Driven World Sept/Oct 2022 Edition

FROM THE EDITOR

A LETTER

BY DUSTIN TROYAN

A butterfly. I was riding my bicycle up Stunt Road yesterday. I know Stunt Road very well. A little too well. Driving it, riding it, hiking around it, it is my “goto” canyon for many things. I was riding up Stunt road yesterday it was about 100 degrees and being out of shape, it was truly a lovely time. My head bent over my handle bars, I noticed a dead butterfly on the white line of the road. There she lay, expired.

When you are riding your bike and you are “suffering” because you are either out of shape or going very hard, your mind can wander funny places. I started thinking about myself in relation to that little butterfly whose life had run out. Perhaps it was because I could barely breathe or my whole body was in shock, I needed something to take my mind off of the heat and my temporary suffering. That poor little butterfly.

This time of year, Spring and Summer, you see a lot of butterflies. Floating effortlessly wherever the wind takes them. My daughters love butterflies. When we see them, Scarlett will often give them names. I thought about what I would tell her if she saw the dead butterfly on the road.

Most butterflies have a very short lifespan. From a week to a month. Some will go about a year, but for the most part, their lives are very short. I wondered if they realized that. Or, do they operate on different times that we do? Are they content with their week or their month of life? Did they get it all in? Did they float and fly and land on everything they wanted to before they ran out of time.

A few turns up, I came across another dead butterfly. Same type, same color, same size. Like that, they were both gone. And there I was, dripping sweat trying to survive my out of shape uphill battle with Stunt Road on a 100 degree day. The butterfly.

It really got me thinking about life. Is our life really as short as the butterfly but we just don’t know it. As time speeds up and we get so wrapped up with our phones in our hands that we no longer look at that beautiful butterfly floating before us. We take for granted that we should live to seventy or eighty and that those that don’t get the short end of the stick. That somehow we are guaranteed a long life while we all know many people who went way too young.

I think when I was younger, I felt more like a butterfly, floating around. More free in terms of time and following my passions. I am not complaining, but I was riding up Stunt that day to try to recapture some fitness that I once had. Sure it was hot, sure I am out of shape, but I know I can still do it. Not fast or pretty, but I can still do it. So I did it.

Floating around in space with no consideration of time. I watch my kids play. They just play. They grab their dolls and have no concept of time. Talking to the dolls, the dolls talking back. For hours, they can play. It makes me so happy that they play. Their minds wander and there are no constraints. There are no invisible walls being put up, what they can, can’t or shouldn’t do. They are free when they are playing. Sometimes we have places to go and Scarlett will say, “can’t I play just a little bit longer...” and of course she can. My dad told me to stay a kid as long as I could, that I had my whole life to be an adult, to take my time and enjoy my youth. Suffice to say, I always listened to my dad and his wise suggestions. I should write a book about them, it might not be politically correct, but it would be the honest to god truth. My father always told us how it was, but that is for another story.

Am I a butterfly? Are you? Floating around, driving around, running around... aimlessly as the wind takes us. Sounds romantic doesn't it? An adventure, that little butterfly has for a week or a month or a year. As the wind blows so she goes and where she ends, on Stunt Road. If you had to go, it wouldn’t be too bad of a place, nice view, nice turns, so fragrant this time of year with the

wildflowers finishing their bloom.

Recently I lost a business associate, he was exactly my age, days apart. He came down with a cough and it ended up being a very severe form of cancer. Within a few months he was gone. It was so fast. He was here, then he wasn’t. He was a healthy guy who one day started coughing and that was that. It greatly affected and continues to affect everyone that knew him. It hit so close to home for many of us as he was healthy. He was young. He was full of life. Just like that... He will be greatly missed.

I thought about Luis, when I saw that butterfly, I thought about myself, my family, my girls. I thought about what I was going to write as I pedaled up that hill. That I should be so appreciative that I could take a few moments to ride up that hill, in the heat, out of shape with my body screaming to stop, because that butterfly was laying there and Luis is no longer with us. Because I am alive.

I thought about doing what I am supposed to be doing, am I happy with myself and if, like that butterfly, I only had a few weeks or a few months to live, where would I float to? Where would the wind take me? That I stare too much into my phone and not enough at the sunset at the beach with my family or with my friends. Catching that big wave that has eluded me for years now, that is when I most feel like a butterfly.

