Monterey, California. August 12, 2026. Thousands of automotive enthusiasts are once more pouring upon the oceanside peninsula for a week of four-wheeled escapades, unending glamour, and free-flowing currency at the knock of a gavel. It’s a yearly tradition, one that attracts a smattering of individuals from every corner of the globe. While they may differ in just about every other facet of life, their steadfast belief that a car is more than two tons of raw materials unites them and transcends any preset social barriers with ease.

Among them, a 2016 Subaru WRX STi in a special HyperBlue variant and an aging 1986 Nissan 300ZX. The former is driven by a hobbyist photographer, armed with a DSLR and nary a minute to publish the memories he will capture. The latter is a writer with lofty aspirations of fame and fortune and an infallible determination to get there. Together they will conquer Monterey Car Week aboard their iron horses for the fifth time, embarking on a five-day journey of multi-million dollar sales, exclusive unveilings of vehicles they’ll never own, and the finest cuisine that Michelin-starred chefs have to offer.

R.M. Sotheby’s

Their first stop was an auction house, R.M. Sotheby’s. A place for wide-eyed dreamers to make plans for the future and those with heavy pockets looking for a way to lighten them. Although they had no trouble pulling in $380 million in total sales, headlined by the utterly ludicrous sale of Ferrari’s first kitchen appliance, the electricity in the air wasn’t there for me this time around. The once-packed lots seemed emptier than in years past, with the sandy plot of land behind the hotel lacking any cars at all. I’m no expert, though; I just play one on TV.

Motorlux

As the blazing California sun gave way to the man on the moon, the Monterey Jet Center tarmac came alive with the sounds of Motorlux. Hagerty’s glitzy after-hours party is a prime location for those who actively practice the fake-it-till-you-make-it lifestyle and those who are already there. Surrounding you are endless waterfalls of libations, freshly prepared fare from the swift hands of culinary gods, and an assortment of flying and ground-based wonders with a combined value that could rival a small country’s GDP. Whether you paid your way in or entered through other means, the best course of action is to let yourself wonder and wander as every one of your senses embarks on a journey of exploration from hangar to hangar. It’s an unrivaled experience, and as the night winds to a close, you’ll wish you could turn back time and do it all over again. It’s downright addicting.

Zenvo

Go to sleep late, wake up early. Get used to it, for that is the way Monterey Car Week is played. Oh, and be prepared for your meticulously arranged itinerary to crumble before your eyes. Our morning plan was Legends of the Autobahn, a free-to-attend show that pays homage to the aptly named legends heralding from Germany’s factories. However, as is the case with Car Week, traffic and the location of our next event turned that idea on its head, and we were instead forced to head to destination number two: Zenvo House. The seldom-seen Danish automaker was out in full force this year, determined to make their US presence known and doing a damn good job of it. I wrote all about my experience with the new Aurora Tur and Agil here, so if your curiosity has been piqued, satisfaction is but a click away.

Legends of the Autobahn

With pleased stomachs and a desire for more, we headed back to Legends of the Autobahn. Anyone who thinks Monterey Car Week can’t be enjoyed on a budget needs only to get a taste of a show like Legends to quickly be proven wrong. Even as someone who isn’t well-versed in German cars, I was still awestruck at everything that surrounded us. My personal favorite had to be the “Celestial Carnival”, the hand-painted 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL that took Arizona artist Bill Dambrova more than 200 hours. The end result would make even Janis Joplin and John Lennon’s jaws drop, as every panel of the car transports you to a corner of the galaxy that doesn’t exist anywhere else, and is what I imagine an acid trip must be like. Utterly stunning fails to properly describe it.

Lincoln

Our voracious appetite for cars and food was once more filled that evening at Lincoln’s private party. I’ll admit that despite the American luxury brand’s long-standing reputation for unbridled opulence, I never paid them much attention. However, the sheer attention to detail of the venue’s setup, alongside the Nautilus demo we were treated to, has helped me see Lincoln with fresh eyes. Maybe they do have the upper hand over Cadillac. Perhaps I’ll take a closer look one of these days. My DMs are open.

