As William James (widely regarded as the father of American psychology) once said, “The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.”
In a fast-paced world that consumes content by the millisecond and prioritizes the present over the permanent, committing a career to the preservation of history is a rarity. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the living embodiment of that endurance.
Since its inception, this landmark event has served as the foundation of Monterey Car Week, revered for its commitment to honoring individual legacies and multi-generational automotive dynasties. While the Concours is, from an outsider’s perspective, just an event, to those who understand its spirit, it’s something far more profound: in many ways, it is a living memorial.
Concours is a tribute to the visionary founders, the brilliant designers, the meticulous collectors, and the countless individuals whose entire lives have been dedicated to guarding the heritage of every historic marque that graces the lawn.
On August 16, 2026, the world’s most beautiful historic automobiles rolled onto the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. While this annual occurrence has happened every year since 1950, this year marked a momentous milestone, as it celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the event.
For anyone outside of the auto industry or the collector car world, it may seem like just another exhibition. But for those of us who grew up within the gates of the Del Monte Forest — witnessing a local car show evolve into the epicenter of global automotive prestige — it struck a deeper chord. Based on all the conversations that week, I realized that this year’s event felt different. There was a collective consciousness that we were witnessing a perfect bridge connecting past, present, and future.
That spirit of endurance was visible across every fairway. On the 18th, four 1933 Chicago World’s Fair star cars reunited for the first time in nearly a century. On the 3rd fairway, opened for the first time in Concours history, Automobili Lamborghini curated the largest gathering of Miuras ever assembled, celebrating the model’s 60th anniversary.
Nearby, a vibrant tapestry of vintage marques from Jaguar to Rolls-Royce decorated the lawn, each differing in engineering, yet united by a singular purpose: preserving the visions left by their founders.
When golfer Rory McIlroy famously described Pebble Beach as “The Cathedral,” he was speaking of the golf course’s spiritual majesty and the lineage of champions who had come before him. But on Concours Sunday, his description transformed into a symbolic truth for the global automotive industry as well. Over all these decades, that very fairway had become a cathedral for the automobile world – a place of reverence and awe.
This year, the event itself stood at its own generational turning point. After 40 years of visionary stewardship, Chairman Sandra Button (pictured below) prepared to pass the torch to incoming President Vince Finaldi. Like passing down a priceless family heirloom, Button turned the event over to Finaldi’s care, ushering in a new era of leadership.
To understand why this milestone was deeper than just a celebration of 75 years, I looked past the glitz to profile the people at the heart of the experience. I spoke with the new President who grew up in his grandfather’s auto shop; the judge who first walked this lawn as a boy beside his father and now returns with his own children; the woman who helped her husband to scale a global automotive lifestyle brand from a family business; the Le Mans champion turned broadcaster who followed his father’s racing tracks to the announcer’s ramp; and the renowned designers who study these historic machines to create the future icons on this very lawn. They all shared the same mission that Sunday: to honor, protect, and advance a living heritage.
Vince Finaldi – President, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Vince Finaldi’s story is inseparable from his family’s. His grandfather emigrated from Italy to work for General Motors in the 1920s, then returned home to open his own auto shop — a tradition passed to his sons, including Vince’s father, who carried it forward in the United States. After a distinguished career as a trial attorney with Manly, Stewart & Finaldi and a tour of duty with the US Marines, Vince retired to the Carmel Highlands in 2022, opened Finaldi, Inc. (a restoration, service, and sales shop for European collector cars), and found himself, by January 2026, named President of the most prestigious automotive event in the world. His personal collection spans Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Lamborghini. His first Concours in an official capacity was the 75th.
CLP: You stepped in as President in January 2026 — meaning your very first Concours in this role is the 75th Celebration. What does it mean to carry that specific milestone on your shoulders, and what do you most want this year’s event to say about where the Concours is headed?
