Steve Parker Motoring / The Car Nut: PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

EXCLUSIVE PHOTO ALBUM! 2009 GUMBALL RALLY 3000

See Steve's exclusive Gumball Rally video from NBC-TV's Whipnotic website (copy and paste): http://www.whipnotic.com/videos/viewvideo-558.html Over 120 gas-guzzling super-exotic sports cars, Hummers, Cadillac Escalade SUVs and an occasional interesting older car roared on May 2, 2009, from a California beach-side parking lot directly onto I-10, the Santa Monica Freeway, also known as the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway, for the start of this year's Gumball Rally. The world's most politically-incorrect automotive street event, the Gumball Rally 3000, left Santa Monica (CA) Pier on Saturday, May 2, 2009 and headed toward its ultimate destination of Miami, FL eight days later. Participants reportedly paid $44,000 per car/team to enter the event. Though the Gumball stresses the skills of its drivers (and their cars) there are only two race track "special section" stops scheduled for the 3,000-mile long event, which will be run on public roads with all entrants subject to all highway rules and regulations. All photos (c) 2009 by www.SteveParker.com

August 21, 2006

PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links® hosted 175 vintage vehicles and thousands of spectators Sunday at the 56th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Concours competition, which included judging in 25 classes, culminated when a 1931 Daimler owned by Robert M. Lee from Reno, Nevada was named “Best of Show.” The winning car, officially a 1931 Daimler Double-Six 50 Corsica Drophead Coupe, is one of only four Daimler Double Six-50’s ever produced.

“This is my first Best of Show at Pebble 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’s become an automotive time capsule, with the finest automotive artistry and design on display from the more than 100 years of the automobile.”

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 manufacturers 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 ’06 Concours was able to raise nearly $1 million for charity.”

The 57th Pebble Beach Concours is slated for Aug. 19, 2007.

Posted on August 21, 2006 at 03:06 PM | Permalink

Comments

As far as we know now (September 8, 2007), the Pebble Beach folks have announced: "The 58th Pebble Beach Concours, slated for Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, will include a celebration of the centennial of General Motors and the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run."

And we will try to find out more for all of you ASAP!

Steve Parker

Posted by: Steve Parker | September 08, 2007 at 11:51 PM