Pebble Beach 2018

[1937hd45]

Every morning when I walk our dog I think of my first time at Pebble Beach, that parking lot covered with fresh woods chips, was just so classy, hope to get there in 2018. Do people talk about the cars under restoration or is all very secret so the Wow factor is in place on the day of the show. What will be the featured car in 2018, any info to help pass the next nine months. Bob 

[Xander Wildeisen]

I have never been to Pebble beach, would love to go one day. What cost is a person looking at? I am guessing hotels are not cheap around that time?

[smithbrother]

I showed a car there in 2001, while there I heard a couple staff members talking.  The drift of the conversation was crowd size.  In an effort to control the crowd from so called lower class folks, he said they raised the price considerably in an effort to control such.  Not a nice conversation to hear, for sure.  I heard/read later that the price increase didn’t produce the desired result, in fact a record crowd showed up.  That show is high on lots of folks DO LIST so price didn’t have an effect. It just produced more profits.

 

Go when you can.  One of the cars this year was a protype by Inifiniti, a race car inspired by one from the 40’s.  I am using pictures of it as my inspiration for my Buick Sixteen large scale model.

 

If I could figure out how to copy/paste I would post a picture of it.

 

Dale in Indy

[alsancle]

Bob,  I think within the network of regulars most of what is showing up is known.   But to the general public it is not.

[Matt Harwood]

My most recent trip there was 2015 and I think I was at about $4000 in before I got home. But that also included airfare from the other side of the country and a rental car to drive down from LAX. A bulk of it was hotel, which I think was about $550/night for a little out-of-the-way place, not a chain hotel, an awesome inn called the Hofsas House, which I see is already fully booked for 2018. If you don't have reservations for 2018, make them now for 2019. Since you're already on the west coast, you could drive your own car. In fact, drive a cool car, one of the greatest things about Pebble Beach isn't the show but the fact that the place is TEEMING with awesome cars being used, you know, as real cars--it totally sucked driving a Toyota Camry. If you camp, that might be a reasonably-priced alternative, too. I seem to recall that entry to the show itself was $250/person, although I was there with a car so I didn't have to pay that little bit. However, it will be impossible to feed yourself at the show for less than $20 and if you want souvenirs, anything bigger than a lapel pin will be $100. I bought my wife a hoodie that I think was $130 and posters for each of my sons were $25 each. It is SHOCKINGLY expensive to be there because everyone knows why you're there and jack up their prices by a significant amount. Eat at Del Taco, their prices stay the same.

 

There are quite a few free/inexpensive events going on that week, including the German car show, the Concours d'Lemons, the little car show, and impromptu cruise-ins that happen all week. The historic races at nearby Laguna Seca (Mazda) Raceway are awesome and quite reasonable to attend ($50/ticket for general admission when I was there). Things like The Quail are astoundingly expensive and really designed to keep most folks out (I think it was $550/person to get in when I tried). But there's plenty to do that won't empty your wallet. I strongly recommend going to the Concours at 6:00 AM Sunday morning when the traffic is light and you can watch all the cars coming out of the transporters in the morning fog and driving into the show field. That's my very best memory of all--all those glowing little headlights and taillights in the morning fog and the chuffing of old engines all around you in the dark. Awesome!

 

Whatever it costs, it's money well spent to attend one of the most spectacular car events in the world. I go about every five years--every year would just be too much. It's something that every car guy should make a point of doing, regardless of cost.

[edinmass]

One could wright a book on Pebble, even if you only attended once. It can be crazy expensive, or not........depending on how you do things. Biggest problem is experience. The first few times it takes a little getting use to, figuring out what is worth your time, and dealing with traffic and such. Honestly, I can now get around without too much trouble or effort, see everything that interests me, and enjoy myself, all, without spending unreasonable amounts of money. Even hotels can be found at acceptable prices, just share a room with a friend or two. Four people in a suite divided into  the daily cost gets things down into the realm of 200 to 250 per person per day. Not Motel 6 rates, but for the premier car show of the world it’s not insane. I find the local resturants very expensive for what one receives but that is just the area in general. Each morning I go to a great little boutique resturant and drop almost thirty bucks for breakfast. Expensive, but I enjoy the place. I find doing other car events that cost little or no money help justify dropping a bit more at PB an overall wash. It’s hard to explain just how fantastic the venue and quaility of cars on display. I encourage everyone to go at least once. Bottom line, for a five day trip, splitting a room, flight from the east coast, food, etc it would be hard to do it for less than two grand, so it is expensive. It would also be easy to spend five thousand or more is you go alone and travel business class type of locations. Air BnB and a few other secrets to work out the logistics and you can enjoy yourself and not smash your bank account.  None of us get out of this world alive, and some things in life are just plain expensive, and worth every dollar you spend. Such is PB. I understand even at budget rates, many people can’t afford it. I would recommend Amelia Island as a close and alternate option. St John’s also. I encourage everyone here to attend one of these events, they are quite simply amazing car adventures. As far as keeping secret what one is planning on showing at Pebble, many people are tight to the vest on what they are taking. I can tell you that in almost every class it doesn’t matter what you take, every car is capable of winning,  it’s truly insane at the depth and quaility of what’s sitting on the field. A fresh restoration of a million dollar car is no guarantee of even a third place in class, I see it all the time. Recently we showed a car in a class that was so over the top every owner was shaking their head trying to figure out a fair result for everyone. I think there were twelve cars in the class, all incredibly rare and correct. We all agreed that the judges must have just picked their favorite colors, as every one of the cars on display could and would have been a best of show winner at most major concours.