VF: “This is Sandra Button’s final year as Concours Chairman, so the decisions and direction regarding this year’s 75th celebration have largely been hers. I am fortunate to be able to view the planning and inner workings of the show from an intimate, ground-floor level, and I look forward to carrying that experience and knowledge with me as we prepare for next year’s event and the future direction of the show. I couldn’t think of a better colleague and mentor for the position than Sandra, and having the important 75th celebration as my first in an official capacity with the Concours is something special indeed. I am sure this year’s show will boldly announce that the world’s most important Concours will continue to evolve and stay relevant for many years to come.”
CLP: You’re a third-generation collector with Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini in your own history, and you’ve now opened Finaldi, Inc., your own restoration and sales shop focused on European collector cars. How does that personal relationship with these cars change the way you lead this event?
VF: “I grew up in a car-obsessed family and have been involved in many aspects of the collector car community for years. My experiences in the collector car world, as an enthusiast, collector, investor, and restorer, allow me to connect with enthusiasts and industry professionals on all levels, which is important when running a worldwide event such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Being able to understand all aspects of the car community is also important to being able to lead this pinnacle show and remain an innovator.”
CLP: Sandra Button stewarded this institution for 40 years. What is the single most important thing she has impressed upon you about the soul of the Concours that you intend to carry forward?
VF: “Sandra has always emphasized the importance of the people who are involved in the event, from our staff to our volunteers, to entrants, to judges, to attendees, to members of the greater collector car world. Although the cars are the known stars of the show, the hidden beauty of the event lies in the people who converge from all over the world to make this day so special and, importantly, the relationships and bonds between them.”
CLP: The Concours d’Elegance is a major annual fundraiser for Monterey County nonprofits, having raised over $45 million over the past several decades. How do you see the philanthropic mission evolving, and what does giving back to this community mean to you personally?
VF: “When I decided to transition out of my primary occupation in law to my second career in the automotive industry, it was very important for me to find something that would allow me to give back to this world that has provided me so many gifts over the years. Being able to work in a position that melds two of my biggest passions — automobiles and charity — is incredibly rewarding and a tremendous privilege that I take very seriously.”
CLP: Monterey Car Week has grown into a global automotive summit, and the Concours is its beating heart. For the next generation of collectors and enthusiasts who are just discovering this world — what do you want them to feel when they walk onto that lawn for the first time?
VF: “I want all attendees, new and old, to feel that they are experiencing something very special and significant that can only happen once in a year, and only in this very special place that some of us are fortunate to be able to call home. Year after year, we work to put on an event that impresses, surprises, and inspires the automotive world, and if we continue to do that, year over year, then I will consider that a job well done.”
Joshua Scherling – Concours Judge & First-Time Entrant
Joshua Scherling’s relationship with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance began before he could fully understand what he was looking at. A native of the Monterey Peninsula, a physician, a real estate professional, and a lifelong classic car collector, he first came to this lawn as a boy beside his father. He has been coming back ever since (for more than 40 years now), first as an attendee, then as a seven-year veteran judge of the Post-War Touring class, and this year, for the very first time, as a competitor, alongside his children and wife, Stacey. The car he brought to the 18th fairway was a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing with genuine SCCA racing history that hadn’t been seen publicly since 1962. The circle, as they say, was complete.
CLP: This is your first time as an entrant in the show, which is very exciting! You mentioned that your 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing hasn’t been seen publicly since 1962, and it’s all-original with real racing history in the SCCA. How does it feel to bring something with that much history back into public view for the 75th Anniversary of the Concours d’Elegance?
JS: “I feel incredibly honored to be an entrant this year, especially as it’s the 75th anniversary. This Gullwing had such an amazing California racing history in period and even won several races at Laguna Seca just miles from the lawn at Pebble Beach. It took years to recommission the car after so many decades sitting idle and hidden, but when the decision was made to make its first public appearance, there was no other place in my mind other than Pebble Beach. That is what makes the Pebble Beach Concours so special — the cars on the 18th fairway all have incredible histories and stories, and everyone wants their cars to be shown first at Pebble before any other event. Just being selected to show the car at Pebble is a special honor, and no matter what happens with the judging, I know I’ll feel like I’ve already won just being there!”