I was talking to a cop at a board meeting, we talked about life and surfing and time challenges. He looked squarely in my eyes and said, “surfing is good for your mental health...,” When I got out of that meeting, I called my wife, we grabbed the kids and headed to Malibu for a late afternoon surf session. I put the girls on the surfboard and spent time with them in the water, I caught a few waves and it was just where I needed to be, floating on the water with my butterfly wings.

Let the wind take you Where you need to go Follow your dreams

More than you know

Close your eyes Hear the wind Life is precious Live again

Float on the wind carry you home life is so short your mind roams

Life for this breath the air is pure be your life the end, always near

Every day it goes by go out and play as time passes away

Life for now be who you want to be satisfy your dreams on butterfly wings

drivenworld

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DIRECTOR

EDITOR

Dustin Troyan Staff

Heather Troyan

Connected Media Group

Dustin Troyan

Greg Grudt

Mike Grudt

Mark Llewellyn

Gwen Banta

Tory Herald

Steve Valline

Steve Geldman

Tommy Huth

Hot Rod Jay Santos

Doug Cambell Scott Martin

ADVERTISING / MARKETING dustin@connectedmediagroup.com (818) 516-5053 www.drivenworld.com www.connectedmediagroup.com www.supercarsunday.com

Driven World Magazine is published twelve times per year by Connected Media Group LLC. It is distributed at upscale locations and events all over California. It is also available online and distributed electronically to highnet-worth individuals as well as members of the car community at large.

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On the Cover:

Pagani Dreaming in Monterey

by Greg Grudt

“Imagine the perfect drinking water found in nature, tumbling down rocky mountain streams and rivers, flowing through pristine subterranean aquifers, chilled, pure and delicious.”

BUGATTI AT PEBBLE BEACH

The exclusive Bugatti chateau in Pebble Beach is always one of our favorite stops dur ing Monterey Car Week. Inside the owner’s VIP lounge was the recently unveiled $5M Bugatti Mis tral (1 of 99 produced) displayed on a rotating plat form which provided stunning 360 degree views. Also inside was a Baby Bugatti II in black which is a partnership with Bugatti and the Little Car Company. This fully electric 75% scale version of the original Bugatti Type 35 starts at 36,000 euros for the base model and only 500 will be built. An other display was a small case housing Jacob & Co. watches with a representative from the company present. Jacob & Co. and Bugatti signed a multiyear partnership back in 2019 and they have been creating extremely rare and expensive watches since

then. The representative pulled out a gorgeous light blue Chiron watch with a value of $1.3M and care fully placed it on my wrist. It sure made my prized Tag Heuer watch look tiny and worthless. The sleek new Bugatti Scooters which retail for about $1,200 were also on display inside the lounge.

Outside of the VIP lounge there were three of the latest Chiron models including the Sport, Pur Sport and Super Sport models on dis play for the public to see.

Special thanks to the Bugatti team for the amazing hospitality during our visit as always. We are looking forward to see what you bring next year.

Article and Photos by Greg Grudt @exoticcarfotos

CONCORSO ITALIANO

For the past thirty-six years one of the mainstays of Monterey Car Week has been Concorso Italiano. Touted as the world’s largest luxury and exotic Ital ian Car Event, Concorso was attended by thou sands of enthusiasts this year. Last year the event

was moved to the current location of the sprawl ing Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course just north of Monterey on the former Fort Ord military com plex. This slight relocation has given a completely different perspective of the event from previous

years as the fairways seemed to have more hills and fewer wide flat sections to display the hundreds of vehicles and numerous vendor displays. Once again we entered the venue from the highest point in the area and we gazed across the sea of predominately red vehicles grouped by manufacturers and models. We made our way down the small grass covered rolling hills of the fairways to enjoy the endless number of Italian vehicles.

We walked to the very end of the display area and worked our way back toward the entrance to enjoy the cars. Due to the sheer number of quali ty entrants and time constraints, it was very difficult to truly see everything in detail. There were a couple of vehicles that stood out including an amazing Pa gani Zonda Revolución and a Pagani Huayra BC. Pagani vehicles would be right at home displayed in any art museum. The craftsmanship is truly amaz ing with each surface receiving great attention to detail. The carbon fiber lines are always perfectly aligned and the fit and finish is bar none. Also, each car is unique and built to match the specifications of the individual owner.

