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What To Do if You’re a… Car Week Connoisseur (or Newbie)
After working with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for more than a decade, Quinn Button became much more than a car enthusiast. With a Ph.D. in consumer behavior (currently serving as COO of DASTAN), she works closely with automotive brands on their marketing and media strategy as it relates to utilizing the latest technologies. Her dissertation specifically investigated electric car design preferences using eye-tracking technology. “A lot of my research was being done in tandem as I was working with Pebble Beach,” she says. Born and raised in Carmel, Quinn grew up with a love of cars, noting that her dad began taking her to Monterey Car Week when she was a little girl. Now, she enjoys sharing that passion with younger generations. And, with some of the brands she’s consulted with in attendance at Pebble Beach this year, she’s excited to see it all come full circle. So, where does she recommend starting during Car Week? Read on for Quinn’s top tips.
Find the full list of Car Week events (August 9-18) here.
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Where to begin:
The fun thing about Car Week is that it's not all in Pebble Beach. That's where the heart is, but people come into town and they want to experience little things around it. No matter where you go, you're going to see interesting, fun, cool cars and different types of people.
The scenic route:
The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance is a really special thing. These cars are not just pieces of art, they should move. If your car completes the tour and finishes—doesn't matter what place, it's not a race—then, if there's a tie at Concours Sunday, completing the tour is a deciding factor. The best way to watch is to arrive early in the morning (starting at 7 a.m.) near the Equestrian Center in Pebble Beach. It’s free and it's very family friendly. I love seeing parents come with their kids, getting excited and being able to see the cars in motion.
Favorite Car Week event:
Dawn Patrol is an unofficial, official event that happens every Concours Sunday. It started with Don Williams, co-founder of the prestigious Blackhawk Museum. He was a huge part of helping build Concours, and a very dear family friend. He started this trend where he would bring coffee for everyone who was up early working on the cars for Sunday’s main event. He loved every single person who touched his cars. It's now become this unofficial-official way to greet the cars. People love to wake up in the dark at four o'clock in the morning, get on their jeans before they don their Sunday best, and watch as the cars come onto the field for the first time. Anyone can go and, if you want to experience Car Week, that's one of my favorite moments. Everyone's just so happy and excited to be there. And there's free coffee and donuts. What more do you want?
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Monterey:
Cannery Row is super fun. Cars will just be driving around. You'll hear the engines rev. A lot of what's fun about Monterey is that that's where the truck drivers and mechanics all stay. That's why I love going out there at least one night. We get to meet the people who are really working on the cars. They're such a huge part of the soul of the car shows. So many different people are brought to the area. It's not just the wealthy car collectors. There's a whole economy and ecosystem that comes with it.
Carmel Valley:
Over at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, it’s a very different type of an event. It's a little bit more subdued, a little bit more exclusive, but it's also right next to my favorite, Baja Cantina restaurant. I love the juxtaposition of The Quail Motorsports Gathering, this really fancy event, next to Baja. The owner of Baja, Pat Phinney and his son have been collecting cars forever.
Pebble Beach:
A lot of stuff happens on site before Concours Sunday. You come into 17 Mile Drive and, if you find an area to park, you can just walk around. One thing that I always say to check out is the Concept Lawn. What's so special about Pebble Beach is that you've got the brand-new, cutting-edge concept cars being launched right next to their historical provenance. It really is such a great way to celebrate automotive heritage.
Where (else) to go during Car Week:
Wine tasting in Carmel Valley. It's important during Car Week to be super safe, obviously with alcohol and driving. So what I recommend is a wine trolley tour. It’s a fun, easy, safe way to be able to do wine tasting. Or, if you're staying in Carmel, you can literally just walk around and find quite a few wine tasting spots. Plus, amazing art galleries, like Nematic Gallery, and shopping and spas. It's easy to get lost and have a day in Carmel.
Favorite restaurant for a celebratory dinner:
Casanova in Carmel. One of my favorites for sure when you want to go somewhere special. And then Forge in the Forest was the one place I always wanted to go to when I was a kid to get the big skillet cookie, every time.
Roadtrip:
Car Week brings people who love to drive. Especially if you don’t come to California often, Big Sur is definitely a place you want to go to. I love the Henry Miller Library. I'm obsessed with books, and there's an allure to Big Sur that starts with Point Lobos, which Robert Louis Stevenson used as inspiration when he wrote Treasure Island. As you go deeper into Big Sur, you understand the history and why so many artists and writers were drawn there. Hawthorne Gallery is a must-visit. Nepenthe is my favorite restaurant for the best views. Hike through the redwood forest at Pfeiffer State Park, then make your way to Big Sur River Inn and grab a chair in the river to cool down and unwind. If you’re into bird watching (like me), keep an eye out for endangered Condors flying high in the sky—seeing them is rare but unforgettable!
Illustrations by Kelsey Wisdom
PLAN YOUR DAY
on the Peninsula
- Cannery Row
Monterey, CA - Quail Lodge
Carmel Valley, CA - Baja Cantina
Carmel Valley, CA - Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance
Pebble Beach, CA - Nematic Gallery
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Casanova
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Forge in the Forest
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Henry Miller Library
Big Sur, CA - Hawthorne Gallery
Big Sur, CA - Nepenthe
Big Sur, CA - Pfeiffer State Park
Big Sur, CA - Big Sur River Inn
Big Sur, CA
