Cars, Food, Yachts, and Helicopters
When: Friday, August 19th, 2016
Where: Quail Lodge & Golf Club, Carmel, California
Admission: $600, by invitation only
Contact: (831) 620-8879
Information: signatureevents.peninsula.com
The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering
Now in its 14th year, the Quail is the most exclusive of the slew of automotive events that comprise Monterey Car Week. Even Pebble Beach, the world’s most prestigious concours, is open to the public with tickets available at the gate. The Quail, however, thrives on its invitation-only policy, creating a relaxed environment with the right cars and the right products for the right people.
In spite of its reputation, it’s not an event that gives invitations purely on the basis of net worth or social status. Instead, it awards tickets by a lottery system. Entrance into the lottery is available to subscribers of the Quail Lodge events newsletter. However, one must have the forethought to apply early. This way, the Quail isn’t just a social event for rich folk with a passing interest in cars. As a result, it’s for collectors and lifelong enthusiasts willing to plan ahead. If you don’t already have a ticket you’re out of luck for this year. However, you can still sign up for the waitlist. Don’t expect to be near the top.
A Small Price to Pay
What does the exclusivity and cover charge get you? Over 200 vehicles hand-picked from private collections, each a headline in and of itself, lining the manicured lawns of the Quail Lodge and Golf Course. Compared to most car shows, where one spends the day searching for gems between 80s vintage Maseratis and pitted American chrome, the Quail amounts to sensory overload.
This private event maintains a chic, “garden party” atmosphere, where garishly embroidered pants and wide-brimmed sunhats are all but mandatory. But it’s so much more than just posh, the Quail provides a gloves-off automotive experience, in direct contrast to the Pebble Beach Concours where getting too close to a show car could see you jailed. This year highlights the greatest rivalries of motorsport, as well as the 100th anniversary of BMW and the 50th of the Lamborghini Miura.
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The breadth and quality of the vehicles on display is matched by the quality of sponsorship; Every exotic manufacturer, from Bentley and Rolls-Royce to Porsche and Aston Martin, makes a showing. Only Ferrari is absent from the list of sponsors, as the sheer number of prancing horses on display would make any advertising attempts redundant. These marques make use of this distillate of eligible consumers by offering test-drives, previews, and early access to their latest products amidst the canapés and caviar of 5-star catering. Land Rover makes an annual appearance, plying Quail-goers with a chance to experience the brand’s off-road prowess.
The Quail Motorcycle Gathering is a similarly esteemed event held in May for those proponents of two-wheeled motor vehicles. The cost of both events serve philanthropic ends, benefiting the Rancho Cielo program for at-risk youth, and the California Highway Patrol Foundation, which benefits the families of those lost in the line of duty.
