Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance officially kicks off the annual classic car events in the Monterey peninsula every August. The drive has not only become one of the favorite events for the owners, but it also gives the public a chance to see the cars in action on the scenic roads of the northern California coast. In fact, this is the main reason that the tour was started - to show people that the cars could actually be driven. While participation in the tour is not mandatory for Concours entrants, cars that complete the route will be given the advantage in the event of a tie during judging on Sunday. This year a record number of cars entered the tour, including several Aston Martins which are a featured marque for this year’s event.

The route starts on the grounds of Pebble Beach, heads through the eastern section of 17-mile drive, out to inland private roads, and then down a long stretch of Hwy 1 along the coast. The cars wind through the rolling hills lining the coast and along some of the most beautiful portions of the road that spans the entire country. The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway generally provides the most scenic view, but this year’s event was covered in a thick fog much of the time. Despite the weather, Spectators line the highway to watch the string of cars drive by, and an especially large crowd gathered to see the cars cross the famous Bixby bridge.

After arriving at the checkpoint at the Pt. Sur Naval Station, the cars headed back up PCH to Carmel for the traditional lunch along Ocean Avenue. The usual crowds gathered along the streets of downtown Carmel, and actually viewing the cars is nearly impossible. After lunch, the cars headed back towards Pebble Beach where the cars were stored until the Concours on Sunday.

Over the last few years, the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance has been added to the list of premier events during the weekend that attracts as much attention as any of the shows or auctions. The opportunity for everyone to see the cars driven as well as the beautiful scenery along the California coastline makes it a favorite as well. We hope to see more cars participate in future tours as the event develops and grows over the years.