The air vibrates with the deep-throated roar of V8 engines. Here, away from the manicured lawns of California, the annual “Dream Cruise” is in full swing. It’s a genuine, grassroots celebration of the automobile, a testament to its enduring place in the American spirit. A “run-what-ya-brung” spectacle, it’s a vibrant and unpretentious display of automotive enthusiasm that stands in stark contrast to the opulent automotive events unfolding this week in Monterey and Pebble Beach, where exclusivity and high finance take center stage.
Two Automotive Worlds: Detroit vs. Monterey
The Dream Cruise, with its whimsical customs, roaring hot rods, and unbridled passion, exists on a completely different plane than the corporate-fueled extravaganzas of Monterey Car Week. Events like The Quail, where tickets command exorbitant prices, and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a meticulously curated showcase of automotive perfection, highlight this divide. While Detroit embraces the raw, unfiltered love for cars, Monterey caters to an exclusive crowd, often involving corporate entertaining and meticulously planned car reveals. Adding another layer to the spectacle, vintage racers at Laguna Seca happily pilot multi-million dollar machines, seemingly unconcerned about the financial implications of a bent fender. Monterey Car Week truly exists in its own rarefied atmosphere, a world away from the everyday.
Consider the stark differences: In Detroit, the aroma of burning rubber mingles with the scent of hot dogs from street vendors. In Monterey, the air is perfumed with expensive cologne and the faint scent of sea salt. In Detroit, conversations revolve around horsepower and modifications. In Monterey, they center on provenance and investment potential.
The Allure and Distance of Carmel
As dreamlike as Carmel and its surroundings are during “Monterey Car Week,” the carefully curated and somewhat antiseptic nature of the event feels increasingly distant from the realities of car ownership for most enthusiasts. Cars are presented in pristine condition, attendees are often meticulously vetted, and the settings are breathtakingly picturesque. It’s undoubtedly a wonderful experience for those who can afford it, offering a glimpse into automotive artistry and luxury, but ultimately, it holds less personal appeal. I find myself drawn to the more authentic and accessible celebrations of car culture, where passion trumps pedigree. It’s about the shared experience, the camaraderie, and the unadulterated joy of simply being around cars.
Detroit and the Corvette: An Enduring Love Affair
Longtime readers know that the Chevrolet Corvette holds a special place in my automotive affections. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some of the most famous and spectacular Corvettes ever built, both in their prime and in recent years. These memories are indelibly etched in my mind, and I believe it’s time to share a glimpse into Corvette history and why, for me, its allure never fades. It’s a story of design, innovation, and a personal connection that spans decades. It’s a story of a car that embodies the American dream, a car that’s as much a part of our cultural landscape as baseball and apple pie.
The 1959 Corvette Sting Ray Racer: My All-Time Favorite
The 1959 Corvette Sting Ray racer. As I’ve mentioned countless times, this machine is my absolute favorite car. The first time I saw it remains a vivid memory. It was a scorching summer afternoon in my neighborhood back in 1960. I was still in my bike-riding phase, hanging out with my buddies on the corner after a long day of aimless riding – as we often did. We heard a rumble growing louder in the distance. I knew immediately it wasn’t motorcycles; it was a convoy of something special.
Suddenly, a pack of the most stunning cars we’d ever seen roared around the corner and past us. The sun glinted off their brightwork and the trees shimmered in their perfect paint. This “horsepower train” was led by the silver 1959 Corvette Sting Ray racer, followed by the XP700 Corvette (“bubble-top” show car with side pipes, also in silver – Mitchell’s favorite color), the first Mako Shark Corvette, and a concept called the Corvair Super Spyder (also silver), a wild, racing-inspired show car with ultra cut-down racing windscreens and three pipes curling out on each side in the back. It was an unforgettable sight.
The sound was deafening, but after a split second of stunned silence, we took off, chasing after them. It was apparent these machines were heading for our part of the neighborhood. I realized they were turning onto my cross street… We rounded the corner and saw them pull into a driveway, just one block from my house. We stopped at the end of the driveway, mouths agape, as the drivers of the other cars handed the keys to the driver of the Sting Ray. He took them up to the front door where a woman collected them. Then, an Impala pulled up, the four men got in, and they were gone, leaving the cars ticking and spitting as their pipes cooled. This became a Friday afternoon ritual in the summer because that’s the way Bill Mitchell wanted it. GM’s legendary design chief liked having a selection of his toys to play with on the weekends, and I was lucky enough to live just a block away from him.
All of those cars were special, but the ’59 Sting Ray racer was by far my favorite the moment I laid eyes on it. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing it in
