Monterey Kickoff Cruise-In: The Start of Something Great

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Carmel CA, Aug 17 2016 - Monterey Car Week is packed with more automotive related events than one could possibly hope to visit all in one lifetime. The usual time and distance physics places a distinct coastal limit on where and when you can be on your schedule. One might simply gorge on the gorgeous automobile finery at the staple events like Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Concorso Italiano, Legends of the Autobahn, or the Quail - but for the adventurous, much more awaits in the highlights.

Lamborghini Muira

With the massive effort to construct the temporary white tent city on the peninsula under way, someone has to get the party started. Given the name, that duty seems to be in the hands of the Monterey Kickoff Cruise-In - a Classic Motorsports Magazine organized event at Folktale Winery in Carmel California.

The 2016 Tuesday gathering was the third in history; a free event for anyone willing to dare a left turn on or off Carmel Valley Road in one-lane-rush hour. The vineyard roads provide plenty of parking alongside low hanging grapes that look almost nice enough to go running through the rows eating as you go. If it weren't for the scarecrows and imaginary surveilance drones we may have loaded up a few bushels in the trunk.

The Cruise-In attracts a wide variety of motorcraft - not 6 of anything but 1 of many. For those able to peel eyes away from the shiny metal objects a minute, the Folktale Winery folks provided the fine wine and live music part of the deal. All told, Monterey Car Week is officially off to a good beginning again.