As we enjoyed countless other Italian ve hicles the Ferrari collection as per usual was over whelming with the huge number of entrants. There were so many different models represented and multiple specs that it was easy to lose track. Most people immediately think of Rosso Corso (red)

Story by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt - @exoticcarfotos

when they envision a Ferrari. I especially enjoyed the Ferrari Dino models and others offered in an array of colors not normally associated with Ferra ri. There were examples at the event that were any thing but red including lime green, brown, shades of blue, gunmetal gray, silver and many other col ors not commonly found on other Ferrari models.

Each year Concorso celebrates a number of notable Italian vehicle anniversaries. This year they highlighted the 75th Anniversary of Ferrari. The milestone was also celebrated at other events across the peninsula this year, but Concorso hosted hundreds of Ferraris in each model and color imag inable. I’m sure most of the entrants enjoy driving their vehicles regularly and not many get tucked

away in storage when they return home. This event always includes so many rare and unique Italian vehicles that just don’t appear at other events, and especially all at one venue.

There were so many beautiful examples of old and new models from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, De Tomaso, Maserati, Lancia, Fiat and many others and even a few Italian motorcy cles to enjoy. With hundreds of vehicles to choose from, the judges had a difficult time determining which car would take home the trophy for Best in Show. The winner this year went to a beautiful 1967 Bizzarrini 5300 Strada from Tyler, Texas. It was great to see a rare Italian vehicle powered by a small block Chevy that resides in Texas take the

overall honors during the 75th Anniversary of Fer rari. There were probably just too many Ferrari’s to choose from and the winner was deserving of the prestigious award.

Concorso Italiano has been going strong for thirty-six years and they always seem to add something new to mix with no signs of slowing down. We look forward to attending next year’s event and hope to see you there.

Story by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt - @exoticcarfotos

Tips

For Maintaining & Protecting Your Ferrari

From the Mattioli Automotive Group

DETAILING

In addition to keeping a car looking its best, consistent detailing is an important step in protecting a vehicle’s finish. Contaminants such as dirt, pollen, tree sap, and bird droppings can scratch and deterio rate painted surfaces if left over long periods. Given the value of a Ferrari, It is important to ensure that “best practices” are followed when performing a car wash; here are just a few from Mattioli Automotive Group’s (MAG) very own detailing specialists.

• Use the proper products: Ensure that the soap and other cleaning products being used have been formulated specifically for automotive use. Excessively strong chemicals and detergents will not only strip the wax off but can also dull the finish on paint and trim.

• All Towels are not equal: Microfiber towels offer low friction and can absorb more than seven times their weight in water, making them less abrasive and more effective than other towels. It is best to use a separate towel for each function (i.e..washing, drying, applying chemicals, etc). Also, towels should never be used if they are contaminated or have fallen on the ground; washing your towels often will help ensure that they are free of debris.

• Two bucket Technique: To help prevent the re-introduction of dirt and contaminants It is best to employ the “two bucket technique” when washing your car. One bucket should contain the diluted soap and a second bucket should have clean water. After each pass with the soap, rinse contami nants off of the sponge in the clean water before re-introducing into the soap solution again.

• Nooks and Crannies: Dirt and water can gather in the seams of the doors, trunk, and hood. It is important to clean and dry these areas thoroughly to prevent dripping onto clean surfaces.

• Avoid Direct Sunlight: Water evaporates quickly in direct sunlight which can result in watermarks.

Is your Ferrari in need of a thorough and professional cleaning?

Feel free to reach out to one of the MAG’s four service centers to schedule a complete detailing service.

PROTECTIVE FILM

Stones, road debris, chemical stains, and UV damage are all potential dangers when exposing your prized Ferrari to the road and the elements. But owners can save themselves from headaches and costly refin ishing bills simply by installing protective film over their immaculate finish. This nearly invisible film can be applied just to the most vulnerable surfaces or the entire vehicle depending on your needs and driving habits.

Protect your Ferrari against road hazards and the harsh elements before it's too late. The Mattioli Auto motive Group contracts several of the top protective film installers to perform the service in our facility and can guarantee timely turnaround and flawless results. To learn more about protective film options for your Ferrari, or to schedule an appointment please contact one of the MAG’s four service centers.