CLP: You’ve been a Concours Judge for 7 years and are involved with judging the Post-War Touring class. What has that long a stretch on the lawn taught you about what actually separates a great restoration from a truly historic one? With so many exceptional cars on display, are there any particular details that compel you to rank one as the winner of that class?
JS: “You might be surprised because the best restoration isn’t always the one with all the shine, like pieces of jewelry. The best ones are the most correct ones. Finishes that would have been found on the car when they were new. We see a lot of very shiny cars with lots of chrome and glossy paint under the hoods where you would not have seen it when the cars were new. We call this ‘over restoration,’ and we certainly deduct points when we see it. After many years in the hobby and several years as a judge, you just know it when you see it! Something that I always find important as well is for the restoration to be very homogeneous in both its state of condition and quality of restoration. After all the scores are added up, we then take a look back at the general presence of the car on the lawn. This is the elegance factor, and along with the point score will determine the rank in the class.”
CLP: As someone who’s spent years judging and a lifetime attending, what does reaching this 75th milestone actually mean to you, having watched this event evolve so closely for so long?
JS: “I’ve been attending the Concours nearly my entire life. Over 40 years. I attended as a boy with my father, and now my boys accompany me, so there’s a deep sense of nostalgia for me. I’ve witnessed incredible events take place on that lawn — unique special classes of rare cars or coachbuilders, collections of cars coming together for the first time, seeing the men who had once designed the cars, or had raced the cars decades earlier. When these amazing happenings take place, and you think to yourself, ‘This could only have happened at Pebble!’ The event never ceases to amaze me, and I hope to attend for another 40 years because I know it will only continue to grow and be better than ever.”
Soon Hagerty – Director of Private Client Experiences, Hagerty
Hagerty began as a family business, and in many ways, it still is. McKeel Hagerty grew it from a specialty insurer into a globally recognized automotive lifestyle brand, and for much of that journey, his wife, Soon Hagerty, has been beside him, driving it forward. She played a lead role in transforming the company into a publicly traded global brand valued at more than $3 billion when it joined the NYSE in 2021.
Named one of the US’s “Top Women in Communications” by Ragan Communications in 2022, Soon now serves as Director of Private Client Experiences at Hagerty and co-founded the Boundless Futures Foundation with McKeel, providing grants and leadership resources to female entrepreneurs. At Monterey Car Week, the Hagerty imprint was everywhere, from the Dawn Patrol to the global livestream, to a private Concours Sunday brunch hosted for women in the auto industry.
As explained to me by Concours’ team, “Dawn Patrol began with former entrant Don Williams and friends rising earlier and earlier, competing to be the first in line to drive onto our show field. Then Don decided he wanted to watch the parade of cars, so he had others drive his cars onto the show field, while he started serving coffee to the friends who would rise early and join him at the entrance point. The numbers grew to several hundred by the late 1990s.”
CLP: Dawn Patrol has become one of the most beloved traditions of Pebble Beach, and Hagerty’s own sponsorship (starting in 2004 when your husband, Hagerty Chairman and CEO McKeel Hagerty, distributed coffee, donuts, and hats) is a huge part of why it’s grown into what it is today. As the Concours reached its 75th year, what did that tradition mean to you personally, both as part of the Hagerty team and as someone who’s watched it become a signature part of this event?
SH: “Dawn Patrol is such a special event to me because its origin was so organic. Just a handful of passionate enthusiasts showing up before sunrise to have the first unobstructed view of the incredible Concours cars driving onto the lawn. What I’ve loved most is watching it grow into a tradition with a bit of a cult following. The quest for a limited, first-come, first-served Dawn Patrol hat has become part of the experience. That hat has turned into a badge of honor that quietly says, ‘I’m a true car fanatic.’
Every year, we put a lot of thought into creating a new design that celebrates one of the featured marques and helps stamp the memory for enthusiasts. I’ll admit that it’s also brought some memorable moments. We’ve had crowds get pretty competitive over those hats. One year someone even pulled my hair trying to grab one! But in the end, seeing the hats on a fellow enthusiast — later that day or even at an event on the other side of the world — tells us how strong the love for automobiles is.”
