YOUR CONCOURS MEMORIES

SHARING FAMILY TIES AND TRADITIONS

We invited you to send us your memories of the Pebble Beach Concours, and a great many of you responded with your favorite stories and photographs — so many that we will be spreading your memories across several of our coming Insider issues. Thanks to our partnership with WeatherTech, we will also be sharing a series of video shorts related to Insider Moments. We treasure each of your memories as a part of our own story, and we want to make room for as many as we can!

Left: Mark Green and his son Blake relish a moment together in a Jaguar competing in the Pebble Beach Concours years back. Below: For this year's virtual Dawn Patrol presented by Hagerty, the two men pose by their Porsche Turbo topped with their collection of Hagerty hats.

For this issue, we’re sharing some of your memories focused on families at the Concours. Many of you make this event an annual family gathering, passing your love of cars down through the generations, sharing and celebrating cherished family automotive treasures, and establishing special traditions and memories here. A few of you even mark family milestones, such as engagements.

We hope cars and this Concours continue to bring you together — and bring you joy for years to come.

FATHER & SON GREET THE DAWN TOGETHER

I’ve attended the Pebble Beach Concours for 30 years in a row — and many of those years my son Blake has joined me to share in the experiences. He first attended the Concours at the age of 6 and he’s been on the lawn with me 18 times.

Being at Pebble Beach, in what is a mostly adult environment, has helped Blake develop the important skills of meeting people, asking about their lives and cars, and building friendships. He was once invited to a private party in The Lodge, unbeknownst to me, and I found him at a table with a group of women, sipping bubbly, and telling stories. That’s my boy! One year, while looking at the cars being prepped on the Polo Field, Blake began talking to the owner of an old Jaguar C Type, and the owner invited Blake to ride with him in his car onto the Lodge lawn on Sunday morning. During that Dawn Patrol Blake had a huge smile on his face as he rode in between the rows of early risers in that beautiful Jaguar. I must say I was a bit jealous as that’s something I’ve never been able to do. The owner later invited me to sit in the car once it was parked and we got a remembrance photo of the event.

Over the years we’ve collected all of Hagerty’s Dawn Patrol hats, and this year when Hagerty created its Virtual Dawn Patrol hat, Blake and I got together on the morning of what would have been the 2020 Pebble Beach Concours and took a photo of us with our Turbo topped with years of Hagerty hats.

Thank you for all the wonderful memories and for the relationships built thanks to the Pebble Beach Concours. Blake and I look forward to continuing our father and son trip in the years to come.

— MARK GREENE OF CARS YEAH

A KISSEL AT THE HEART OF A FAMILY

My grandfather, Preston Heller, courted my grandmother, Ruth Schulein, in a Kissel — I believe it was a Gold Bug — in the early or mid-1920s. They soon married, and my father, Preston “Pete” Heller Jr., was born in 1929.

When my father decided to start collecting antique cars in the 1980s he decided to honor his father’s memory by collecting Kissels. He purchased a 1921 Kissel Gold Bug, plus two other Kissels that I believe were from 1925 and 1928 — one a cream and pistachio speedster and the other a red and black two-door sedan.

My father passed away in 2013, and I chose to keep and restore the Gold Bug to honor his memory (and to continue to honor my grandfather, who died the year before I was born).

I gave the car to Jason Wenig at The Creative Workshop with the hope of creating the greatest restored Kissel of any sort, which I believe we accomplished. In 2018 we won First in Class among Vintage Era Sporting Cars at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

I gathered my entire extended family at Pebble to participate in that wonderful moment in honor of my father.

— ANDREW HELLER

A MEETING TO REMEMBER

In 2011, our family attended Pebble Beach. To convince my sons, Mike (16 at the time) and Spencer (11), of the merits of attending, as they are not cars buffs like myself, I told them that celebrities might be in attendance, including Jay Leno, a huge favorite of theirs.

Sure enough as we were walking around the cars, Jay was talking to an owner of one of the cars. When Jay saw the look of amazement on the boys faces, he graciously stopped what he was doing, acknowledged them, spoke for a few minutes and shook their hands. They were ecstatic!

At dinner that night, we were reminiscing about the day, the cars, and meeting Jay Leno. And Spencer stated that he wished he would have kicked Jay.