CERAMIC COATING

Ceramic Coating is another popular option for protecting paint and other vehicle finishes. When com pared to protective film, it can be a more comprehensive and economical alternative. Ceramic coating is a special chemical compound that is applied to various vehicle finishes to form a permanent bond with the surface. The result is a 9H+ hard coating that repels water and offers protection from UV rays, chemi cals, oxidation, and corrosion. It can be applied to paint for protection against light scratches, wheels to prevent the build-up of brake dust, and glass for increased visibility in wet weather.

The MAG contracts several of the top ceramic coating specialists to perform the service in our facility and we can guarantee timely turnaround and flawless results. To learn more about ceramic coat ing, or to schedule an appointment please contact one of the MAG’s four service centers.

Keep your Ferrari ready for your next drive.

SKID PLATES

The most common dangers for Ferrari owners are steep driveways and parking curbs. Even with the optional lifter, which is available on newer models, there are still some obstacles that are too big to maneuver over unscathed. To add protection against marring the under side of the front bumper, many owners elect to install a skid plate.

This sacrificial piece of durable plastic polymer is precision cut to fit precisely on to the underside of the front bumper. The result is a nearly invisible layer of protection against costly paint and autobody repairs.

To learn more about skid plates for your Ferrari, or to schedule an appointment please contact one of the MAG’s four service centers. Each MAG location stocks an extensive inventory of skid plates for various models and can complete the installation in a matter of hours.

BATTERY MAINTINENCE

The phrase “if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it” has never been more accurate than with regards to automotive batteries. When a battery is in a discharged state for an extended period of time the lead sulfate crystals inside the battery begin to increase in size. The bigger the crys tals get, the harder they are to dissolve which ultimately blocks the chemical reaction that allows the battery to charge, and eventually leads to battery failure.

For this reason, Genuine Ferrari offers Battery Re-conditioners which are de signed to maintain a battery’s charge and combat the growth of sulfate crystals. A Battery Re-conditioner should be utilized any time a vehicle is parked for long periods of time. This is especially vital for new vehicles which contain more electrical components that put a drain the battery.

For specific questions regarding the use of the Ferrari Battery Re-conditioners or to order one for your vehicle, feel free to reach out to one of Mattioli Automotive Group’s four service centers.

"STICKY INTERIOR TRIM"

Over time, environmental factors and harsh chemicals can take a toll on the interior compo nents of a mature Ferrari resulting in sticky buttons, controls, and trim pieces. The only rem edies to this condition are to replace the deteriorated components or have them re-finished. Either way, the process is very involved. Thankfully, the Mattioli Automotive Group’s service centers are very experienced with this issue and can help advise owners of their options when restoring their interior to like-new condition. If your Ferrari is in need of interior trim restoration, we invite you to reach out to one of MAG’s four service centers to learn more or schedule a service appointment.

Mattioli Automotive Group’s service centers are happy to help with any inquiries about these and other services offered to help protect and maintain your Ferrari.

Ferrari South Bay Service 23305 Hawthorne Blvd Torrance, CA 90505 (877) 887-9183 service@ferrarisouthbay.com www.ferrarisouthbay.com M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm

Ferrari Beverly Hills Service 2110 Cotner Avenue. Los Angeles, CA 90025 (888) 849-9726 service@ferraribeverlyhills.com www.ferraribeverlyhills.com M - F 7:30am - 5:00pm

Ferrari Los Angeles Service 7051 Hayvenhurst Ave. Van Nuys, Ca 91406 (888) 545-4385 service@ferrariwestlake.com www.ferrariwestlake.com

M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm

Ferrari Silicon Valley Service 2750 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA (888) 875-8963 service@ferrarisiliconvalley.com www.ferrarisiliconvalley.com M - F 8:00am - 5:00pm

Motorlux

Story by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt@exoticcarfotos

After an impressive 30 year run, Gordon and Mol ly’s, “McCall’s Motorworks Revival” passed the baton as the event transitioned to become Motorlux. The new team pulled out all of the stops for their inaugural celebration held at the Monterey Jet Center as they continued the tradition as the “Unofficial Kick Off “event to start Car Week. It is rare for any event to be held for three decades, especially those in the car world. There were amazing cars, motorcycles, aircraft and displays by exclusive high end proprietors.

