Your guide to 2018 Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance began as a small car show in conjunction with local road races in 1950, but it has since evolved into the biggest week of automotive stuff on the calendar. Technically, “Pebble Beach” only refers to the big show on Sunday, but it’s often shorthand for the larger sphere of events that make up Monterey Car Week, including the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

There is always a lot going on. So much that potential or first-time visitors might feel overwhelmed with all the choices, and even repeat attendees can suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) when they choose one event over another. We can’t help you decide what deserves your time and/or money, but we can tell you everything that’s out there during Car Week with this handy guide. Enjoy!

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Once a year, the 18th Fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links is overrun with cars rather than golf carts. With a scenic view looking out on Monterey Bay, there are few places that combine the beauty of the surrounding landscape with such fine automobiles. The cars on display are rare, expensive, and impeccably prepared. It’s gearhead bucket-list material. The crowds get bigger throughout the day, so the best way to walk the field is right after the cars roll out for Dawn Patrol. Then find a spot in the picnic area and settle in for the awards ceremony that starts at 1:30 p.m. In addition to the Concours d’Elegance, related events are listed below.

Concours d’Elegance
Location: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA
Date: Sunday, August 26
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $325–$2750

Hagerty Dawn Patrol
Location: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA
Date: Sunday, August 26
Time: 5:30 a.m.
Price: Must hold a ticket to Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to participate
What: Come early for the free hat, stay for the cars. This is where people line up to watch all the Concours entrants roll onto the field. It’s also where to get the highly-prized Hagerty Dawn Patrol baseball hat. Look for a Hagerty team member in a blue jacket to get your headgear. But please be civil.

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance
Location: Stevenson Dr & Portola Rd, Del Monte Forest, CA
Date: Thursday, August 23
Time: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Price: Free to spectators
What: The Tour d’Elegance is a short road rally around the Monterey Peninsula. Cars that have been accepted into the Concours are strongly encouraged to participate in the Tour. That means this is an excellent chance to see most of the cars that will be on the lawn on Sunday up close and, best of all, running. At 9 a.m. the cars roll out, but you can catch them again lined up on Ocean Avenue in nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea from noon until 2 p.m.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

The other main attraction of Monterey Car Week is one of the rare events in the automotive world where you can meet your heroes, both mechanical and human. A long list of different racing categories run the track at speed all weekend (see a detailed list of entrants here and the practice and race schedule here). The level of access to racing history is amazing, as the paddock is open to spectators and many of the cars are piloted by racing legends. Just make sure you watch where you’re walking, as cars are coming in and out of the pits all day. And, of course, you’re missing out if you don’t hike up to the Corkscrew, Laguna Seca’s infamous turn 8. Cars are running all weekend, although Saturday’s racing schedule makes it a popular way to spend the entire day before the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Location: 1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Salinas, CA
Date: Thursday, August 23–Sunday, August 26
Time: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $30–$450

Auctions

Each one of the auctions at Monterey Car Week is a show in its own right, with plenty of super rare and ultra-expensive cars on offer. Some have already won Concours ribbons, others will be future winners, and some auction lots won’t be seen on public display for years to come. For as little as $20 for spectator admission, you can admire the upcoming sales up close. The auctions themselves are a spectacle in their own right, with the excitement of watching breathtaking sums of money change hands in seconds.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018
Location: Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA
Price: $40 (admission for one, preview only); $300 (bidder registration, catalog, and admission for two)
Preview: Wednesday and Thursday, August 22–23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, August 24–25, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Auction: Friday and Saturday, August 24–25, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (bidders and consignors only)

Russo and Steele Monterey 2018
Location: Old Train Station, 290 Figueroa Street, Monterey, CA
Price: $30 (admission for one); $250 (bidder registration and admission for two)
Preview: Wednesday, August 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (bidders and consignors only); Thursday through Saturday, August 23–25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Auction: Thursday, August 23–Saturday, August 25, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction 2018
Location: Quail Lodge & Golf Club, 8205 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel, CA
Price: $20 (admission for one); $100 (catalog and admission for two); $150 (bidder registration, catalog, and admission for two)
Preview: Wednesday, August 22–Friday, August 24, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Auction: Friday, August 24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auctions 2018
Location: Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, Stevenson Dr & Portola Rd, Del Monte Forest, CA
Price: $40 (admission for one); $100 (catalog and admission for two); $200 (bidder registration, catalog, and admission for two)
Preview: Wednesday, August 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, August 23, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, August 24, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, August 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Auction: Friday, August 24, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, August 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Worldwide Pacific Grove Auction 2018
Location: Pacific Golf Municipal Golf Links, 77 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA
Price: $35 (admission for one, preview only); $100 (catalog and admission for two, preview only); $150 (bidder registration, catalog, and admission for two)
Preview: Tuesday and Wednesday, August 21-22, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday August 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Auction: Thursday, August 23, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Other Events

