Car Week preparations underway in Pebble Beach

It was a busy Wednesday in Pebble Beach as crews began putting up 50 tents in preparation for Car Week. “There is a lot going on to make this event happen,” said Kay Sorenson, with Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

These tents aren’t the kind you go camping in. Some are big, others will be quite fancy with hardwood floors. And still there are others that will house some of the most unique and expensive cars in the world for the week’s final event, the Concours d’Elegance.

“This event brings out some of the best cars in the world, some of them haven’t been seen in many, many years,”

Sorenson said. 200 collectors from all over the world are set to take part, but organizers say it is not a contest of speed. Cars and motorcycles are judged in a number of different categories, including their historical accuracy and style.

“We have judges from all over the world. We have judges who are experts in their field. They judge these cars on anything from originality to elegance,” Sorenson said.

Other events happening in Pebble Beach include the Tour d’Elegance where rare cars drive the scenic 17 Mile Drive. There are also auctions and art exhibits all drawing in estimated 50,000 people, generating $1.7 million for various charities. Car Week as a whole offers plenty of other events too, from Carmel to Seaside, bringing in an estimated $53 million in economic activity for Monterey County.

“That means jobs. That means investment back to our community via taxes that are associated with those dollars,” said Rob O’Keefe, with the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Beyond just making Car Week a good experience for tourists, the visitors bureau wants to make sure locals aren’t put out by the extra traffic.

“We want to be sensitive to the needs of the residents and Car Week is one example where we go and work with the community to create maps, and timing and a whole guide of where and how to get around,” O’Keefe said.

You can get more information on 2017 Car Week here.