Interview Phase 2: California...Complete.

Wow California!

I think I could get used to this place.

This week's interviews included four OEMs, two OEM Design Studios, and one Color Trend Consulting Firm. Everyone I met with in California were color and materials designers with deep insight into the future of design.

I'd again like to thank all the participants! Its been informative...and FUN! I look forward to meeting with you again.

Edelbrock Performance

There are definite perks to having the same interests as my dad.  Last Wednesday, we visited with Vic Edelbrock Jr., a long time friend of my dad's from the automotive industry.  Magneti Marelli (my dad's company) provides parts, primarily carburetors, for Edelbrock Performance Products.  Vic was kind enough to give us a tour of his facilities and many of his toys.  Dad even got to drive us to lunch in one of Vic's toys: a vintage Chevelle with a 670 horsepower Edelbrock engine.  He floored it, and needless to say, left a good bit of rubber on the LA streets.







 

  

Making My Way through Californ-I-A!

Sometimes the journey is all the fun.

On the 15th, I spent 15 hours of travel time getting from Detroit to Monterey.  I landed in Monterey and was greeted by my dad and his 9-ton home on wheels.  That night we stayed at a Super8 motel in Salinas because we booked too late (only 3 months in advance) and cost in that area for the weekend were so High!  But we were in good company.  The parking lost was full of Porsches, a Maseratis and many other racing vehicles.  We were in the midst of a weekend full of not only the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but also the Monterey Historic Automobile Race and the county fair (this is a different county than you might be used to!).  Sunday we enjoyed the Concours and then began a 4-day drive south down the costal highway to Torrance.  We couldn't make it 5 miles at a time without being passed by a Corvette, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari...  

Along the way, dad and I camped at Big Sur, Pismo Beach and Lake Casitas.  It was a little cool for us along the coast, so we went inland and up until we reached the mid-90's at 5000 foot altitude.  Here, the weather was perfect.  

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Wow.

I've posted previously about the event: July 20

But this was truly the opportunity of a lifetime and one of those times that I am so proud and lucky to share my dad's interests. I'll even share some of his words about the show.

"When you're in the middle of 100's of the world's most elite cars trying to absorb all...you become numb. There is no way to describe it. I won't try."

This post is primarily for pictures. I'll eventually add them all to my Flikr PhotoStream: Here. It may be a month or so, I'll let you know. Here are a few favorites from this year's show.

More from Pebble Beach

Before making it into the show, Dad and I started to wonder what exactly was inside the gates, considering that the parking lot and grounds before the main entrance hosted a great variety of classics and the Hottest concepts and performance and luxury cars available. Including: Bugatti and Bentley (this year's sponsors), Telsa, Porsche, Lexus, Infinity, Spyker, McLaren, Rolls Royce, and a few from specialty design teams I've never seen before such as Tramontana and Iconic. It was beautiful!

Might I add that my dad looks pretty spiffy next to that Bugatti Veyron!

Pebble Beach Concours Cars