Chapter four – Exclusive events. Plural.
Its Wednesday and Mrs Dentist arrives. Let’s just say the Doc married up. Waaaay up. She’s lovely and does not interrupt the flow of the trio. In fact, she fits right in. As luck would have it, the group is "invited" to display their coupes at the very exclusive McCall Hanger Party, free of charge. Unlimited gourmet bites with many open bars in an atmosphere of pure opulence was how we spent Wed. night. The next day a trip to the track paddocks, without tickets or vehicle pass, was made possible only because to our surprise, Tod B was actually Luigi Goldberg, the famous Jewish, Italian race driver. Only for the Queens roofer having recognized this at the last minute and pointing this out to track security, the group would have been turned away. We’ve got to get Luigi to tech inspection says the roofer. We proudly drive the Volvo SUV rental right in without tickets. Whooped ‘em again, Josie.
That night, because of an invitation received in the paddocks, the trio was once again off to an even more exclusive party than the night before, the Singer Porsche event. Its up some God awful twisty road and we almost run out of gas. Mrs. Dentist does not like it when Luigi takes the wheel. We arrive. It’s a neat venue, literally in the middle of no where. We’re talking wine and food pairing stations, Singer cars and the really obnoxious young internet start up groupies who are some of their clients andthen the older, flush crowd with their younger wives or hired help. This time, however, the Queens roofer transforms into a Manhattan real estate mogul and proceeded to completely charm the ladies of the evening, one in particular who was married to a Mr. Reginald xxxx. It was due to this chance attraction, in addition to Luigi calling for a Trump cheer in the coach on the way back (“hands up for Trump, c’mon!”), where things get a little dicey. You see, the now Manhattan RE guy was asking Reg, the husband of the lady of his affection, to swap seats so that he could provide the companionship she really desired. Let's just say all left the coach peacefully.
Chapter five – The Quail and Shake the hand that shook the world
The Quail Motorsports Gathering was held on Friday with the inclusion of the Dentist's 73 Alpina’d coupe thanks to a press from Mario Langsten. The ‘73 was carefully prepared for the show in the driveway of the rental house primarily by Tod B (Luigi) and Mike B (Manhattan RE guy) with the help of the dentist (luckiest guy in the world) and Bruce (the landlord). We spent almost 2 hours on it. The tires were even dressed, multiple times, in the dark, by a compromised Luigi who proclaimed that would be what took it over the top. The car was driven to the show (we don’t need no stinkin’ trailer) where it won its class against astronomical odds and driven home to a quite pleased but shocked "prep crew" who did not make the attendance cut. It was here that it occurred to us that Mike B (RE guy) had blessed the Dentist and car the night before and that his true identity was in fact Cardinal Balboni of Manhattan. The events as they unfolded suggested there may truly have been a divine intervention during the week directing the trio's good fortune. The next day, the Cardinal runs into Ron Perry, Mr. Clean Car to you, who loudly “reminds” Ron of the win and then points to the Dentist and screams “Shake the hand that shook the world.” It was a classic moment. Perry did not seem amused. FYI, Luigi is the guy who bought those Flowfit seats from you a few years back but that’s a story for another day. Not what you call a “smooth transaction.” Love ya Ron.
Movin’ on.
Chapter six – “I am Andy”
Off to Pebble Beach for The Concours the next morning with perfect weather, easy parking (thanks Doc) and a leisurely lap around the show to view all the wonderful cars. The afternoon was spent at Laguna Seca for the vintage races. It was here that the final defining event of the week convinced Luigi, Cardinal Balboni, and the lucky dentist that something truly mystical was at play. By chance, the trio run into the driver of the Alpina race car, an old E12, who was pushing especially hard and aggressively hitting the corkscrew each time. When asked if he was the factory driver, he replied, “I am Andy, I own Alpina.” Andy turned out to be Andy Bovenseipen. No shit.
The lucky dentist strikes up a conversation with Andy about how his BMW was modelled after an early Alpina. We leave Andy and head over to the VSR paddock. The dentist recalls the chance meeting with Mario who orders the Doc to go get Andy and bring him to the paddock. You see, Langsten has smartly positioned the Quail winner, complete with trophy, in his paddock next to the freshly restored Schnitzer. Its an impressive paddock. Anyway, off goes the Doc. Five minutes later, Dentist and Andy, still in his driving suit, come strolling down the paddock lane. Andy wants to see the car. After inspecting it inside and out, he gives his smiling approval and signs the car in the engine bay to commemorate the day whipping out his own very cool pen. Luigi, the Cardinal, and the lucky Dentist wink and smile at each other knowing that they were, for the moment, residing squarely in Car Heaven. Nothing need be said, they all knew. “I am Andy.”
Chapter seven – The farewell dinner
Given that the value of said Quail winner probably just went up $50K or so, the Cardinal arranges for a celebratory meal at a swanky place in Carmel at the Doc’s expense. There were dozens of oysters and expensive wine followed by appetizers and I think I recall dessert. Thankfully, there were those reflector thingies down the center of the road on the way back which included going over the Laureles Grade road, a non lit twisty with 10%+ grade up and down not for the faint of heart. The tea toting dentist is the driver but was lucky to have constant “supervision” from Luigi through each and every turn. “Soft hands, gas, gas, gas, brake, brake, BRAKE”. We head into Monterey to tail Mario back to our house as he has a trailer in tow (with the way cool Schnitzer 02 inside) but alas, no tail lights. We become a quad for one night as Mario stays the night with us.
More drinks on the last night. Due to the epic week, we vow to each other that we can never return to Pebble Beach for car week as it could never be matched and most certainly not bested, and second, to plan another trip together in search of that very special place "Car Heaven".