My wife and I were astounded: “You had such a great day, Jay was so nice, why would you say that?” Spencer said that he would always remember the day he met Jay Leno, and if he would have kicked Jay, Jay would have always remembered him, as well!

We will always remember Pebble Beach and this story.

— MICHAEL CATTALANI

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

It is hard to say which story is true and harder still to decide which one is better. We grew up understanding that in 1955 our father bought the car, a ’52 Austin Healey, from his cousin Chuck, for $1. Or maybe it was a ’53. Chuck was headed to Europe on active duty with the Navy and wouldn’t need the car for a while, but he didn’t want to part with it, so he sold it to Dad.

Chuck called the transaction a rental instead of a sale, and agreed that very little money was exchanged, but believed it was more than a dollar. He also believed the car may have been a ’51.

Dad said the car was a four-cylinder white convertible with black leather interior and a wide navy-blue stripe, edged with a narrow strip of gold on either side, which ran from bumper to grille. The engine and the brake drums, revealed through wire wheels, were painted a bright fetching red.

Chuck agreed but said the car, which he bought from an assemblyman in Sacramento, began as a hazy, smoky blue. He bought it in ’54 and had it painted white by Stan Epps, who had an established paint shop in Oakland. He had the stripe added by Tommy “The Greek” Hrones, the “irrepressible master of the striping arts.” Chuck said it didn’t get any better than that.

Dad liked to point out that when he loosened the big nuts on the windshield, he could bend it up, slide it forward, and let it slide down the hood. Pegs at the bottom slipped into holes, securing the windshield at a new rake, which meant the car could go faster with less pressure. And he made the most of that.

“I gave it a try,” said Dad, “and from then on, I drove it that way. My eyes were right above the top of the windshield. This made my dark glasses and, of course, my cap, essential. The car also had a little echo bell, so even if it were just sitting there idling, it sounded good.”

The extended Heller clan gather around the classwinning 1921 Kissel 6-45 "Gold Bug" Speedster that was restored and shown at Pebble Beach to honor the memories of Preston Heller and Preston "Pete" Heller Jr.

Jay Leno (left) chats with enthusiasts just before the Cattalani boys catch his eye. Spencer (below) on the concept lawn. Thankfully Spencer Cattalani refrained from kicking Jay..

It was that adjustable windshield, plus a louvered hood and two taillights, that confirmed for my brother David that the car was, in fact, a ’54 Austin Healey 100M.

By all accounts, it was “spiffy.”

Every morning, Mom dropped off Dad at Wells Fargo Bank and then drove the Austin Healey to Cragmont Elementary School in Berkeley, where she taught sixth grade. Both agreed it was a rather classy ride for a teacher, and the students seemed to think so, too, as they gathered round the car, hands behind their backs, “just looking.”

Dad said that Mom at the wheel, with her dark glasses and blonde curls, was also “spiffy.”

The first summer they had the car, Mom and Dad drove it to Pebble Beach and entered it in the sportscar class at the 7th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, in 1956.

“It was fun driving down to Pebble Beach,” Dad said. “I could drive it straight on windy roads, and it would hug the curves. We arrived at the Concours and were directed to our position near the 18th fairway. Then we got out our bottles of water and rags — no one could understand what we were doing — and washed the car right there.”

Imagine.

Then they pulled out chilled wine from the trunk and stood there, toasting the car and greeting people. Right next to their car was a brand-new Austin Healey, and people walked right by it to look at theirs.

Mr. & Mrs. F. H. Watson III (in the 1950s and more recently) and the Austin Healey they showed at Pebble Beach in 1956, which has long since become the subject of family lore.

Perhaps it was the pinstriping. Maybe it was the wine.

Just as they were leaving the green, someone backed into Dad’s car and nearly took off the grille.

He drove all the way home with that “sore lip” then took the car to an established auto body shop in Berkeley to have the car repaired “just like new.”

The following year, my older sister was born, and Dad reluctantly decided to let the little two-seater go in exchange for a “family Dodge.” So he gave the car back to Chuck and kept a little distance for a while until he could get over the loss.

Cousin Chuck said he never saw the car again because my father sold it, with his permission, and wired him the proceeds. What we children lament is that we never got to see it. It’s really just figment of our imagination — or theirs.

Except they had the photos to prove it.