CLP: You and McKeel aren’t just part of the Hagerty team behind this event; you’re entrants yourselves, having shown your 1933 Duesenberg on the lawn. What was it like experiencing the Concours from that side, as a competitor with your own car on the field?
SH: “Being an entrant is a dream come true, not just for us but for so many collectors. After spending more than 25 years experiencing Pebble Beach from the professional side, driving onto the lawn with our own 1933 Duesenberg was incredibly rewarding — and honestly, a little intimidating. We loved every part of it. Participating in the Pebble Beach Tour, driving onto the lawn during Dawn Patrol, and feeling the anticipation that comes with judging and potential awards. I even received my own Dawn Patrol hat! The experience also gave me a whole new appreciation for what entrants invest emotionally into the event.
At the end of the day, Pebble Beach is much more than the accolades. It’s about friendships, unforgettable memories, and a shared passion for the design and craftsmanship of extraordinary automobiles. We’re already dreaming about the next one.”
CLP: As Hagerty’s Director of Private Client Experiences, you now focus specifically on VIP relationships and female leadership within the automotive world. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (and the auto industry in general) has historically been a male-dominated space. Now that the event has reached this 75th milestone, how have you seen that culture shift over the years? And what role do you see more women playing in the future, not only pertaining to this event, but also within the automotive field?
SH: “I’ve worked in the luxury and automotive world for more than 25 years, and yes, it’s still a predominantly male industry. But I’ve learned that you often find what you’re looking for. If you’re focused on barriers, you’ll see barriers. If you’re focused on progress, you’ll see that too. One of the most encouraging changes at Pebble Beach has been watching more female collectors participate, along with many wives of longtime collectors who continue coming after losing their husbands because this community has become part of who they are. It’s also inspiring to see women like Christine Park Cheng, Global Design Director at Lincoln, and Tisha Johnson, Head of Design at Slate, serving as Pebble Beach judges. Visibility matters.
When young women see women leading at the highest levels, they begin to see those paths as possible for themselves. Personally, I’ve found the greatest joy in bringing remarkable women together. Whether it’s hosting a lunch to celebrate Pebble Beach Chairman Sandra Button or creating our Driven Women gatherings, my goal isn’t simply to add more women to the room. It’s to create opportunities for women to recognize they’re not alone, to meet one another and, most importantly, to be inspired by each other and the progress women have made in this space.”
Justin Bell – Co-Host & Producer, Pebble Beach Concours Live / The Torque Show
It would be impossible to tell Justin Bell’s story without starting with his father. Derek Bell is one of the most celebrated endurance racing drivers in history, with five Le Mans victories, a legend on the circuits of Europe and beyond. Justin grew up inside that world, absorbing its rhythms and its passion, and eventually claimed his own place in it: a GT2 class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the FIA GT2 World Championship that same year.
After retiring from full-time racing, he transitioned to broadcasting with Speed Channel and Fox Sports, before co-founding Torque Media Group in 2018 alongside fellow champion Tommy Kendall and producer Jason Jacobson. Since 2021, Torque Media has served as host and producer of Pebble Beach Concours Live, the official global livestream of the Concours d’Elegance, bringing the 18th fairway to hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide.
CLP: Through Torque Media Group, you anchored Pebble Beach Concours Live and The Torque Show, covering everything from the 4:30 AM Dawn Patrol through the Concept Lawn to the final judging tension on the 18th fairway. Of everything you covered across that long broadcast day, what part of it meant the most to you personally?
JB: “Yes, it is a very busy day! Of course, the preparation for it has been ongoing for months, so by the time the sun breaks on this Sunday, our whole team is very ready for it and excited! Two major moments of the day stand out: when I take that walk out on the main ramp in front of the crowds and welcome everybody is a huge thrill for me personally, and then when the 3 or 4 Best of Show finalists are lined up waiting for the final announcement of who is the winner, and I get to talk to them, capturing that tension and building the anticipation! It is actually just like being at a huge car race on the grid, and I love it.”
