Tour d’Elegance Overview

An Overview of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance Presented by Rolex

During the Tour d’Elegance, to be held on Thursday, August 17, we will trace some of the most scenic roads that the West has to offer, pausing from time to time to enjoy the spectacular views and the camaraderie of automotive friends both old and new. This year, the Tour will not be stopping in Carmel for lunch during the route. Instead, entrants will finish back at Pebble Beach then enjoy a lunch at the Mercedes-Benz tent in Concours Village.

The Tour offers participants a relaxing way to join in the events of Pebble Beach Automotive Week. At the same time, it is an integral part of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. As I’m sure you know, cars that successfully complete the Tour have the advantage if they tie in class competition at the Concours.

Your entrant packet mailed in July contains:

  • Your Tour car sticker
    This sticker serves as your identification while on the Tour and is to be affixed to your right headlight. If this is not possible, attach it to the lower right-hand corner of your windshield. Please don’t forget to bring this item with you.
  • Two Tour wristbands for you and your co-driver
    These Tour wristbands double as your passport and provide access to the concluding Lunch at Mercedes-Benz in Concours Village. If you purchased tour wristbands for additional passengers, they are also included.

The morning of the Tour you will be provided:

  • Tour d’Elegance overview, map, and driving instructions. Tour participants will follow a route that traces portions of the original 17-Mile Drive, traverses nearby mountains and valleys, and passes through Big Sur via Highway One.

Tour Schedule Thursday, August 17

  • Cars Line up: Between 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
  • Departure: Approximately 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Tour Ribbon & Gift Pickup: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

As a Tour participant, you are welcome to pull your car into starting position on Portola Road near the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center any time between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 17. Tour participants will depart in two groups, at approximately 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., based largely on their time of arrival. If you are among those drivers who like to be first, and tend to drive faster, you will want to arrive at 7:00 a.m. or soon thereafter. However, if you prefer to sleep in and depart later, feel free to arrive nearer to 8:00 a.m. Portola will be a one-way road heading south on this occasion, so you will need to pull onto it from the north.

In any case, please be sure to arrive with a full tank of gas! There is no longer a gas station near The Lodge at Pebble Beach, and gas is not available onsite.

After you have been checked in and all your car occupants have signed a liability release form, please feel free to mix and mingle. Coffee and pastries will be available. Please also take the time to use the restrooms located nearby.

The Tour concludes with a lunch beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m. at the Mercedes-Benz display in Concours Village, located across from the Gooding Auction tent, adjacent to the Tour’s Start/Finish Line. You will be given a rosette ribbon to signify your completion of the Tour, and your car should exhibit this rosette on Concours Sunday. You will also receive a commemorative framed photograph. These items will be available for pickup until 3:00 p.m.

Please remember that the Tour d’Elegance is not a race. Drivers should obey all traffic regulations and drive in accord with their own capabilities and that of their car. The California Highway Patrol will be on hand to control traffic. While we hope there will be no problems, we do have some highly skilled mechanics and trouble trucks that will follow the Tour, and you will be provided with their numbers in case you need them.

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to call the Concours office at (831) 622-1700.

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