Previously, the event included a single hanger and the surrounding tarmac used for display. This year the adjacent hanger was utilized to house offerings for the first-ever Broad Arrow Auction which were on display for Motorlux attendees to preview prior to the auction. Broad Arrow immediately established itself as a key player in the Monterey auction scene during Car Week this year.

Upon entering the event everything felt familiar, yet slightly different. I’m glad the new team kept the vibe of the event intact and didn’t make major changes to this traditional part of the Car Week experience. We enjoyed the nearly 150 cars and numerous aircraft on display with the other 3,000 attendees at this exclusive event.

As we proceeded toward the Jet Center main hanger I noticed a P-51 Mustang (my favorite WWII warbird) and a WWII Trainer off to the left. I always enjoy seeing examples of 75+ year old aircraft that are still air worthy and not static displays in a museum. I then walked by an old silver-colored Porsche 356 outfitted with tank treads on the rear and skis on the front. A logo on the side read, “Antarctica 356 Ice Challenge” so I’m not sure if that is or was an actual event. The car appeared to be set up to travel into remote areas much like a dogsled without the dogs. There was an assortment of supercars, hypercars, EV’s, muscle cars and a little bit of everything spread around the tarmac to view.

Last year as I was looking at the two new models of

the fiberglass Meyers Manx dune buggies there was a Grumman HU-16 Albatross airplane behind them. The aircraft was a large twin-radial engine amphibi ous flying boat that was used by different branches of our military as a search and rescue aircraft from 19471983. I met an Italian gentleman named Pietro who was a corporate pilot in the Bay Area. Pietro was al most obsessed with amphibious aircraft and he owns a Cessna float plane that he flies for fun and he has flown a few of the Albatross models. I saw the plane on display again this year, but I didn’t see Pietro. There are always interesting people that I meet at the event and this year was no exception as I met a few others who were usually pilots and or aircraft owners.

Inside the hanger I saw a display of Porsche mod els by Ruf, a retro Ford Bronco built by a company that builds old school internal combustion models as well as total EV units, and other various old and new vehicles. There were also a number of culinary stations staffed by top chefs from the peninsula area and in cluded a Hawaiian Luau themed area with a whole roasted pig and fresh fruit to decorate the tables.

There were many other one-off and prototype ve hicles and some high end production models on dis play to enjoy as the sun set. One unique feature of this event was the starting time in the late afternoon sun shine and then progressing into the evening darkness. The entire area looked completely different under the lighting changes which added to the ambiance of the evening as two women played their electric violins while attendees hit the dance floor.

I’m sure Motorlux will present another exclusive and unique next year and somehow best their efforts from this year. We can hardly wait and we’ll see you there next year!

Well, car week has started and we have five days with very full schedules to fulfill. Please enjoy Greg’s photos and the other stories in this Annual Monterey Edition of Drivenworld.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports

Reunion 2022 Story by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt @exoticcarfotos

The first Pebble Beach Road Races were held starting in 1950, weaving through trees in the Del Monte Forest and the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance was a last minute edition to add style to make this a more “social” event. It was an important event and a new concept for the West Coast. Races continued each year until an unfortunate accident took the life of racer Ernie McAfee in 1956 and the races were then halted. Since the tight treelined roads of the forest were too dangerous to race through the event needed to find a new location. The following year Laguna Seca Raceway was built in the hills nearby and the races eventually evolved into the historic races we enjoy today. This year the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion started one day earlier and ran from Wednesday to Saturday of Monterey Car Week. A slight change in dates gave Monterey Car week guests the opportunity to attend both the rac ing events and the Concours d’ Elegance. From all accounts this turned out to be a welcomed change to the Car Week schedule. This was the largest event held that week and there was even a pre-race reunion held on the weekend prior and a special Corkscrew event on the Sunday after the event. The 550 entrants were honored to be chosen from over one thousand applicants who submitted their requests.

