No other car show in the world can compare to Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance and the entire Monterey Motorsports week with events that range from the Tour d’ Elegance to The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion races, and the Concourse. It is like having multiple phenomenal auto museums all put together in different locations for various events. From vintage cars to classic cars, supercars and concept cars, Pebble Beach has it all during this week. And Rolex, whose precision mechanical watches rival the finest cars, is right there in the excitement of it all.
This past week, I was able to attend several days of the events week with Rolex and experience the excitement firsthand, which I am happy to share here.
The Quail –perhaps the most luxurious and experiential garden party ever – showcases some of the finest cars in the world, from past to present and even the future. This year the event, held at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club, witnessed the 20th anniversary of this magnificent motorsports event, and more than 400 cars and motorcycles came together on the lawn, with many brands unveiling their newest automobiles and prototypes.
Among the new releases were several from Lotus. In fact, Rolex testimonee (ambassador) and F1 World Champion Jenson Button, released the completely bespoke Lotus Evija hypercar at The Quail. The car, which boasts a unique Arctic White, Verve Yellow, and Carbon Black color scheme that recalls the colors of the 2009 Champion-winning Brawn GP car he drove. The car has a deployable door mirror housing with the number 22 on it (Jenson’s race number during that incredible 2009 winning season) and even has a laser-etched aluminum strip that runs through the seat center and showcases the date and place of each of Jenson’s 15 F1 wins. The car has a confirmed output of 1500kW/2039 PS.
“I absolutely love The Quail. Every year the event gets bigger and better, and it’s so cool to see the new prototypes and models being launched. Having the old and the new sitting side by side, as well as the ‘restomod’ cars that look vintage but have modern technologies, is very special,” said Button, noting that Rolex, with its storied past, innovative technology, and precision mechanics, fits right in.
Visitors to the event, which costs about $1,500 a ticket, get to vote for their favorite car. The winning car is named the Rolex Best of Show. This year, the one-of-a-kind 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica ‘Super Fast,’ owned by Anne Brockinton Lee, was crowned the winner and welcomed into the 2023 Rolex Circle of Champions. The owner was gifted a Rolex green-dial Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 in Oystersteel with a white gold fluted bezel and a Jubilee bracelet that sells for $8,950. Rolex has partnered with The Quail since 2005 as the Official Timepiece.
On Saturday, we attended the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which runs for four days throughout the week. Held at the renowned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the racing event witnesses 400 vehicles showcasing nearly a century of motorsport heritage. This year, the event celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Corvette and the 100 years of the 24 Hours of LeMans by displaying the first ‘vettes to compete at Circuit de le Sarthe in 1960.
There was also a special F1 race, and a host of other impressive competitions. They were Gentlemen’s races since many of these cars are worth millions in their restored conditions. We even had to opportunity to go where most visitors cannot: up to the photographer’s tower at the top of the famed corkscrew turn – considered one of the most challenging turns in the world thanks to the 59-foot drop in elevation and the blind crest and apex. The Rolex signage is omnipresent during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, but it is particularly eye-catching at the corkscrew turn.
The festivities concluded on Sunday 20 August with the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance®. Held on the 18th fairway of the legendary Pebble Beach golf course, more than 210 spectacular cars from 1906 to 1998 were on display as they competed for special classes and the ultimate win: Best of Show. Among the highlight automobiles were at least 40 entries from more than 20 countries around the world. The cars are judged on their restoration and authenticity – translating to an exacting replica of the original automobiles, both inside and out.
This year, the 72nd, celebrated innovative designs from classic and modern eras, with classes such as Figoni, Mercedes-Benz, Pegaso and others, including the 60th anniversary of McLaren, the 60th anniversary of Lamborghini, the 75th anniversary of Porsche, the Vanderbilt Cup era cars, post-war luxury and American Dream Cars of the 1950s. On the other side of the course, the concept lawn showcased the future of automobiles.
Rolex clocks and signage were naturally present everywhere and when the Best of Show car was named – this year the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster – Rolex presented the owner, Jim Patterson, with a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 in Oystersteel with a yellow gold fluted bezel and a jubilee bracelet ($12,700 retail). Patterson had purchased the car at an auction in 2022 for $9.9 million with the intent to restore it to its original glory. The restoration was conducted by RM Auto Restoration and the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center.
Rolex Testimonee and Record nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Tom Kristensen, was an Honorary Judge at the Concours and commented on the winners. “For a car to take home the honors at Pebble Beach it must be the ultimate. The precision engineering, the authenticity of every mechanical part and the style of its presentation are everything – it takes a huge amount of preparation and passion to succeed. To then receive a Rolex watch rewarding this dedication is something that stays with you forever. It’s a timeless reminder.”
Rolex’s history of motorsports spans approximately 100 years, and the brand continues to commit to the sport whether it is classic cars, F1 racing, or endurance racing.
