Concorso Italiano Presents Concorso Drives, Gala Night and Special Car Series

Concorso Italiano — the celebration of Italian motoring that servers as a cornerstone of each Monterey Car Week — is growing.

The event now presents a monthly “Concorso Drives” series, which includes self-guided tours to destinations with fellow car enthusiasts driving special cars. The next chapter of “Concorso Drives” takes place on July 28, featuring a self-guided tour to Eataly Westfield Valley Fair in Silicon Valley. The day includes reserved parking for your vehicle, a fixed lunch menu created specifically for the event, and insights into Concorso Italiano 2024. The cost is $75 per person, with an 11:30 arrival time set for lunch. Learn more and reserve your space here.

This year, Concorso Italiano’s Gala is themed, “Opera Under the Stars,” taking place at Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Course starting at 5 pm on August 16.

Linkage Publisher Donald Osborne will emcee this event, with gourmet dinner by Eataly, arias of I Cantori Di Carmel, and the event’s signature “Concorsotini” cocktail. The night includes a charity auction for Rancho Cielo Youth Center and a fashion show by Patrick James and Natalie Baroni.

Learn more and purchase tickets here.

And finally, this year’s Concorso Italiano event, held on August 17 at Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Course, will feature a special cars series alongside the Italian motorcars that the event has become known for.

This year, one of the special cars on display will be the 1949 Ferrari 166 Touring Barchetta owned by David Seielstad. It’s one of just nine built in 1949.

In 1948, Enzo, unhappy with the looks of the Ferraris built so far, arranged a meeting with Felice Bianchi Anderloni, the owner and founder of Carrozzeria Touring, telling him he wanted a car that was sporty, eye-catching and elegantly understated.

The body of the 166 MM was completed and while most of the interior was finished, no engine or drivetrain had been installed. The design was a sensation, but because of the modern design, journalists did not know what to call it. It was not a convertible or a cabriolet and there were no running boards or separate fenders, and the sides curved in below the belt line. Giovanni Canestrini declared it looked like a Barchetta— Italian for “little boat.” In 1949, one model of the 166 Barchetta won the Mille Miglia and Le Mans 24 hours, securing Ferrari as a world famous builder of elegant, race winning automobiles.

Learn more about the event here — and get your tickets now!

Images: Concorso Italiano