CLP: You’re a Le Mans class winner and a former FIA GT2 World Champion in your own right — not just a name connected to racing royalty (your father, Derek Bell). How did that firsthand experience behind the wheel shape the way you hosted The Torque Show and talked about these cars on air, compared to a broadcaster who’s never competed at that level?
JB: “Definitely being part of a racing family has shaped my role in this car world. But my new life in the collector car scene is something I could never have anticipated. While there might not seem that obvious a crossover of talents, there actually has been for me — I love live TV and being a little risky and humorous in my delivery resonates with the fans, I believe. I also think that racing and all the risks and stress of that environment has given me a deep understanding of the passion that people have for cars, and what they are willing to do for them. And because I count myself in that group, I understand them, and can communicate their stories.”
CLP: Since you and Tommy Kendall began producing Pebble Beach Concours Live, you’ve helped modernize how this event reaches the world, making it accessible to people who’ve possibly never set foot on the 18th fairway. Now that Pebble Beach has reached its 75th year, what did hitting that milestone mean to you, having covered this event for as long as you have?
JB: “Torque Media Group is made up of Tommy and me, and the incredible talents of our production partner, Jason Jacobson. While TK and I have this great vision, Jason is the one who has made it all happen in so many ways that people don’t get to see. We feel so proud to have brought the experience we have in the racing content world to the Concours one. The introduction of the pre-show, where we can really dig into great storylines, has been hugely popular, and the way Jason formats the show so we allow viewers to enjoy the pace of the Awards Show while at the same time giving them as much supporting detail and color as we can. It is a unique production, and apparently people love it around the world!
The honor of being the storytellers of the 75th anniversary of the world’s most important Concours is not lost on us, and whatever else we do in our professional lives, we can say: not only were we there, but we made you feel as though you were as well.”
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has always drawn the world’s great automotive designers – not merely as spectators, but as participants, judges, and students of what endures. Marques like Lamborghini, Maserati, and Bugatti carry deep histories that have fueled countless global narratives, books, and cinematic retellings of automotive royalty.
Bugatti’s foundation is a family dynasty in the literal sense: Ettore Bugatti’s brother Rembrandt, a celebrated sculptor, created the marque’s iconic dancing elephant hood ornament, a masterpiece that still graces the cars resting on the 18th fairway.
Adolfo Orsi (whose family once owned Maserati and steered its mid-century growth) has served as Chief Class Judge of the FIVA Awards at Pebble Beach since 1999, a living link between a storied past and its modern stewardship.
Lamborghini’s origin story was born from a rebellious entrepreneur’s determination to build an Italian supercar brand that could rival the world’s most entrenched marques, proving that where you decide to go matters far more than where you come from, and that spirit lives on today within the brand’s team and customer base.
For the designers who steward these heritage brands today, standing among these historic machines is something else entirely: a pilgrimage as much as a profession.
Mitja Borkert – Head of Design, Lamborghini
For Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini is more than just an employer; it’s a dream job manifested from his own youth. As he told me during our recent interview, he recalled a core memory from a decade ago. His son, who was just two years old at the time, watched him sketch a single continuous line, and said “Lamborghini”. At that moment, Borkert realized a simple truth about the foundation of great design: that the silhouette of an iconic car is enough for even a young child to recognize an entire brand.
Reflecting upon the Miura gathering on the 3rd fairway, Borkert (pictured above left with his family) said, “I understood the importance of the Miura when I first started working at Lamborghini, and then I also learned the story. The Miura is, for me, a standalone sculpture — beautiful, very low, it looks like a manta ray, or looks like a low sculpture, as it is playing with very few lines. I know there were more than 60 different colors, so it was the Miura that started our color history of Lamborghini.”
Klaus Busse – Head of Design, Maserati
Meandering through the 17th fairway, I happened to see another designer whom I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing over the years, Klaus Busse – Head of Design for Maserati. Knowing his love for beautiful, timeless automobiles and how his cultural musings inspire his own modern creations for the century-old “Trident” brand, I inquired about his perspective on what Concours means to him.
