{"id":175815,"date":"2025-08-26T01:58:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T01:58:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/175815\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T01:58:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T01:58:25","slug":"what-it-was-like-attending-las-mini-pebble-beach-the-san-marino-motor-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/175815\/","title":{"rendered":"What It Was Like Attending LA’s ‘Mini Pebble Beach’: The San Marino Motor Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

As much as I love Pebble Beach, it\u2019s far away and it\u2019s expensive \u2014 it\u2019s a commitment, and hardly a family affair; finding hotels is a nightmare. The good news is that there\u2019s a miniature version of it called the San Marino Motor Classic, held just east of LA in the Pasadena neighborhood of San Marino. I attended this show this past weekend; here\u2019s what it was like.<\/p>\n

First, I attended the Symphony of Cars Gala with my cofounder Beau. Basically, this was a dinner next to a big ramp\/stage upon which a bunch of beautiful cars drove, shooting unburnt fuel from their exhaust pipes, through the air, and into our open mouths about to intake a swig of mocktail or bite of salmon.<\/p>\n

\"Vidframe<\/p>\n

\"Vidframe<\/p>\n

Did I probably lose a few months of life expectancy from the exhaust of an old Packard V12? Yes; but it was worth it. Here\u2019s a look at that Gala:<\/p>\n

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And if you\u2019re not an Instagrammer, here are some stills:<\/p>\n

\"Gala \"Gala \"Gala \"Gala<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my wife (I still cannot believe I have an actual wife; it\u2019s freakin\u2019 awesome) and me; she\u2019s having a great time, as you can see:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

[Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> She\u2019s clearly having a great time. One look into those big yellow eyes and huge grin will tell you that! \u2013 JT]<\/p>\n

My arrival to that Gala didn\u2019t go smoothly, as I took my wife in the CrossCabriolet with the top down. The valet required the top to be up, lest someone on the street try messing with the car. I knew it\u2019d be a risk putting the top up given these tops\u2019 reputation, but I went for it, and it failed spectacularly:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot \"Screenshot \"Screenshot \"Screenshot<\/p>\n

I eventually bailed on getting the top up, and though I was able to shove the lid down a bit farther than the image above, it didn\u2019t shut evenly. I just told the valet not to worry about it. \u201cYour windows won\u2019t go up either,\u201d the driver told me. \u201cI don\u2019t care; just park it. It\u2019s fine!\u201d<\/p>\n

They kindly parked it front and center, where they could keep an eye on it.<\/p>\n

Anyway, let\u2019s get to the \u201cMini Pebble Beach\u201d \u2014 the actual San Marino Motor Classic, which took place the following morning, Sunday:<\/p>\n

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The show takes place in Lacey Park, in the nice Pasadena neighborhood of San Marino, former home of General George S. Patton Jr. There\u2019s a big loop that goes around the park, and on either side of the path are cars, organized into classes:<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

Check out the police class next to the VWs:<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

There were, of course, many Porsches (this is California after all, where the \u201ccar community\u201d starter-pack comes with an old 911):<\/p>\n

\"Smc \"Smc<\/p>\n

Here you can see a judge asking an owner to fire up their Porsche\u2019s engine:<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

In the very back were a few Ferraris:<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

There was this ridiculously beautiful Ferrari Daytona SP3, which costs many millions of dollars (one sold at Pebble Beach for $26 Million<\/a>!)<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

There was even that Chrysler Special we saw at Pebble Beach on the lawn!:<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

Look familiar<\/a>?<\/p>\n

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And there was a D-Type Jag, which I was told was actually real and not a replica:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

There were all sorts of great American and Japanese and British cars; here, let me just show you:<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

\"Smc \"Smc \"Smc \"Smc \"Smc<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

Plus, the show wasn\u2019t so elitist so as to leave out one of the most iconic brands in auto history:<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

One thing I\u2019d have liked to see more of were less polished cars. Yes, there was technically a small \u201cpreservation class\u201d (see below) but there are so many amazing cars out there that are drivers \u2014 ones with patina and scars. Those are becoming more popular in the car scene; it\u2019s time to make sure they have a bigger place at car shows, because they are no less historically significant. Flashy, shiny, mint-condition cars that nobody can afford are, to some people, less appealing than rough-around-the-edges cars that one could actually buy oneself.<\/p>\n

\"Smc<\/p>\n

$45 entry is a bit much for a cheap bastard like me, but kids 12 and under are free, so there\u2019s that. Otherwise, the San Marino Motor Classic is great. I\u2019m going again next year, as step 1 in a 146-step plan I\u2019ve put together to brainwash my infant child into becoming a car enthusiast.<\/p>\n

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