By the middle of Monterey Car Week, it can most certainly feel like you’re constantly checking the clock and looking at the next place you need to be. There are cars everywhere, events happening from morning until well after dark, and more than enough reasons to keep moving. That’s part of the fun, of course, but every once in a while, an event comes along where you can actually slow down and really enjoy the moment. The Santa Lucia Preserve Concours & Cocktails was one of those evenings this year.
Set within the Santa Lucia Preserve just outside Carmel, the invitation-only event brought together more than 600 people for an evening of cars, cocktails, food, and conversation. Hosted by Luxury Rally Club, it had a noticeably different feel from some of the larger events taking place throughout Monterey Car Week. There was still plenty to see, but nothing seemed rushed or unintentional. Guests wandered between the cars, grabbed a drink, enjoyed an incredible culinary experience, and settled into conversations that seemed to last a little longer than usual during a week when everyone is constantly on the move.
For duPont REGISTRY Group, it was also a chance to step away from the usual pace of the week and spend some time with many of the collectors, enthusiasts, and industry friends we see throughout the year. We were there alongside a diverse group of automotive and luxury brands, and that variety was one of the more interesting parts of the evening. BRABUS, Porsche Classic Club, Karma Automotive, GMC, Rivian, EarthRoamer, Velocity Restorations, Vintage Modern, Fari Cars, Dione Motorcars, and others brought everything from performance-focused builds to off-road and adventure-oriented vehicles.
The setting certainly helped add to the beauty of the evening. Rather than being surrounded by pavement, buildings, and the crowds you find at some of Monterey’s better-known venues, the Preserve offered plenty of open space and a backdrop of California countryside. As the sun began to disappear, the cars took on a different character under the evening light, while guests moved between the displays and the various food and beverage stations. It was easy to forget, at least for a little while, just how busy the rest of Monterey Car Week was.
GALLERY-EMBED
Naturally, the cars were only part of the evening. Food was a major component, with delicious dishes from The Pocket Carmel, Passionfish, Tsarnicoulai, and Quoign Pastries, among others. There was also a surprisingly deep selection of wine and spirits spread throughout the event. Flowers Winery, Peter Michael Winery, Realm Cellars, Heitz Cellar, Robert Craig Winery, Champagne Philipponnat, and several other wineries were represented, while The GlenDronach, WhistlePig, Bushwood Spirits, LALO Spirits, Grey Goose, and Patrón rounded out the spirits selection. Having a drink in hand while talking through a car you had just walked around felt pretty appropriate throughout the night.
One of the things everyone enjoyed most was how naturally the automotive side of the evening mixed with everything else. Airshare and Seanet Yachts brought aviation and yachting into the conversation, while The Motorcoach Store and EarthRoamer added another dimension to the idea of luxury travel. Elsewhere, you could find everything from custom hats and clothing to event design and décor. It made the evening a gathering of people who simply happen to share an appreciation for cars and the lifestyle that surrounds them.
That was probably the biggest takeaway from the night. Monterey Car Week has no shortage of spectacular cars to see, but the events that stick with you aren't always the ones with the biggest crowds or the most valuable car on the lawn. Sometimes it's the atmosphere, the people you happen to run into, or a conversation that lasts longer than expected. The Preserve Concours & Cocktails had plenty of those moments.
As the night went on, the Al James Band provided the soundtrack, the drinks kept moving, and the crowd gradually settled into the evening. There was no real sense that anyone needed to rush off to the next event. After several days of bouncing between concours fields, rallies, auctions, launches, and parties, that slower pace was a welcome change.
For duPont REGISTRY, being part of it also meant getting to spend time with the people who make this community so incredible. We spend plenty of time talking about cars, but being around them with the people who collect, drive, build, sell, and appreciate them is really what Monterey Car Week is all about. By the time the evening came to an end, it was clear that the Santa Lucia Preserve Concours & Cocktails had brought together all the right ingredients for a memorable night. Great cars filled the property, the food and drinks kept everyone around, and the conversations continued well into the evening.
