The Quail--A Motorsports Gathering
Nobody asked me but . . .
To locals it’s The Quail. But the official name is The Quail—A Motorsports Gathering. This year was the fourth annual event at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. The Quail has become a significant addition to the mid-August weekend in Monterey featuring the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Monterey Historic Races held at nearby Laguna Seca Raceway. The “weekend” has essentially expanded to almost a week with The Quail held on Friday.
To those who have never been to or heard of the Monterey peninsula (Have you been living on another planet?), located on the California coast about a two-hour drive south of San Francisco, condolences. It is an area of breathtaking beauty and Mark Twain weather. Don’t like what you got? Just wait a minute.
Typically for this region and this time of year, the coastal fog was held at bay over Monterey Bay and the Pebble Beach Lodge, home of the Concours. Meanwhile, only three miles inland, the Carmel Valley and Quail Lodge were bathed in bright sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s, perfect for a leisurely scroll among a wonderful collection of race cars and exotic automobiles. This year the theme was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Targa Florio, one of Italy’s most famous open-road endurance races, the other being the Mille Miglia.
Divide 100 by two and you’ve got the number of years Laguna Seca Raceway has been operating on Fort Ord, just a quick, adrenalin-pumping, 15-minute drive from Quail Lodge over the steep and twisty Laurales Grade. The Quail celebrated this anniversary by honoring Zagato, the renowned Italian designer responsible for some of the most strikingly beautiful Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Astons.
In four short years The Quail has become a “happening.” Tickets are limited—only 3000 lucky guests were allowed to purchase tickets this year—which means the viewing is much less cluttered with bodies than at Pebble Beach, and the few tickets available are highly sought after. This year The Quail sold out a week before the event. I pity those folks who waited until the last minute to purchase tickets. They missed a great event.
The Quail’s success is not simply a function of being surrounded by some spectacular automotive machinery. According to Mathias Doutreleau, special events director, Quail Lodge, “The Quail is first and foremost a lifestyle event featuring sports and racing automobiles, jewelry, art, fine food, wine and liquor.” And quests are allowed ample opportunity to indulge and imbibe in a very relaxing atmosphere.
While wandering among the various cars and displays, I ran into a number of kindred automotive spirits. John Fitch was celebrating his racing career with Mercedes-Benz. Art Evans was reminiscing about his association with Bill Devin and his Devin-bodied specials. I had the honor of racing one of Art’s Devin’s at the first Palm Springs Historics. Jay Leno was being Jay Leno. I found Danny Panoz holding court at the Auto Aficionado magazine booth, a bright orange Esperante race car prominently on display.
My favorite Ferrari (Actually it's a non-Ferrari!) is the Dino 246. Back when Enzo was building Dinos, a Ferrari wasn’t called a Ferrari if it didn’t have a 12-cylinder engine under the bonnet or the deck lid. So I lusted after the 1961 “Ferrari” 196 SP Dino that won the Targa in 1961. But I would have been a very happy camper if someone had offered me the 1937 Talbot Lago T150 C SS Figoni & Falaschi, built for the Mahahajah of Kapurthala. It would make a great daily driver!
To locals it’s The Quail. But the official name is The Quail—A Motorsports Gathering. This year was the fourth annual event at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. The Quail has become a significant addition to the mid-August weekend in Monterey featuring the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Monterey Historic Races held at nearby Laguna Seca Raceway. The “weekend” has essentially expanded to almost a week with The Quail held on Friday.
To those who have never been to or heard of the Monterey peninsula (Have you been living on another planet?), located on the California coast about a two-hour drive south of San Francisco, condolences. It is an area of breathtaking beauty and Mark Twain weather. Don’t like what you got? Just wait a minute.
Typically for this region and this time of year, the coastal fog was held at bay over Monterey Bay and the Pebble Beach Lodge, home of the Concours. Meanwhile, only three miles inland, the Carmel Valley and Quail Lodge were bathed in bright sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s, perfect for a leisurely scroll among a wonderful collection of race cars and exotic automobiles. This year the theme was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Targa Florio, one of Italy’s most famous open-road endurance races, the other being the Mille Miglia.
Divide 100 by two and you’ve got the number of years Laguna Seca Raceway has been operating on Fort Ord, just a quick, adrenalin-pumping, 15-minute drive from Quail Lodge over the steep and twisty Laurales Grade. The Quail celebrated this anniversary by honoring Zagato, the renowned Italian designer responsible for some of the most strikingly beautiful Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Astons.
In four short years The Quail has become a “happening.” Tickets are limited—only 3000 lucky guests were allowed to purchase tickets this year—which means the viewing is much less cluttered with bodies than at Pebble Beach, and the few tickets available are highly sought after. This year The Quail sold out a week before the event. I pity those folks who waited until the last minute to purchase tickets. They missed a great event.
The Quail’s success is not simply a function of being surrounded by some spectacular automotive machinery. According to Mathias Doutreleau, special events director, Quail Lodge, “The Quail is first and foremost a lifestyle event featuring sports and racing automobiles, jewelry, art, fine food, wine and liquor.” And quests are allowed ample opportunity to indulge and imbibe in a very relaxing atmosphere.
While wandering among the various cars and displays, I ran into a number of kindred automotive spirits. John Fitch was celebrating his racing career with Mercedes-Benz. Art Evans was reminiscing about his association with Bill Devin and his Devin-bodied specials. I had the honor of racing one of Art’s Devin’s at the first Palm Springs Historics. Jay Leno was being Jay Leno. I found Danny Panoz holding court at the Auto Aficionado magazine booth, a bright orange Esperante race car prominently on display.
My favorite Ferrari (Actually it's a non-Ferrari!) is the Dino 246. Back when Enzo was building Dinos, a Ferrari wasn’t called a Ferrari if it didn’t have a 12-cylinder engine under the bonnet or the deck lid. So I lusted after the 1961 “Ferrari” 196 SP Dino that won the Targa in 1961. But I would have been a very happy camper if someone had offered me the 1937 Talbot Lago T150 C SS Figoni & Falaschi, built for the Mahahajah of Kapurthala. It would make a great daily driver!
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