The next day was more relaxed, a sentiment not often associated with Car Week. A Lexus test drive led into a hand-rolled cigar and cocktail by the manicured Pebble Beach golf course, followed by a quick visit to the Brabus booth and the long, traffic-ridden trek to the Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course for The Paddock.

The Paddock

As Concorso Italiano’s sister event, The Paddock has some big proverbial shoes to fill, like a younger sibling living up to their older counterpart’s success. It took only a few steps to realize its mission was a success, with a variety of attendees seldom seen at other events I was credentialed to attend. The provided VIP credentials certainly helped in our enjoyment, as one may find it hard to admire such beauty with a protesting stomach, but even without them, I would rank The Paddock high on my “must attend” list of Car Week events. It’s easy to find shows dedicated to a single marque or country of origin, but ones that appreciate everything on wheels equally aren’t such a walk in the park. Then again, that sentiment seems to be changing, with big-ticket gatherings like The Quail and Pebble similarly expanding their horizons.

Concours d’Lemons

Another day, another reason to become a millionaire…at least for most of the time. The morning’s net worth dropped significantly as I made my way to the soon-to-be-ruined lawn out of the Seaside City Hall. In stark contrast to Monterey Car Week’s sterling image, Concours d’Lemons brings together the derelict and forgotten to be appreciated by those with questionable tastes. An up-to-date tetanus shot is strongly recommended for those planning to attend, and taking yourself too seriously is strongly frowned upon.

Lemons is where you go to be brought back down to earth and to realize that cars with the price tag of an expensive dinner often have more stories to tell than the latest six-figure garage queen that will find its way to auction in a few years with no miles on the odometer. Bribing the judges with bottom-shelf liquor is not just encouraged, but almost required, and catastrophic failure is met with raucous cheers and applause. It was, without a doubt, my most enjoyable experience all week, and ironically enough, I was almost disappointed to leave it for my next affair.

Bugatti

Within the forested hills of Del Monte Forest was Maison de Bugatti, the base of operations for the heralded French automaker. Accessible via invitation only, a fact that did wonders for my already ballooning ego, it was the place where Bugatti would be showcasing its next opportunity for those with Grand Canyon-sized incomes to part with some of their cash. The Veyron Configurator is the automaker’s effort at breathing new life into what remains one of its flagship models. Current owners of the W16-powered behemoth can completely change how their car looks, inside and out, with an enticing roster of colors and materials. I covered this in more detail here, so whether you can afford a Veyron of your own or are planning for your unavoidable lottery win, it’ll be a worthwhile use of your time.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Last night. Proverbial fireworks flew through the night sky as the crown jewel of Car Week, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, was in full swing. Pause the golf, roll out the million-dollar artworks on wheels, and let the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean celebrate in unison. Meandering the fairway from one end to the other is an hours-long affair, but one you’ll be more than glad to undertake. Everything from everywhere is here, from preserved masterworks that once graced the presence of influential hims and hers, to restorations that would make a Miami mansion seem affordable. For the hottest, newest things that may or may not ever see the open market, hook a left out of the fairway, do your best to make the uphill climb (like our parents did back in the day, in the snow, both ways), and plant your peepers on the Concept Lawn.

This is where automakers from every corner of the globe gather to flex what their ingenious minds are capable of. Whether or not they’re pleasant to look at is an entirely different can of worms, but it shows the seemingly endless potential of unfettered creativity (and a limitless budget). My personal eye candy was the new Spyker C8 Preliator XXV Coupé, a bronze-laden creation that would seem more at home on a museum pedestal than on your local coastal roads. I’d sail the seven seas on a paddle boat for a chance at driving this thing. And I can’t even swim.

Fin.

With an exhausted brain and a heavy heart, I climbed aboard my 40-year-old steed and made the four-hour journey home yet again. No breakdowns, no drama. Every year, Monterey Car Week finds new ways to impress the senses, whether it be the cars, the extravagant parties, or the undying camaraderie that seeps from every experience. To say it has no equal, at least on our side of the world, would still be an understatement. It’s the kind of event every automotive enthusiast must experience at least once to understand the depth and love that hold up our hobby. I’d wax poetic some more, but this story is long enough as it is, and every good story needs an ending. Raise your glass, and let’s make a toast: here’s to many more years of Monterey Car Week and every little thing that it sta