— LISA CRAWFORD WATSON

Right: Emily Passey on the lap of her grandfather Jack. Her father, Bill, is driving. Below: In 1993, Tom and Gwen Price and their two young sons cross the awards ramp in their 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Mille Miglia Race Car.

Above: Paul Hageman and his father Peter at work as Class Judges on our competition field. Left: Knox and Jeila Kershaw with their daughter Jeila Martin in front of their 1933 Pierce-Arrow 1247 LeBaron Convertible Sedan

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Left: Mark Tuttle served among Class Judges at the Pebble Beach Concours for 26 years.

A FATHER SHARES HIS STORIES

I have countless memories of coming to Pebble Beach every year of many with my father, Mark Tuttle, who served as a judge at the Concours for more than 25 years. My favorite thing was waking up at 5 a.m. on Concours morning — it was like Christmas for my Dad — to see all of the cars driving onto the lawn. We got our Dawn Patrol hat, our donut and our coffee — and then the stories about each car would start. Dad knew the history of almost every car that drove on.

I loved every minute of those mornings — the smell of the exhaust, the sound of the engines, the camaraderie of all the car enthusiasts, and that very special time with my Dad.

— LISA FISHER

FINDING SOME COMFORT IN CARS

My lovely wife had passed on in July 2014 and I was feeling really rather low.

My son who lives and works in San Francisco got tickets for the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours and insisted I come all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take part in it.

Avin and Dr. Abel W. K. Arumagam are all smiles as they attend the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours.

Both of us are car freaks. Actually, I taught him to appreciate lovely cars — and now he drives a classic 1997 Porsche 911 (993).

When I arrived in SF, it was the Concours and only the Concours that we talked about till we left for Pebble Beach on that road that winds down the coast.

We spent a lovely two days really soaking in the whole atmosphere and ambiance — from listening to Jay Leno speak at The Inn at Spanish Bay, attending the Concours d’Lemons and continuing all the way to the Grand Finale on the 18th fairway. It was indeed magical, and it did indeed raise my spirits.

I hope to make it to the Concours in August 2021 if we can shake off this pandemic. Do stay safe. And God bless.

— DR. ABEL W K ARUMUGAM

Left: Kathi Webber pauses on the show field of the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours.

Below: Richard Plavetich and his wife, Susan Denton, are longtime attendees at the Pebble Beach Concours.

After we dropped our first child off at college in Costa Mesa, California, it worked to catch the Pebble Beach Concours on our way back home to Seattle. There were many emotions on that long drive for a mom and dad, but to experience the joy of the Concours with my spouse of more than 25 years was priceless. Can’t wait to do it again!

— BRENT WEBBER

A SPRINGBOARD TO A WHOLE NEW LIFE

It was 1987 and I was living in the Detroit area, getting my career started in the auto industry. As a young enthusiast, I had dreams of attending the Pebble Beach Concours, and I decided this was the year for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the West Coast for the event.

My plan was to fly into San Diego and drive up Highway One to the show before returning home via San Francisco. On the plane West I was reading the Detroit Free Press and saw an ad for a job in an automotive design studio in Los Angeles. While driving through LA three days later, I stopped and inquired about the position, and landed the spot. Following an amazing weekend in Carmel, I flew home to Detroit to pack my belongings to start a new life.

That first Pebble Beach trip opened up a whole new California experience for me where I met my wife, was enabled on an international car design career path, and was introduced to many of the hobby’s finest enthusiasts. I have since assembled a modest collection of vintage cars of my own to participate in tours, rallies and concours—all due to that “one time” trip many years ago. Last year marked my 33rd consecutive pilgrimage to Pebble Beach. Looking forward to 2021!

— RICHARD PLAVETICH, GENERAL MANAGER, NISSAN DESIGN AMERICA (RETIRED)

PEBBLE BEACH SPARKS A PASSION

From 1953 through the fifties my Father took me and my two younger brothers to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Back then we could enjoy breakfast at The Lodge as we watched the cars pulled onto the lawn. My brother, Brewster, the artist of our family, would have been about 8 years old in the mid-fifties. That’s when he first spotted a Cord 810 on the lawn and was mesmerized. From then on, the 810-812 was his all-time, lifetime favorite automotive design.

— LOGAN GRAY