Pebble Beach concours: Beauty and the beach

The perfect summer for car enthusiasts begins early, when local car shows start popping up, and ends in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This year's show on Aug. 15 will celebrate classic Alfa Romeos, cars from Pierce-Arrow and Jaguar and Ghia designs. The show will also highlight hot rods, particularly Bonneville racers, Indy cars and for the second time, motorcycles.

In addition to the show, the preceding week is filled with events for the discerning aficionado. The celebration begins with the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, a drive from the state of Washington to Pebble Beach. The Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance is a one-day driving event that travels around the scenic Monterey Peninsula. RetroAuto will feature historic memorabilia, art, photos and other collectibles for enthusiasts to purchase. And several auctions are on tap.

The celebration ends with the 2010 concours. During the event, the Automotive Fine Arts Society will be showing selected works on the lawn along with the cars. And there are numerous other "non-Pebble" car events around the Monterey Peninsula.

For ticket prices and additional details, visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net or the Web sites listed with the events.

Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, Aug. 2-11, starts in Kirkland, Wash., and ends in Pebble Beach

Mazda Raceway Pre-Reunion, Aug. 7-8, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey

Automobilia Monterey, Aug. 10-11, Embassy Suites Monterey Bay, Seaside

Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue, 12:30-2 p.m. Aug. 10, Carmel, www.motorclubevents.com

Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance presented by Rolex, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 12, begins at Collins Field in Pebble Beach

Bonhams & Butterfields Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia Auction, Aug. 12-13, Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club, Carmel, www.bonhams.com

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Aug. 12-15, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, www.mazdaraceway.com

RM Auctions Sports and Classics of Monterey, Aug. 12-14, Portola Hotel, Monterey, ww.rmauctions.com

Russo and Steele Auction Aug. 12-14, Monterey Marriott Hotel, Monterey, www.russoandsteele.com

The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 13, Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club, Carmel, www.quaillodgeevents.com

Concorso Italiano, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 13, Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey, www.concorso.com

Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally, 1-5:30 p.m. Aug. 13, downtown Pacific Grove, www.pgautorally.org

Pebble Beach RetroAuto, Aug. 13-15, RetroAuto Pavilion, Pebble Beach

Mecum at Monterey, Aug. 13-14, Hyatt Regency, Monterey, www.mecum.com

Concours d'LeMons, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 14, Toro Regional Park, Monterey

Gooding & Company Auction, Aug. 14-15, Pebble Beach Equestrian Center

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Lodge at Pebble Beach

Automotive Fine Arts Society Exhibition, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Lodge at Pebble Beach

By Jake Lingeman