Le Mans vehicles were the featured marque at the event to honor the 100th Anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. There was a huge display of nearly fifty Le Mans race cars represented starting with a 1929 Bentley Speed and continuing up to include a 2016 Ford GTLM class winner. A number of those racers took to the track in different races grouped by year over the course of the event. Some of my favorites were the numerous Porsche’s beginning with a 1951 Porsche 356 SL which started it all for Porsche racing and was a class winner at Le Mans, followed by numerous 911’s, 935’s, 962’s and many others. I also enjoyed seeing a 1967 Jim Hall Chaparral 2F with a 427 big clock Chevy, a 2012 Nissan DeltaWing and other Panoz racers and an odd 1951 Cadillac Series 61 “Le Monstre” with a large flat custom body. These examples and others helped to show the progression of race vehicle design and technology through the years. The Le Mans Heritage display was said to be the larg est and best collection of historic Le Mans racers ever displayed in the United States. During a break in the action each day this event had special exhibitions for the spec tators to enjoy. I enjoyed watching the “hot laps” performed by Ron Fellows and other noted drivers as they took turns piloting two new Corvette Z06’s around Laguna Seca. What an amazing car and a great sound. I can hardly wait for these to show up at Supercar Sunday. The two Z06’s were (somewhat) closely followed by a Cadillac CT5-V Series Blackwing with an awesome sounding supercharged V8 that did a good job of keeping the corvettes in sight. There was also a speed run of the new 1,200 HP, three-motor all electric Lucid Air Sapphire that must have set a new record of sorts since their crew gave loud cheers after a few very quick laps. It was odd to view a vehicle traveling so fast not making any engine noise, just slight tire screeching sounds. I missed the noise to add to the sensation of speed on the track. I guess this will be the future of motorsports. Thanks to the Rolex Motorsports Reunion we should be good for at least 100 more years of internal combustion powered race cars.

There were two other notable special exhibitions during held during the reunion. The upcoming Gordon Murray T50 Hypercar (4.0 L nonhybrid, naturally aspirated V12) which is his newest offering after design ing the iconic McLaren F1 in the 1990’s. The beautiful machine looked and sounded great on the track. They are being built in England and due to start arriving to each of the 100 lucky owners later this year or early 2023. Another was the running of the Pagani Huayra R (6.0L non-hybrid, naturally aspirated V12) track car. This variant which showcases technology for use in future Pagani models, was limited to just 30 examples that have all been sold. The 9,000 rpm redline V12 sounded amazing as it rounded the track and the high pitched exhaust note echoed through the hills surrounding the area.

My son Greg and I scheduled two visits to Laguna Seca into our busy Car Week Schedule this year. Monterey Car Week events are spread out over a large area of the peninsula and it is imperative to have an accurate schedule to make sure nothing is omitted. We usually close out Car Week from the track on Sunday afternoon, but this year we left the track after clos ing on Saturday and spent more time on Sunday at Pebble Beach. We may attend the Laguna Seca Sunday Corkscrew climb next year as we weren’t able to work it in this year.

2022 MONTEREY CAR WEEK AUCTIONS

The Monterey Car Week auctions always draw buyers from around the world due to their top tier and unique offerings. Those buyers unable to attend also had the option to bid online or via phone during the live auctions to secure their collector vehicles. Most buyers attended the live auctions which added to the excitement of these events. There were five major auction houses represented this year and each had a strong presence during Monterey Car Week as this tends to be their most important auction of the year. The auctions closed with a total $470.7M in total sales surpassing the previous record of $394.48M from 2015. At least 112 cars sold for $1 million or more compared to 82 cars at this level in 2021 which helped in crease the total sales dollars. It was a very successful week and showed the collector car market is very strong.

Below is a brief recap of each auction house’s results in alphabetical order:

Bonhams Quail Auction – By far the oldest auction house on the Peninsula, Bonhams has its roots dating back to the late 1700’s in Europe. They have been in Monterey for twenty-five years and they are the Official Auction of Quail. Bonhams was located at the far end of the Quail Lodge and Golf Club Resort property on a grassy field. Many of the vehicles could be seen from outside of the small white fence surrounding the vehicles and it was fairly secluded and away from much of the crowds and traffic surrounding many other events. Bonhams is one of the smaller Monterey auctions, yet they always offer high quality vehicles that usually land near the top in sales prices. This year they offered 137 lots and enjoyed a very solid 88% sell-through rate for total sales of $27.8M which is less than the $36.88M in sales from 2021. Their anticipated top offering was to be a 1960 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition top. When it failed to sell the two top lots sold were a 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Coupe for $2.1M followed by a beautiful 1969 Lamborghini P400S Miura in perfect condition. Rounding out the top five lots were a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing coupe $1.74M, a 1995 Porsche 911 Type 993 GT2 $1.54M and a 1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria $1.44M. My favorite offering was a 1971 Husqvarna 400 dirt bike that sold for $186,500. The motorcycle was owned by Steve McQueen and sold in “as last ridden by McQueen” condition. That may be the motorcycle he rode in the classic 1971 film, “On Any Sunday”.

