As first time entrants at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this week has delivered a bounty of wonderful experiences, and a few nervous moments. We pulled the 1909 Pierce-Arrow off the truck Wednesday and made sure everything was in order by driving around the corner to the Lodge at Pebble Beach.
Thursday started early as we got in line for the Tour d’Elegance. As can be the case in Carmel-by-the Sea, the morning was foggy and wet. Driving a 105-year-old car is great fun, but driving in heavy traffic, in the wet, with some steep hills can be quite stressful.
Not more than five miles into the run and with Dad at the helm, we turned on to a hill. A Stanley Steamer had already stopped at the bottom of the grade and we charged around only to have the Hispano-Suiza ahead of us stop mid-way up the hill. This brought us to a stop with others behinds us.
With faster cars desperately looking to pass, the hill got a bit hectic. Thankfully, Dad was able to get us going again and we climbed to the top in second gear.
Nathan Evans takes a turn at the wheel | Evans family photoAfter that nervous moment, things smoothed out and we waited in the queue to drive into Carmel as a group.
I can honestly say I’ve never seen more people lining the streets as we drove in. We felt like celebrities as we came to a stop on Ocean Avenue and the crowd swarmed around.
After a lovely lunch we sat in the car and fielded questions for the crowd – great fun and a something I’ll never forget.
That’s all for now, as I’ve got to wrap this up and head off to clean the Pierce-Arrow for the Concours.