“For me, Pebble Beach has always been about much more than the extraordinary cars. It is about the people and the incredible energy that comes from being surrounded by so many others who share the same passion for the automobile. I always leave Monterey recharged and eager to get back into the studio and create.
Being a judge adds another dimension. You have the privilege of looking closely at cars that are being evaluated decades after they were created. It makes you think about what truly endures: proportion, authenticity, innovation, craftsmanship and character. As a designer creating cars today, that perspective is incredibly valuable. You cannot help but wonder how the cars we are designing now will be regarded decades from today and perhaps whether some of them might one day find their own place on the lawn at Pebble Beach.”
Jascha Straub – Lead Designer for Sur Mesure, Bugatti
And, finally, before the event came to a close, by chance I ran into another illustrious designer whose creative talent and eye for detail have inspired my own standard of excellence – Jascha Straub, Lead Designer for Sur Mesure at Bugatti. Serving as an Honorary Judge for this year’s event, Straub plays an integral part in the design team carrying forward Bugatti’s historic ethos of creating record-breaking, timeless hypercars that remain entirely “incomparable” through their bespoke customization program.
CLP: What does it mean to you to participate in this year’s milestone event?
JS: “To be part of the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is a tremendous honor. Pebble Beach represents far more than an exhibition of exceptional automobiles — it is a celebration of the people, stories, craftsmanship and creativity that have shaped automotive history. To contribute as a judge in such a significant anniversary year, surrounded by cars and experts I deeply admire, makes the experience particularly special to me.”
CLP: Describe your perspective on judging cars from a designer’s unique point of view.
JS: “As a designer, I look at cars beyond their individual details. I’m interested in the idea and the historical context behind it. Its proportions, stance, surfaces, and the way every element comes together to create a unique standalone character. For judging, it is equally important for me to understand the intention of the designer and the impact on the car industry in that time and the automotive history in general. For me, judging is about respecting that authenticity while appreciating the creativity, craftsmanship, and sometimes remarkable courage that went into creating these automobiles in the first place.”
As the judges completed their deliberations and thousands gathered at the 18th green, the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance awarded Best of Show to a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, shown by collector Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio (pictured below).
The SSJ is among the rarest of the rare (one of just two ever built), and this particular example was originally delivered new to Clark Gable. The winning car had been recently restored to its initial presentation: black lacquer finish, light saddle leather interior, supercharged straight-eight beneath the hood.
For Yeaggy, it was his second Best of Show at Pebble Beach, as the first came in 2007 with the Duesenberg SJ “Mormon Meteor” Special Speedster. “I won once before, 19 years ago, but I appreciate it a lot better now,” he said. “I appreciate the hard work it took and the time it took to get here. People don’t realize how hard it is, how special it is, to win this award. It’s amazing.”
The win made Duesenberg the most successful American marque in Pebble Beach history, with eight Best of Show trophies, behind only Mercedes-Benz and Bugatti, each with ten. “Duesenberg often tops the list of desires for people with a passion for American classics, and the iconic SSJ is the marque’s ultimate expression,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “This Special Speedster, one of just two made, offers both style and performance — and has a fantastic Hollywood backstory.”
The four Best of Show finalists also included a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet shown by The Pearl Collection of Baar, Switzerland; a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta shown by the Heinecke Family Collection of Bangkok, Thailand; and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet shown by RQ Collections of The Woodlands, Texas. This year’s field featured 218 cars, including 33 international entries from 14 countries and 185 US entries from 30 states.
On top of it all, the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance surpassed $50 million in total charitable giving across its history, reaching a confirmed $50,154,192, with more than half of that total raised in the past decade alone, flowing to more than 130 local nonprofits dedicated to the education, health, and well-being of children throughout Monterey County.
Beyond the beauty, splendor, and even the magnitude of this year’s fundraiser, the biggest takeaway from this year’s event can best be explained in one simple yet poignant quote by William James: “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
[Media access c/o Concours d’Elegance. Image credits: Christina-Lauren Pollack, Matt Tierney, Vince Finaldi, Kimball Studios, Sherman Chu. All opinions are my own.]