Sportscar Vacationland: The Car Week Escape Off The Beaten Path

Overcrest Productions celebrates success with the debut of Sportscar Vacationland.

Monterey Car Week is the kind of automotive spectacle that makes jaws drop, with multi-million-dollar collector cars, supercars, and hypercars filling the streets of California’s northern peninsula. It’s a dream for most gearheads who found their love for cars through Bugattis and Koenigseggs. But, for others with more modest tastes in cult classics like the classic Volkswagens and Porsches, the regular schedule of Concour-style events doesn’t scratch the itch. That’s where Sportscar Vacationland and Overcrest Productions stepped in, allowing enthusiasts to get behind an event that feels more like a hometown car meet than just car spotting from the sidelines.

A classic black Porsche is parked in front of a white barn labeled "Sportscar Vacilland," drawing a crowd during Car Week—a perfect off the beaten path spot for your next sportscar vacation.

Set in the scenic mountains of Carmel Valley at Tira Nanza Winery, it transformed the way you picture an event during Monterey Car Week. Sportscar Vacationland leaned into that idea perfectly with an unconventional way to showcase and admire some of the other (attainable) dream cars that drove this lifelong love. More of an experience, it displayed curated cars like classic Porsche 911s and E30 BMW M3s with live art showcases, installation artists, food, drinks, and plenty of time to actually connect and chat with other like-minded gearheads.

A white BMW E30 with racing decals and "BMW Fahrs Training" text is parked off the beaten path near a building, while several people and another white BMW are in the background.

A person sprays colored liquid onto a white car with a water gun inside a transparent enclosure, while several people watch outdoors during Car Week.

Whether you were admiring some of the iconic wheels in the Wheel Museum by WheelPrice, unleashing a paint-filled Super Soaker on a rally Porsche 944, or casually admiring the purple Lamborghini Diablo filled with flowers, it seemed as though there was a surprise around every corner. It made the conversations flow easier, the atmosphere more relaxed, and the cars feel like part of the story rather than just the centerpiece.

A rural outdoor car event, part of Car Week Escape, with people gathered near a building, several parked cars, a white tent, and wooded hills in the background.

One of the event’s biggest highlights was the evening film screening, where Petrolicious set the stage with a collection of its favorite film features, including an all-new film with the iconic Lotec C1000. Sitting under the stars, surrounded by true enthusiasts and storytellers, was a throwback to simpler times when car culture was as much about gathering together as it was about pricetags and horsepower. Between the film, the art, and the curated mix of cars, Sportscar Vacationland delivered something refreshingly different from the fast-paced intensity of Monterey Car Week.

A vintage red Porsche race car with number 163 is parked outside a wooden shed, where several people stand near arcade machines—an Off the Beaten Path gem for Car Week enthusiasts.

A red Volkswagen Golf GTI with custom decals and a roof box is parked on a dirt road beside stacked hay bales and trees, capturing the spirit of Sportscar Vacationland for those seeking adventures off the beaten path.

By the end of the night, it was clear that Overcrest Productions struck a chord with Sportscar Vacationland, making it a must-attend event for future car weeks to come. For me, it was a reminder that while Monterey’s glitz is definitely exciting, there’s something equally memorable about a car event that’s raw, creative, and community-driven. Sportscar Vacationland proved that sometimes the best part of Car Week happens just a little off the beaten path.