This week is "Monterey Car Week" in the lovely Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove and Salinas area, and it's ground zero for the realization of every fantasy car poster you never had. Want to see priceless pre-World War I relics that look like they were made yesterday…check. Want to see an excessive amount of the fastest and most expensive super and hyper cars on the planet…check. Want to see amazing examples of sports and racing cars from the past 100 years be driven around one of the best tracks in the world at full lock with the tires screaming in submission…CHECK!

The events of Monterey Car Week offer something for everyone. Typically three types of people attend these events. Those that attend the Pebble Beach Concourse and hit up several exotic car rallys but otherwise don’t know that Laguna Seca exists. Then we have those gear heads that only show up to the track and forget about all the amazing car goodness going on around the peninsula. Finally, you have folks like us at TLP…we want to soak it all in, from the paddock of Laguna Seca to downtown Monterey's auctions on Saturday night, to Ocean Avenue in Carmel, we want it all!

If you are like us and want to sniff every last vapor of petrol, we've assembled a list of events for you to check out. Due to timing and monetary constraints it may not be realistic to hit up every event in our list. Frankly, unless you are Richey Rich Moneybags McTrump you are likely to hit the limit of your AMEX trying to hit up all these events (and frankly there aren't enough hours in a day to see it all properly). We urge the newcomer to find a parking spot in Monterey and/or Carmel and just start walking. You won't be let down.

What are the key events we recommend?

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Thursday-Sunday

Check the website for full event schedule. As we have previously covered this is the premiere historic motorsport event in the United States. Even if you can only thing you can attend and its one day…even half a day it is well worth it. It's guaranteed to rekindle your memories of motorsports events from years gone by and ensure that you create some new ones.

Downtown Carmel

FREE! Did we mention it's free, except possibly for parking? The exception is that there is a free parking lot at Junipero Street and 3rd Avenue. It's a little bit of a walk, but it's close enough and free! Head down to Carmel Friday and Saturday night and take in the non-stop parade of rare and priceless cars from the modern and historic era. It's one of the few places where you will see a 1940s Bugatti parked on the same street as a Bugatti Veyron. This will provide hours of car viewing pleasure for no more than the costs of your parking and the setting of Carmel could not be better.

RM / Sotheby's Auction

Thursday-Saturday

Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center

2 Portola Plaza

Monterey , California 93940

The RM / Sotheby's Auction site is a staple of the weekend hosted at the beautiful Portola Hotel and Spa, just steps away from the Bay and several great restaurants. Getting into the auction can be costly as either a bidder or spectator. However, the cars are staged around the Hotel at various points before entering the auction stage. This presents a great chance to see many of the cars. Additionally, we recommend using this as a central location to explore as various car shows will be in and around the area.

Legends of the Autobahn

Friday: 7:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location: Nicklaus Club Pasadena Dr. Monterey

Admission: Parking fee of $20

TLP attended this event for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised to see a good selection of cars from members of the Porsche , BMW and Audi clubs. Last year BMW brought out several historically important cars including their LeMans LMP car and an M1 ProCar in race trim.

Exotics on Cannery Row

Friday 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Cannery Row Monterey

Admission-Free

The name says it all. Exotics cars parked on Cannery Row. TLP didn’t attend last year but we plan to lurk around this time. Look for us to lick some door handles.

21st ANNUAL PACIFIC GROVE CONCOURS AUTO RALLY

Time: Friday early afternoon

Lighthouse and Forest Ave.

Pacific Grove

Want to see the cars of the Pebble Beach Concourse, but without the extravagant ticket price? Then this is your chance as the cars of the Concourse will parade through Pacific Grove.

FULL EVENT LIST

Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Pebble Beach, CA

Admission: $350

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Admission: $350

McCalls Motorworks Revival

Monterey Jet Center

Car Week Kick Off Party

Wednesday

Admission: You cant afford it and you're not invited.

RM / Sotheby's Auction

Thursday-Saturday

Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center

2 Portola Plaza

Monterey , California 93940

The RM / Sotheby's Auction site is a staple of the weekend hosted at the beautiful Portola Hotel and Spa, just steps away from the Bay and several great restaurants. Getting into the auction can be costly as either a bidder or spectator. However, the cars are staged around the Hotel at various points before entering the auction stage. This presents a great chance to see many of the cars.

Russo and Steele's 15th Annual Sports and Muscle Auction

Thursda-Saturday 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm - Auction starts promptly at 5:00 pm

Location: Downtown Monterey

Pebble Beach Concourse

Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance Presented by Rolex

7:00 am to 8:00 am - cars line up near Collins Field in Pebble Beach

8:30 am - Tour departs, tracing portions of 17-Mile Drive and nearby scenic roads

11:30 to 12:00 Noon - Tour arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea

12:00 Noon to 2:00 pm - Cars are displayed on Ocean Avenue

2:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Tour returns to Pebble Beach

Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction

Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm