The Free WayHow to do Car Week gratis.The best things in life are free. They just don’t go zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds.Some of the prototypes showing at the Concours concept gallery on Pebble’s putting greens do. And they cost hundreds of thousands of bones. In fact, just to watch the bidding on some of them at the Polo Grounds tent will cost some good coin.With that in mind, maybe the real winner this weekend will be the one who hits the most retina-stretching sights without thebenefit of a limitless checkbook. For that shoe-leather connoisseur of car week, the
Weekly
compiled the following list in2008 and updated it for 2009 (for a full list of free and paid events, visit our A&E calendar):MECUM AT MONTEREYGoing from zero to millions in less time than the average commute, Mecum makes a memorable first run at Car Week byattempting to set a new record for the highest price ever paid at auction for an American vehicle: The 1965 Daytona ShelbyCobra Coupe could bring in as much as $10 million. They also stand out because they don’t charge to check out the auctions.Preview: noon-5pm Thu. Auction: 10am Fri. Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, 1 Old Golf Course.Monterey. (815) 568-8888.TOUR D’ ELEGANCEWhile the purring procession that grips the area’s most scenic streets today is worth millions of dollars, a spot on the side of the road to watch it go by doesn’t cost a thing, though dropping $4 for a breakfast burrito and $2 for a garage-sale foldingchair are sound investments.This year the standard tour adds a shorter “veterans” loop for antique vehicles that can’t quite cope with the highway-styleacceleration but still feel oh-so-alive on 17-Mile Drive and along the Carmel coast. They’ll take Scenic over to the CarmelMission, parking in the center of the gorgeous courtyard to mingle with local docents and inspect the parallels in preservingclassic cars and historic buildings. The larger fleet of chariots loop from the polo fields in Pebble to Aguajito, throughTehama to Carmel Valley Road and over to Highway 1. Lunch for the land sharks happens at Carmel’s Devendorf Park.7-8am Thu cars line up on Portola Road alongside Polo Fields, Pebble Beach; 8:30am departure; 10am veterans arrive atCarmel Mission; noon-2pm cars displayed on Ocean Avenue, Carmel. Download a map of the route at 925-736-3444,www.pebblebeachconcours.netRUSSO AND STEELE MONTEREYThe auctions are pay-to-play, but the Russo and Steele preview is free Thursday through Saturday. As excitement downtownspeeds up over the course of the weekend, a tour of this lineup of cars offers a fun way to start or finish off an evening. Forthe first time, they are also lighting up a big screen on the corner across from the Conference Center so pedestrians canfollow the auction action.10am-3pm Thu preview; 10am-5pm Fri preview; 10am-5pm Sat preview. Marriott Hotel, 350 Calle Principal, Monterey.(602) 252-2697, 649-4234, www.russoandsteele.comRM SPORTS & CLASSICS OF MONTEREY\
Now in its 24th year, RM brings cars of caliber, like the featured Nick Alexander WoodieCollection. Over the last 10 years, Alexander has accumulated one of the largest collections ofthe classic cars in the world, including at least one of every Ford Woodie from 1932 to 1957.Car fans can check out the cars for free for three days.9am-10pm Thu, 9am-11pm Fri, 9am-11pm Sat. Portola Plaza Hotel, 2 Portola Plaza,Monterey. 649-4511, (519) 352-4575, www.rmauctions.com
BMW CCA WEST COAST CONCOURS AT RANCHO CANADA GOLF COURSE
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