Twenty-Five of the Best from Monterey

Photography by Yoav Gilad for Petrolicious

If you don’t know that two weeks ago was Monterey Car Week, then you just haven’t been paying attention. We’ve shared a Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion first-timer’s story, here, the shocking Pebble Beach Best in Show-winning Ferrari, here, and even some of the cars spotted in local parking lots, here. The week is just a cavalcade of events showcasing amazing cars that, as my esteemed colleague Mr. Jonathan WC Mills explained, make you say, “Look at that!”

But the one thing that we haven’t really discussed is the sheer amount of people that show up. I’m not complaining, it’s a great time. But there are a LOT of other car enthusiasts on the Monterey Peninsula that week. As a result, moving efficiently is impossible whether we’re talking about getting from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to Seventeen-Mile Drive (where Pebble Beach is located) or just being able to photograph cars cleanly to share them as we’d like to see them (without twenty-seven people, camera-phones at arm’s length, crossing in front of your shot like camera-wielding zombies… “mmmm, chrome….”).

It is extremely difficult and frequently requires the patience of a saint or sniper. Usually you have to set up a shot, pick your focal point, aim, exhale slowly, depress the shutter half-way, and then… oh wait, some guy telling his wife why his Maserati Gran Turismo is in fact better than a Birdcage just brushed by my lens. “No, no problem sir, excuse me.” Yes, this actually happened. Fortunately, the press does usually have early access to the cars, but that’s when they’re being prepped and preened for the judges and audience. 

And because the crowds do present an unusual problem it certainly creates a somewhat-frantic atmosphere for the shooters. Will I get the shots I need?! If I don’t get the right cars will I get paid?! (No, you won’t.) But still, nothing worthwhile is easy and as many of you can imagine, I do this because I love it, because I love the cars, the events, and the people. Even those who think their Gran Turismo is cooler than a Birdcage.

Enjoy twenty-five of the coolest cars from Monterey Car Week. Next year, you should be there too. Just don’t block my shot.