Its Wednesday and Mrs Dentist arrives. Let’s just say the Doc married up. Waaaay up. She’s lovely and does not interrupt the flow of the trio. In fact, she fits right in. As luck would have it, the group is "invited" to display their coupes at the very exclusive McCall Hanger Party, free of charge. Unlimited gourmet bites with many open bars in an atmosphere of pure opulence was how we spent Wed. night. The next day a trip to the track paddocks, without tickets or vehicle pass, was made possible only because to our surprise, Tod B was actually Luigi Goldberg, the famous Jewish, Italian race driver. Only for the Queens roofer having recognized this at the last minute and pointing this out to track security, the group would have been turned away. We’ve got to get Luigi to tech inspection says the roofer. We proudly drive the Volvo SUV rental right in without tickets. Whooped ‘em again, Josie.
That night, because of an invitation received in the paddocks, the trio was once again off to an even more exclusive party than the night before, the Singer Porsche event. Its up some God awful twisty road and we almost run out of gas. Mrs. Dentist does not like it when Luigi takes the wheel. We arrive. It’s a neat venue, literally in the middle of no where. We’re talking wine and food pairing stations, Singer cars and the really obnoxious young internet start up groupies who are some of their clients andthen the older, flush crowd with their younger wives or hired help. This time, however, the Queens roofer transforms into a Manhattan real estate mogul and proceeded to completely charm the ladies of the evening, one in particular who was married to a Mr. Reginald xxxx. It was due to this chance attraction, in addition to Luigi calling for a Trump cheer in the coach on the way back (“hands up for Trump, c’mon!”), where things get a little dicey. You see, the now Manhattan RE guy was asking Reg, the husband of the lady of his affection, to swap seats so that he could provide the companionship she really desired. Let's just say all left the coach peacefully.
Chapter five – The Quail and Shake the hand that shook the world
The Quail Motorsports Gathering was held on Friday with the inclusion of the Dentist's 73 Alpina’d coupe thanks to a press from Mario Langsten. The ‘73 was carefully prepared for the show in the driveway of the rental house primarily by Tod B (Luigi) and Mike B (Manhattan RE guy) with the help of the dentist (luckiest guy in the world) and Bruce (the landlord). We spent almost 2 hours on it. The tires were even dressed, multiple times, in the dark, by a compromised Luigi who proclaimed that would be what took it over the top. The car was driven to the show (we don’t need no stinkin’ trailer) where it won its class against astronomical odds and driven home to a quite pleased but shocked "prep crew" who did not make the attendance cut. It was here that it occurred to us that Mike B (RE guy) had blessed the Dentist and car the night before and that his true identity was in fact Cardinal Balboni of Manhattan. The events as they unfolded suggested there may truly have been a divine intervention during the week directing the trio's good fortune. The next day, the Cardinal runs into Ron Perry, Mr. Clean Car to you, who loudly “reminds” Ron of the win and then points to the Dentist and screams “Shake the hand that shook the world.” It was a classic moment. Perry did not seem amused. FYI, Luigi is the guy who bought those Flowfit seats from you a few years back but that’s a story for another day. Not what you call a “smooth transaction.” Love ya Ron.
Movin’ on.
Chapter six – “I am Andy”
Off to Pebble Beach for The Concours the next morning with perfect weather, easy parking (thanks Doc) and a leisurely lap around the show to view all the wonderful cars. The afternoon was spent at Laguna Seca for the vintage races. It was here that the final defining event of the week convinced Luigi, Cardinal Balboni, and the lucky dentist that something truly mystical was at play. By chance, the trio run into the driver of the Alpina race car, an old E12, who was pushing especially hard and aggressively hitting the corkscrew each time. When asked if he was the factory driver, he replied, “I am Andy, I own Alpina.” Andy turned out to be Andy Bovenseipen. No shit.
The lucky dentist strikes up a conversation with Andy about how his BMW was modelled after an early Alpina. We leave Andy and head over to the VSR paddock. The dentist recalls the chance meeting with Mario who orders the Doc to go get Andy and bring him to the paddock. You see, Langsten has smartly positioned the Quail winner, complete with trophy, in his paddock next to the freshly restored Schnitzer. Its an impressive paddock. Anyway, off goes the Doc. Five minutes later, Dentist and Andy, still in his driving suit, come strolling down the paddock lane. Andy wants to see the car. After inspecting it inside and out, he gives his smiling approval and signs the car in the engine bay to commemorate the day whipping out his own very cool pen. Luigi, the Cardinal, and the lucky Dentist wink and smile at each other knowing that they were, for the moment, residing squarely in Car Heaven. Nothing need be said, they all knew. “I am Andy.”
Chapter seven – The farewell dinner
Given that the value of said Quail winner probably just went up $50K or so, the Cardinal arranges for a celebratory meal at a swanky place in Carmel at the Doc’s expense. There were dozens of oysters and expensive wine followed by appetizers and I think I recall dessert. Thankfully, there were those reflector thingies down the center of the road on the way back which included going over the Laureles Grade road, a non lit twisty with 10%+ grade up and down not for the faint of heart. The tea toting dentist is the driver but was lucky to have constant “supervision” from Luigi through each and every turn. “Soft hands, gas, gas, gas, brake, brake, BRAKE”. We head into Monterey to tail Mario back to our house as he has a trailer in tow (with the way cool Schnitzer 02 inside) but alas, no tail lights. We become a quad for one night as Mario stays the night with us.
More drinks on the last night. Due to the epic week, we vow to each other that we can never return to Pebble Beach for car week as it could never be matched and most certainly not bested, and second, to plan another trip together in search of that very special place "Car Heaven".