Coast to Coast and Never had to Leave the Couch Pt.2

Welcome back to my cross-country drive experience! If you missed Part One, be sure to read the previous post for the beginning of the story.

. Part 1 of this story

As we arrived in Monterey, California, we had the unique opportunity to meet up with the new owner of the car that had carried us for the last 3,000 miles. It was a surreal moment as we discovered he was driving the same model, albeit in a vibrant red hue.

We joined a group of fellow car enthusiasts and embarked on a journey down the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. Our destination? A delightful food spot known as the Phoenix.

One of Fernando's acquaintances, John Mims, resides in Monterey and graciously offered a few of us a place to stay for the week. It was an incredible experience! I had the opportunity to sit on his deck, overlooking the bay, and peacefully edit photos.

Later, we accompanied John to pick up his DeLorean for its inaugural drive. After about 10 minutes on the road, we encountered a minor issue. Thankfully, the storage facility housing his vintage Mini Cooper was just up the street. The cars passing by were stunning! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves regarding this part of the journey.

Later that evening, John managed to secure our entry into an exclusive party known as McCall's, where tickets cost close to $1,000 each. The event was a spectacle, featuring private jets, warbirds, rare vintage cars, RUF models, and high-end exotics, alongside notable car celebrities and red-carpet affairs.

Among the highlights were John Campion's Lancia Race cars and Hennessey's impressive lineup, including the Velociraptor 6x6 and the F5. However, what stole the spotlight for many was a stunning woman dressed all in white. She captivated everyone's attention, with people constantly whispering, "Did you see her?" How could you not?

As the night came to a close, this enigmatic woman hopped into her Audi R8 V10 Plus and disappeared into the night, leaving a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to witness her presence.

The following morning, we made our way down to the main street to watch the show cars return from their tour. I found an ideal spot on the street corner, anticipating the perfect shot. Just as the cars began to roll in, a minor hiccup occurred. One of the individuals directing traffic positioned themselves right in the middle of my frame.

Despite numerous attempts by others to persuade him to move, he remained steadfast. Oddly, there was already another person directing traffic just five feet to his right, making his presence unnecessary. The picture with the man in the black jacket is him, unwittingly becoming an unintended focal point of the shot.

In the photo with the Ferrari 250, you'll spot Stu Copley riding as a passenger. Stu is the owner of Copley Motorcars in the Boston area, known for housing some of the most unique automobiles around. If you're ever in the area, it's definitely worth a visit.

The show cars were parked along the main strip, but the side streets also held treasures like the W Motors Lykan Hypersport and Fenyr Supersport. I was both amazed and a bit shocked to see these incredible cars lined up so openly. It was surreal to witness people brushing up against cars worth tens of millions of dollars...

As a catalog photographer for RM Auctions, I have the privilege of capturing some of the most incredible displays at events, and this year was no exception. I was delighted to see they had set up benches in their display area, particularly near the Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Ford sections, allowing enthusiasts to spend quality time admiring these remarkable vehicles.

The auction results were nothing short of staggering: a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for a record-breaking $48.4 Million, a 1966 Ford GT40 MK II fetched $9.7 Million, and a 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Competition Prototype went for an astounding $21.4 Million. It was truly mind-blowing to witness these prices for automotive history unfold before our eyes.

I want to emphasize that this trip wasn't a vacation for me. On the day of the show, I was at the event at 4 am, diligently light painting some of the concept cars. It was challenging, with various light sources and security to navigate around.

Thankfully, my good friend Joe Freeman was a judge at the event, and I asked him for a favor to help get me in. He had an extra pass that was almost as good as a Media pass. Unfortunately, my media credentials were declined at the very last minute. Since this was my first time photographing this event, I knew I had to walk around with confidence, almost as if I owned the place.

The pass Joe provided didn’t grant me access behind the ropes of the Tuckers, but it did allow me into the Stevenson room alongside the judges and up to the viewing area. Plus, it came with the perk of enjoying free drinks and delicious food in the Stevenson Room at the 18th Green of Pebble Beach. It was quite a sweet deal.

Joe graciously invited me to join him at Laguna Seca for the Monterey Historics. The iconic Corkscrew turn is gnarly! I decided to try capturing different angles from further back instead of getting up close. However, I quickly realized there weren't many spots to shoot from, which left me feeling a bit limited and frustrated.

Despite the challenges, I couldn't help but wonder if having better access would lead to better shots. I guess I'll just have to wait until next year to find out!

This wild trip concludes in the most eclectic of places – San Francisco. A friend from high school resides there, and he graciously invited me to stop by for a day or two. He showed me around all the diverse neighborhoods and introduced me to some of the city's hidden dive bars.

Throughout our explorations, I kept asking if I could take photos inside these nostalgic spots, but the answer was always a firm no. He explained that he wanted these places to retain their authenticity and not become overrun by tourists. Despite this, I left with the impression that classic arcades are making a comeback in the city, which is pretty cool to see.

Overall, I had an amazing time in San Francisco, experiencing its unique charm and vibrant culture through the eyes of a local.