The Concorso Italiano is about a month away. Concorso Italiano Web Site
It is part of the west coast's big annual classic car multi-event gathering.
The Concorso is billed as the largest Italian car show in the world. It is also the one event each year in which the De Tomaso exhibitors are directly hosted by Pantera International (i.e. Debbie and I). We always look forward to meeting new people, and getting reacquainted with old friends too.
There is more information available at this link: PI Website Concorso Italiano Page
Our trophies are due this week, once they arrive I'll post a picture of them. We've got a cool gift for each exhibitor this year ... a bright LED flashlight (of substantial size) with the De Tomaso logo etched on it.
The exhibitors at the Concorso are representatives for De Tomaso owners world wide, we always need to make a good showing for the marque, and bring our exhibitor numbers up because the more exhibitors we have the more respect we get from the event organizers. And of course the more exhibitors we have, the more the world continues to take notice of our marque.
More than anything else Debbie and I want to facilitate De Tomaso owners hanging-out with each other, making a showing for the marque, and having a good time. We sincerely hope you'll consider joining us at the Concorso this year, if not as an exhibitor, at least as a spectator. However, the passengers of exhibitors get in free, therefore it is cheaper for two people to drive in as exhibitors than for them to enter on foot as two spectators. So bring two lawn chairs, one for yourself plus a second for a passenger, and bring some money for food and drink, and enjoy yourself at this awesome event. The founding concept of the Concorso is that your car does not have to be a show car to enter.
The Concorso is more than just a car show, it is a festival. Among the events held each August in Monterey this festival has the most to offer in terms of sights and activities, there's significantly more to do than "just" walking around looking at cars or sitting next to your car in a lawn chair. The Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course is a large attractive golf course, having large rolling fairways lined with groves of large trees. The blue water of the Monterey Bay is visible in the back ground. The venue is cooled by an ocean breeze. On the day of the event the fairways are lined with "pavilions", those white tents with pointed roofs so common at festivals. The sound of Italian music echoes across the fairways and the aroma of Italian food lingers in the air. There is food to sample, wine to taste, a fashion show, live music, interviews of Italian auto industry luminaries, vendors, and much more. Significant others will not be bored or disappointed.
The entire week's events are held in the beautiful environs of Monterey and Carmel California, and California's scenic central coast. There are several car shows, auctions, the Pebble Beach Concourse, and the Laguna Seca Historic Races (which have been renamed the "Rolex Motorsports Reunion"). There is lots to see and lots to do. The many other happenings during this weekend are a guarantee you won't be bored for something to do ... and you'll go home with fond memories and no regrets.
Hotel rates go up during this week, and the rooms in the vicinity of Monterey, Carmel, Marina, and Seaside book-up quickly. However the further from the event you look, you'll find room vacancy and pricing become less and less of an issue. Salinas, Castroville and Watsonville are common choices for those attending the Monterey events, but the motels there do book-up. Moss Landing is usually overlooked, but some lodging is available there. Debbie and I prefer the coastal cities a bit further north such as Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, and Santa Cruz. Rooms should always be available (at standard prices too) in the cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill ... the event is about an hour's drive from there.
The most scenic and winding route between Highway 1 and Highway 101 north of Monterey meanders between Gilroy and Watsonville on Highway 152. This route, known as Hecker Pass, takes you over the Santa Cruz Mountains and through a grove of redwood trees. I enjoy this section of road, but it is not the route to take when you're in a hurry.
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