Broad Arrow Auctions (a Hagerty Company) – Broad Arrow is new to the Monterey auction scene and was located at the Monterey Jet Center adjacent to the Motorlux (formerly McCall’s Motor

Story by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt - @exoticcarfotos

works Revival) event during the unofficial “kick off” of Car Week. The new kid in town came in with a bang offering 93 lots with an 88% sell-through rate totaling $55.26M in total sales and set 14 new world record prices at their auction. Not bad for a first effort. A significant portion of their sales were from the 28 cars of the “Fleischman Collection” offered by local collector and Supercar Sunday regular William (Bill) Fleischman. At least six cars from his collection landed spots in the top fifteen in sales at that auc tion. The top five overall sales included a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti $5.5M, a 1995 Ferrari F50 $5.18M, a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari $3.91M, a Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Landaulet $2.59M and a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 $1.99M from the Estate of Sir Sean Connery.

Gooding – The Official Auction of Pebble Beach has been a major player in Monterey for over sixteen years. They are set up adjacent to the central Pebble Beach activities and easily accessible. Gooding had a total of 158 lots available and achieved a total $109.45M in sales for an 85% sell-through rate for the two day event to slightly increase their 2021 total sales. They sold 28 vehicles for more than $1 million each which also improved over the 24 sold last year in that price range. The top five sales at Gooding included a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante $10.35M, a 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series 1 Coupe Aerodinamico $6M, 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo $5.62M, a 1995 Ferrari F50 $4.63M and a 1969 Porsche 908/02 $4.19M. Most of these sales set price records for those models. Other notable record sales were a very low mile 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport $3.17M, a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight $2.43M and a record selling 1990 Ferrari F40 $3.97M. A Few cars I enjoyed viewing were a 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition $731K, a 1966 Meyers Manx $56K, a 1967

Volkswagen Beetle $30.8K (I purchased a used one the same color in 1976 for $600 and made it into a “Baja Bug”, who knew?) and a 1942 Crocker Big-Tank Twin (the last Crocker motorcycle built) offered for $1M but it didn’t sell.

Mecum – Once again the largest auction at Monterey Car Week offered 474 lots this year and offered something for any budget during their three day event. They were set up in their usual location on the spacious Del Monte Golf Course adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel. Mecum enjoyed a 64% sell-through rate and their overall sales totaled $50.8M which is down from last year’s record sales of $52.1M. Their top ten sales were once again over $1 million per lot.

The top five sales were a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT “Tour de France” Alloy Berlinetta $2.86M, a classic 1936 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Convertible Berline $2.7M, a 2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille Legend Edition $2.64M (and the longest name of any vehicle sold during car week auctions), a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1 $2.5M and a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 30SL Roadster $1.71M.

This year the top sale for an American built muscle car went to a 1 of 17 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convert ible $1.1M. Two other notable sales were for vehicles previously owned by Paul Walker, a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 $1.08M and his 2001 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R Spec II (Paul used this car to promote the “Fast and Furious Films”) $577.5K.

Unlike most of the other auctions, Mecum offered a nice selection of vintage motorcycles in Monterey. This year they offered a 1902 Norton that is one of the earliest known examples, a 1914 Harley-Davidson Model 10F Two Speed in fully restored condition, a 1908 Thor Single that was displayed in a Belgian museum for many years and a very clean 1927 Indian Scout 3-Speed.

RM Sotheby’s – RM was set up at the Portola Hotel near downtown Monterey for their 25th annual event. Their three day auction garnered $239.3M in sales to lead the other four auctions combined in total sales this year and set a new auction record. They nearly doubled their $148.5M sales of last year and sold 52 vehicles for over $1 million with an impressive 95% sell-through rate.

