Every August, the Monterey area of California experiences an influx of automobiles from eras passed. Pre-war machines are oiled up and emerge from their hiding places. Classic chariots are are given a final wax before hitting the roads of the beautiful coastal towns. Over the course of one week each year, over 50 events are held to celebrate the love and reverence for historic automobiles. It’s a passion that spans back for decades and it’s one that requires a sincere dedication. At the forefront of these events stands the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the most well known and venerated concourses in the world. The Concours d’Elegance draws in the top restoration projects and artisans. Considered the premiere concours show, the caliber of craftsmanship and finesses is unmatched. The antique automobiles are inspected bolt by bolt as judges search for any slight imperfection or flaw. The cars that roll onto the show grounds are cleaner than the day they left the showroom floor decades ago. The perfectly glossy paint, the carefully sculpted bodywork, and the dedication to original parts all embody the beauty of automobile style.
On the same weekend in August, the guttural howl of motorsports echo off the cliffs and hillsides of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. While some car enthusiasts don a suit and tie for the Concours d’Elegance, others wake up under the cover of fog and zip up their race suits in anticipation. The iconic race cars from generations passed still hit the track every year for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Putting a car through its paces and continually pushing the limits of its performance naturally increases the wear and tear as the car puts on another weekend’s worth of track miles.
They burn through tires around the corners and endure the rock chips as they charge into the pack. The paint isn’t perfect and modifications have been made to the original metalwork to make room for carb trumpets and roll cages, but there’s still something beautiful about the wear and tear on these classics. The cars are marked with chips and spots of rubber worn as medals of honor. Dings and faded liveries tell stories from decades worth of racing. In a Wabi-Sabi-esque reverence, these vintage racecars are cheered on and their motorsport scars are celebrated. There’s a beauty in this natural wear that comes from truly putting a performance car to work.
Automotive enthusiasts from every walk of life make their way to the Monterey area for the historics week. German machines and American muscle park next to each other in the paddock. Beauty is celebrated in the elegant concours showcars and the imperfect track rats alike. It’s a testament to the passion that exists for all things automotive among true enthusiasts, and that’s something that StanceWorks holds close to our hearts. The enthusiasts may all enjoy their cars in different ways, but there’s a love that they share and that’s what makes the Monterey week so compelling.
