Road to Pebble Rally: Quail Motorsports Gathering
Day 5 - Auctions, World Debuts, And Opera
The morning starts early as Bonhams Auctions opens up for its first preview of the legendary 1967 Ferrari 412p. The auction is set to break records with one of the strongest line-ups in its history! Complimenting the Auction, Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s Head of Design, and Angelo Kafantaris, CEO at Hyperion Companies sit together for a live-streamed chat on the future of collecting. The two automotive executives discussed the cyclical collecting trends and how new propulsion systems will change performance.
Following the fireside chat, the most sought-after show of Car Week, the Quail Motorsports Gathering kicked off its 20th anniversary with more than 17 high-performance new car debuts! Hosted by the Peninsula Group, Quail is the most opulent show of the year, offering luxury in every discipline. Helicopter rides, rare watches, and gourmet food are just some of the treats show-goers got to enjoy. More than 200 cars and over 4,000 guests descended on the property to be the first to see and be seen. This year, a rare Ferrari 410 Superamerica was named “Best in Show”.
As the sun set, the evening concluded at Weathertech Laguna Seca. Rally participants gathered in garages 7/8 eagerly waiting to view the new Bizzarrini 5300 GT Corsa continuation. The evening was intimate, two 5300GTs, one red and one yellow posed on pit lane for the viewing pleasure of the guests. Simon Busby walked through the improvements to the car and shared the rich history of the Le Mans legend.
When the moon was high in the sky, everyone was brought inside the garage to discover the full story of Giotto Bizzarrini. Bizzarini, credited for the Ferrari 250 GTO and the Lamborghini V12, was an engineer, designer, and automotive genius. His story was romanticized as it was fueled by competition and passion.
Amongst the food and stories, a Tenor gifted the group with two Arias. A special surprise awaited all of the rally participants as the doors to the garage rolled for a final performance under the stars. The evening was perfect and was the ideal set-up for the following day.
