8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 8-14, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Cars may consist of pieces of manufactured steel, but they are emotional things—no, the machines don’t have feelings themselves, as much as some of their drivers wish they did. Rather, they evoke every emotion in the viewer that humans are capable of experiencing: joy (perhaps from the one you learned to drive in), envy (something too expensive to attain), disgust (Tesla Cybertruck), you name it. A nostalgic response is one of the most common. Who doesn’t remember the car they drove to their graduation, or from their wedding? Nile Estep, owner of Hacienda in Carmel Valley, says he and his team work to find ways to generate joy in the community through various gatherings. One of those ways will be on display during Car Week: Concours for a Cause. The inaugural event, after a small test run in 2023, will fill a few blocks of downtown Carmel on Aug. 13 with vintage cars, cultural experiences, live music and more. It’s a foregone conclusion that someone will find something that speaks to them. “Those are the moments we’re looking to create,” Estep says. “It’s not about ‘I have this expensive car,’ it’s about emotion. It’s about, how do we create positive emotion for all in the community.” On Ocean Avenue from Mission to Dolores streets, about 150 pre-1970 cars will line the road. The event will be organized by sections. German vehicles make up Deutschland Delights, where Alvarado Street Brewery will be serving lagers and Bavarian bites, with representation from the German Historical Society of San Jose. The American Made section is self-explanatory, and The Money Band will perform. Among the Italian cars in Little Italy will be pizza and gelato from Chef Rich Pèpe. The British Empire takes over Devendorf Park, featuring Beatles cover band The Sun Kings. “I really think it’s important that we lean into the nostalgic charm of Carmel-by-the-Sea and help create that ambiance,” Estep says. Estep adds the event will be a “people’s concours.” Attendees will receive wooden tokens that they can place in front of their favorite car in each section, and those that receive the most will win awards (the tokens are reusable, part of the event’s mission to be “as sustainable as possible,” Estep says. “We’re trying to minimize the footprint and maximize the fun.”). But at the center of the event is in the name itself: “for a cause.” Those who are showing their vehicles in the show can direct all proceeds from the entry fees to six organizations: Big Sur Food and Wine Festival, Carmel Cares, Carmel Valley Forum, Rancho Cielo, Sunset Cultural Center and Women Are Limitless. “My mom always told me what you get you give back tenfold,” Estep says. “The feeling you get when you give is sometimes better than the feeling you get when you receive. There’s a genuine joy that comes from it.” RPMs are not the only things that are being raised during Car Week—the charitable donations continue to flow in every year from the various events. More than 85,000 people are expected to descend into Monterey County over the nine days of events that start Aug. 9. Many of the events during the week benefit local charities, with between $3 million-$4 million in donations raised for more than 100 organizations in 2023, according to Rob O’Keefe, president and CEO of See Monterey. Since its beginnings in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, considered the main attraction of Car Week, has raised more than $35 million for nonprofits. Last year, Rancho Cielo received $100,000 for its classic car restoration program, Janine Chicourrat, chair of the board, said at a Car Week media briefing on July 30. The program, launched in 2022 thanks to a grant from the Rotary Foundation, covers vehicles pre-1982. “The focus is to train local underserved communities in a trade that is highly specialized in a way to make a lucrative living,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have an automotive program in such a special space.” Concours for a Cause 10am-4pm Tuesday, Aug. 13. Ocean Avenue, Carmel. concoursforacause.com. Emotional Attachment The ‘people’s concours’ aims to give back to local charities, one vintage car at a time. By Erik Chalhoub George Anderson (from left), Nile Estep, Richard Gray and Michael Wong are organizers of Concours for a Cause, which returns on Aug. 13 in Carmel after a test run in 2023, benefiting local charities. “What you get you give back tenfold.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS The Chamber Connects At the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, we are connectors, providing our members with valuable introductions to new customers and referral sources. If you're looking for a platform to initiate important conversations and grow your business, we invite you to join our business association on the Monterey Peninsula! Join Today! • montereychamber.com • info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350
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