I mean no offence but does the circus that has become the Monterey/Pebble Beach week really need another auction? Dana Mecum apparently thinks so, for his organisation has just announced that Mecum's Monterey Auction will take place on Saturday, August 15, 2009, from 12-5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course.

"Mecum Auction is starting a new chapter in our exhilarating company history book by expanding into new market areas," said Dana Mecum. "Although we have specialized in muscle cars, our expert team is extremely knowledgeable about selling exotic sports cars, classics and other high-end collector vehicles. In fact, Mecum was selling world-class Ferraris in the late '80s." Approximately 100 cars will be up for sale in the one-day event.

Much depends on how the economy affects buyers and sellers of collectible automobiles. One might look upon them as solid investments to wait out the recession but on the other hand, when things get tough it's the big boy's toys that are first to go. Perhaps Mecum's Spring classic Auction, in its 22nd year at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, running from May 13-17, will be an indication. Certainly the highlight of that event will be the Shelby Daytona, an experimental coupe designed by Pete Brock on a Cobra chassis (above) that increased its top speed by 25 mph. The new car won the GT class at its first race, the 1964 Daytona Continental, prompting Shelby to adopt the name.

If you plan to attend the Monterey/Pebble Beach week this year, don't bring your golf clubs. The traditional Pebble Beach courses will be reserved by classic car concours while two competing Italian car concours will tie up the Laguna Seca and Black Horse courses. Neither of which will bother this reporter as I regard golf as a blend of billiards with a good walk. And since I don't care much for billiards and golfers no longer walk, preferring to be chauffered in golf carts, the best I can say is that at least it gets the duffers out into the fresh air.

[Photo: David Newhardt]