Devoted to the auto industry – builders to enthusiasts

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Monterey Auto Week on the Monterey Peninsula for the first time. The six-day celebration of automobile collectors, racers and enthusiasts was previously primarily known for the Concours d'Elegance, the now 57-old Pebble Beach display of some of the world's most revered cars.

But the celebration of cars in recent years has grown to more than a dozen events. I spent two days at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca interviewing and watching drivers — 78-year-old racer Mike McNally of Sacramento to former Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal. And I spent another day at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. For the fifth year, the golf resort hosted The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.

Like the Concours d'Elegance, The Quail had an outstanding and diverse collection of vehicles and it celebrated several milestones of the automotive industry, including the 100th anniversary of the birth Briggs Cunningham, the legendary driver, builder and America's Cup titlist.

In addition to talking with car owners and other auto enthusiasts, I drove a Maserati for the first time. I also had the opportunity to briefly speak with comedian and renowned car collector Jay Leno.

My three days on the Monterey Peninsula were primarily for my first assignment for a lifestyle magazine in Hong Kong called Prestige.

The photographer for the assignment was David Paul Morris. Years ago, Morris was a photographer for the Sacramento Union, and he's now an independent photographer based in San Francisco and Hong Kong. He's a wonderfully skilled photojournalist, and I encourage you to visit his web site, www.davidpaulmorris.com.

While interviewing various car folks, I also took a good share of images, ranging from McNally's 1931 Riley Portford to a 1955 Porsche 356 Continental, the exterior of which was a wonderfully subtle sage green.