2014 Pebble Beach Concours -- Excited cheers echoed across the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links Sunday when a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe was named Best of Show at the 64th annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The car, owned by Jon Shirley of Medina, Washington, was the first postwar car to take the top award at the prestigious event in nearly five decades. It was also the first Ferrari to win.

"This is a road-going Ferrari, and it has had quite the famous life having been designed by Sergio Scaglietti for Roberto Rossellini," said Chairman Sandra Button. "Its design was also trend-setting. So it is fitting that this is our first postwar winner in many years." The last postwar car to be named Best of Show was a 1964 Maserati Mistral Coupé, which topped contenders back in 1968.

When asked about the significance of the win by his postwar car, Shirley said, "I just hope it means that some more will have the chance to do the same thing. There are some wonderful coachbuilt postwar cars, and I think the owners should bring them here and try for the Best. I've won Best of Show before but this was really a special thrill to do it with this car." Shirley, the former president of Microsoft, previously won in 2008 with a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta.

The 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance showcased 216 cars and motorcycles, 35 of which came from outside of the United States. It also raised $1,677,445 for charity, bringing total charitable donations from the Concours to more than $19 million over time.

2014 Concours d' Lemons - As is the case with many joyful things in life, the "Concours d' Lemons" started out as somewhat of a joke, a way to turn their noses up at the display of wealth that had infiltrated the Monterey Peninsula. So, a group of car enthusiast, long on passion for the love of the automobile, yet, financially challenged, displayed their Pintos, Vegas, Pacers and LTD's, some even dressing the part just as you will witness down the coast at The Lodge in Pebble Beach. This event has taken on a life of its own, including sponsorship from no other than Hagerty Insurance! Located just past the Embassy Suites in Seaside nest to the Chili's, this free event is a must-see during Monterey Car Week and mark this one my personal favorites for putting a smile on your face.

Legends of the Autobahn 2014 - The first annual "Legends of the Autobahn" is in the books. Located at the Jack Nicholson Golf Resort in Monterey, for a first-time event it was very well organized, and there is no doubt this will become a popular event in the future,

2014 Concorso Italiano - Once again, the Concorso Italiano was located at the scenic "Black Horse Golf Course" in Seaside California, just outside of Monterey. For those who have attended the event for many years, it was like a homecoming of sort. Nestled on top of the hills of Seaside, with the cool ocean breezes from the west, the Black Horse Golf Course is the perfect setting to celebrate the passion of Italian automobiles!

2014 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion - The centerpiece of the Monterey Car Week has always been the "Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion", which originated in 1974 by creator "Steve Earle" back in 1974. Each year, enthusiasts bring out their vintage race cars and run them around the scenic track once known as "Laguna Seca" (now Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca). Everywhere you look as you stroll through the paddock area is another piece of history or a favorite memory. Not to be left out, many of the current automobile manufacturers are on display, showing off their future classics!

2014 Russo and Steele Auction - Monterey - Always entertaining, and a bit irreverent, Drew Alcazar and Staff brought 300 + collector cars for sale in their "theater-style" auction setting. Although at the time of this post, final numbers were not yet in, Russo PR claim they we up over 10% in total sale from 2013. Could this be an economic trend, as just up the street, billionaires were raising there hands like there was endless funds, yet the lower dollar cars see to be a little soft. Your thought?

2014 RM Auction - Monterey - Each year, the group from RM Auctions continue to display and sell some of the finest collector cars in the world, and 2014 was no exception. Once again, a Ferrari stoled the show with a 1964 275GTB/C Speciale, selling for @26,400,000 adding to the reported sales totals of $1.43 Million Dollars in sales!

Motor Press Guild - Irwindale Speedway - July 31, 2014
A special thanks goes out to Motor Press Guild President "Joni Gray" for putting together a very special event at the Irwindale Event Center. What better way for car guys and gals to watch the open 1/8th mile drag strip as the locals duke it out in side-by-side drag racing action. Then, turn to your right, and watch the weekend warriors tune-up for the coming Saturday night action on the 1/2 mile Irwindale Oval,