusiastic fan of the show.

We watched the awards ceremony from high atop the 3rd floor of the adjacent suites. I was very fortunate to be under Keith’s wing the whole weekend as it enabled first-class access to all the best spots at Pebble. His rolling expert commentary on everything going on at Pebble was also a huge help.

I’m boarding the red-eye Jet Blue flight back to New York City. I was fortunate enough to upgrade to lay-flat seating on the way back as to arrive rested for a full day of work tomorrow. Overall, my first trip to Pebble was a 10 and I hope to return next year.

Keith Martin and Mark Hyman

Keith Martin

Keith Martin and Frank Ricciardelli

Malcolm Pray’s old 507 BMW

Keith and Steve Bauer

KM and PER and a 1923 BMW…Hey Keith, what’s my bike worth?

Frank and Milli made it to the first place corral…the pressure was intense!

Our view from the chalet was fabulous!

A full day of events!