RM sold 9 of the 10 highest priced vehicles during Car Week and 17 Ferraris for over $1M, including five for over $7M and four for over $5M each. The top sale at RM and also top sale of Car Week was a 1955 Ferrari Sport Spider $22M and their second highest sale was a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster $9.9M. The third highest sale was a beautiful 1924 Hispano-Suiza HSC Tu lipwood Torpedo $9.25M which set a price record for that marque. The entire body and fenders of the open top car were constructed of thin strips of mahogany accented with thousands of shiny brass rivets and covered with copious coats of clear gloss. The vehicle sported copper plated spokes and wheels and the entire car glistened in the sun as I admired the amazing craftsmanship. The next two top sales were a 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider $7.84M and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet $7.6M.

One surprise high sale was a 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera Sally Special that sold for $3.6M which was a record for a new Porsche sold at auction. The proceeds went to a good cause to benefit children’s charities. This special car was designed by Pixar and Porsche to commemorate the vehicle that starred in the three Disney/Pixar movies. The “Sally Blue” colored car looked like an everyday Porsche 911 at first glance as I walked past it. The small Cars-Sally Carrera plaque caught my eye and I remembered reading about the car. Upon closer inspection I noted some subtle body changes and the interior had hounds tooth patterned seat inserts and so many interior design cues that were used it was truly a one-off car.

RM also had a few vehicles available for private sale including a 1989 F40 “Competizione” and a Bugatti Chiron Sport 110ANS (1 of 20) finished in a matte steel blue. A 1998 McLaren F1 (1 of 64 road cars produced) was also available for purchase using RM’s new Sotheby Sealed program. The car privately sold though we may never know how much it actually sold for. I think it is safe to say that it sold for in excess of $20M.

71ST

71st Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has set the standard for automotive events by continu ously evolving for the past 71 years to become the world renowned event we enjoy today. There are

many so-called Concours events held throughout the world and none can match the excellence of Pebble Beach. What started in 1950 to compli ment a local road race has become the premier Concours event in the world. Monterey Car Week

has also evolved into a week-long celebration of events related to cars and other vehicles leading up to this special show.

This year was no exception as the weather was perfect and everyone I spoke to was having a great time enjoying the magnificent examples of automotive history. My son Greg and I met two photojournalists from Germany, Philipp and Keno during car week four or five years ago. In past years we would see them at nearly every event during Car Week. This year as per usual we saw them at many events again. They speak English much bet ter than I speak German and they also had a great time during car week trying to see and do as much as possible. It’s nice to know we weren’t the only “crazy” car enthusiasts trying to attend and cover every event during Car Week.

Concours d’Elegance celebrates different auto mobile milestones and anniversaries each year. For 2022 the two big anniversaries were 100 year celebrations for Lincoln automobiles and The 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Le Mans race organizers worked with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to host the first of many

Story by Mike Grudt and Photos by Greg Grudt - @exoticcarfotos

By global celebrations. Another special class was the 1932 Ford Historic Hot rods to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the iconic roadster and a nice selection was on display. The most unique or unusual special class this year was for Unortho dox Propulsion vehicles. There were some very strange early 20th century vehicles at the event representing this class. One burned coal and smelled like a charcoal bbq grill, another had a propeller-driven motor and others were just weird combinations of gas, hybrid, electrical and who knows what. I had never seen or heard of any of the vehicles in that class.

As I walked past the long row of cars perched on the edge of the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links overlooking the ocean there was a lot

of activity on the field. There were still a few cars being placed and the numerous judges were out and about doing their thing. There were many historic Lincoln autos and then a nice collection of Le Mans race cars. I had seen many of the Le Mans racers at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Re union a few days prior and a few had even “raced” on the track. One of my favorites in Class R-2 was a cool 1979 Porsche 935 K3 Coupe owned by Supercar Sunday friend Bruce Meyer, which won its class. At the far end of the venue I enjoyed the 1932 Ford Historic Hot Rods exhibit, especially the beautiful example also owned by Bruce Meyer which also took home the Class V Best in Class award.

There were so many amazing vehicles to choose

from, but the coveted Best of Show award went to a well deserving 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo shown by Lee R. Anderson Sr.

The last time an American car took Best of Show honors was when a 1934 Packard Twelve won in 2013. Duesenberg has been the winningest American marque at Pebble Beach with a total seven wins as of this year.

Another successful Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance came to a close and we look forward to their 72nd Anniversary event next year and the other Car Week events. To Philipp and Keno, “wir sehen uns nächstes Jahr” (we’ll see you next year).