The calendar is jam-packed with events all week. Some require deep pockets, others are free. What they all have in common is the celebration of the automobile in all its forms. These are listed in chronological order.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue
Location: Ocean Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 21
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: Free
What: A concours show set against the backdrop of downtown Carmel’s charming streets and shops. More than 175 cars of all era and categories will be lined up for viewing.

Classic Motorsports Magazine Monterey Kickoff Cruise-In
Location: Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 21
Time: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: Free
What: Think of it as a typical cruise-in but with fancier wine, plus live music. Old and new cars are welcome, and while your rental car won’t be on display, the cruise-in is open to all comers. Hagerty is a sponsor for this event, so be sure to say hello to one of our friendly team members.

Carmel Mission Classic
Location: Carmel Mission Basilica Museum, 3080 Rio Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
Date: Wednesday, August 22
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $55
What: It’s “a one-of-a-kind event combining the passion for fine automobiles with the faith and the palate.” This car show features local wineries, harp music, and a blessing of the cars.\

The Little Car Show
Location: Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA
Date: Wednesday, August 22
Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
Price: Free
What: Proof that Monterey Car Week is more than million-dollar exotics and rare pre-war metal. This show features 100 tiny cars that are 25 years and older, limited to engine displacements of 1601cc and smaller.

McCall’s Motorworks Revival
Location: Monterey Jet Center, 3 00 Sky Park Way, Monterey, CA
Date: Wednesday, August 22
Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Price: $425–$770
What: A gala event of cars, airplanes, and overall glam for those who can afford the steep price of entry.

Werks Reunion Monterey
Location: Corral de Tierra Country Club, 81 Corral De Tierra Rd, Salinas, CA
Date: Friday, August 24
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Price: Free
What: Presented by Porsche Club of America, Werks Reunion celebrates the “camaraderie of being an enthusiast.” Better still, judging isn’t based on pristine show cars but “rewards a Porsche that has been lovingly maintained and presents itself well on the field.”

Legends of the Autobahn
Location: Nicklaus Club Monterey, 100 Pasadera Dr, Monterey, CA
Date: Friday, August 24
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Price: Free ($20 parking per vehicle)
What: An all-German car show. The Audi Club of America, BMW Car Club of America, and Mercedes-Benz Club of America team up to bring more than 400 cars to the show field in both judged and non-judged classes.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Location: Quail Lodge & Golf Club, 8205 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel, CA
Date: Friday, August 24
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $950 (allocated by lottery in February)
What: Possibly the fanciest show aside from the Concours, the Quail boasts a stunning array of cars on display, focused on classic motorsports. The food, catered by Peninsula Hotels, is top-notch as well. Miss out on the ticket lottery? You can buy Charitable Patron admission for $2500 or a Helicopter Ticket (which, yes, includes a Helicopter ride in and out of the event) for $4000.

Concours d’Lemons Monterey
Location: Seaside City Hall, 440 Harcourt Ave, Seaside, CA
Date: Saturday, August 25
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Price: Free (tetanus shots not included)
What: The tagline says, “Celebrating the oddball, mundane, and truly awful of the automotive world.” There’s really no better way to describe Concours d’Lemons other than: Where else can you see a Renault Encore convertible in person? This is one of the best events of the week (and that has nothing to do with the fact that Hagerty is a sponsor, we swear).

Concorso Italiano
Location: Black Horse Golf Course, 1 McClure Way, Seaside, CA
Date: Saturday, August 25
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $180–$495
What: This show features all things from the world of Italian machinery. If you guessed there are a lot of red cars here, give yourself a high five. Yes, there are a lot of Ferraris on display, but there is plenty more metal that looks good in rosso and even, gasp, cars in other paint hues as well.

Exotics on Cannery Row
Location: Cannery Row, Monterey, CA
Date: Saturday, August 25
Time: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: Free
What: It’s like those YouTube videos in real life, with more rare, exotic, and expensive metal that you ever thought possible, all in one place. Sponsor Michelin typically organizes some kind of over-the-top collection, like the fleet of Koenigseggs it helped arrange in 2017.