The 15th annual The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
was held on Friday, August 18th this year, of course held at The
Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel, California. Always spectacular, there were
some exceptional displays that contributed to another memorable experience for
the limit of 5,000 attendees.
First, the Best of the Best Award for 2016 was earned by a
stunning 1954 Maserati A6GCS/53 Berlinetta by Pinin Farinia. It won Best in Show at last year’s Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and beat seven other contestants after being selected
from a panel of twenty-four notable members of the automotive world including leaders
of automotive companies, design, collections, famous race car drivers, etc.
The displays were wonderful, Koenigsegg had an unprecedented
ten vehicles on display which made for some fantastic photo opportunities and a
chance to finally compare the different models side by side. Floyd Mayweather’s
was one of them. AMG had an actual engine builder assembling their twin turbo
V-8 for all to watch. On the other side of the wall was the powertrain and suspension
of the AMG Project One.
Pagani again had their impressive display and this time the
Huayra BC, Huayra Roadster and the Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta. Pulling myself
away from the Italian craftsmen to the Porsche display where the new 700
horsepower 911 GT2 RS was featured. Of course the 911 GT3 and 911 Turbo S
Exclusive Series. Conspicuously absent was the Bugatti Chiron and the Ferrari
812 Superfast although both can be expected next year. And yes, there were
Veyrons and F12tdfs and a Porsche 959. The infamous Rimac was also there, and
speaking to the first owner in the US was an interesting conversation about
Electric Vehicles.
There were so many notable displays such as Singer, BMW, Bentley,
Acura and their introduction of the Acura ARX-05 DPi race car, Lamborghinis
with a Huracan Performante, Rolls Royce and more. I really enjoyed studying the
McLaren 720S up close. The cuisine was exquisite as always with menus from
Beverly Hills, Carmel Valley, China, Italy and France. Additionally, California
Caviar, Louis Roederer Champagne, Hog Island Oysters, Dolce Spazio Gelato are
welcome returns.
It’s important to remember that besides the views, the
people watching, the food and drink, the Bonhams auction entry and
celebrity/VIP sightings and interviews, the charities supported deserve
recognition. The Rancho Cielo Youth
Campus, Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, the California Highway Patrol
11-99 Foundation receive contributions as does the Junior Reserve Training
Corps.
The only critique I could make is that too many of the 250
or so cars were parked too close together, making photo opportunities
difficult. Traffic is always an issue so the total number of tickets has
probably reached the max. Perhaps a bus system should be incorporated like at
Pebble Beach.
However I recommend arriving before the 10am start and check
out the guest drive cars which this year were the Acura NSX and Lamborghini
Huracan. Also check out the Porsche building which has their latest models on
display, branded goods for sale, etc. Walking the parking lots, which is a show
in itself, is also an option and a judging slip was even offered!
One very clever difference this year was keeping the event
open with DJs on either end of the show and the drinks flowing at the bars.
Talk about THE place to be before the private parties start! It was announced
it was done to alleviate traffic which is very true. It also would keep people
from leaving for the “other” show that afternoon and evening in downtown
Monterey. I broke the cardinal rule of not to leave one good party to check out
another event taking place. It wasn’t comparable, I won’t do that again. So
arrive early, have a beverage, walk a lot so you develop an appetite for at
least two meals and plan on making a great day out of it. I already can’t wait
to go again and see what surprises will be there next year.
Be sure to
check out over one hundred photos from the 2017 Quail here:
ABOUT ROB: I have over twenty-five years of automotive experience. Detailed analysis, research and observation has helped shape my view on the automotive world. Always an enthusiast, starting with magazines in the 4th grade, I later sold 8 lines of cars at a dealership near Chicago after college. Later, I held a sales position calling on nearly 200 dealerships in Illinois and California. Throughout my life, it's been something automobile related. I've been reading about cars extensively for decades, racing them at a grassroots level, attending auctions, seminars and shows. As a driver, I've attended the AMG, Audi, Exotics Racing and SRT schools. Every year I drive and lap many cars at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with the Western Automotive Journalists. I've drag raced various street cars at 7 dragstrips in 5 states. I've been fortunate enough to have been in a driver or passenger in many notable exotic and sports cars, let alone seeing them in person. I have many photographs that I'd like to share with you as well on my San Jose Cars Examiner Facebook page. Check it out and thanks for reading!
