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Road & Track Presents: Ride of Your Life
Episode FLRYL-207

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Bob Mosier at work on a Pebble Beach hopeful.
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (207)
Concours week in the Monterey Bay area of California is a yearly ritual for those engrossed in the car hobby. It has grown in recent decades to become an incredible display of the most rare, most valuable and most beautiful cars in the world. This episode showcases the fabulous Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and some of the people who make the Concours so special, including Sandra Kasky, who co-chairs the event. We also meet Raffi Minasian, who is displaying his classic Giaur for the first time at Pebble Beach and fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Concours Entrant Facts:

  • A selection committee hand-picks the field of cars at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
  • The Range Rover made its debut at the Earl's Court Motor Show in London in 1970.
  • Bob Mosier apprenticed with legendary racecar driver and restoration expert Phil Hill.
  • A Peugeot Darl'mat Roadster won the 2-litre class at Le Mans in 1938.
  • At age eight, Alan Taylor started learning the restoration craft from his father.

Resources:

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
www.pebblebeachconcours.net
Calendar, history and contacts for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Raffi Minasian Facts:

  • Raffi Minasian's Giaur was driven in the 1959 Mexican Road Race.
  • Raffi Minasian bought his first car at age 11, and sat on two phone books to see over the hood.
  • Two wooden blocks enabled an 11-year-old Raffi to reach the foot pedals of his Giaur.
  • The restoration of Raffi's Giaur took three years and was completed in 2001.
  • Raffi Minasian's Giaur puts out 77 horsepower and has a top speed of about 110 mph.
  • Raffi Minasian graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., in 1987.
  • Raffi Minasian earned his way through design school as a professional fiddler.
  • Raffi Minasian is an award winning automotive writer and artist.

General Concours Facts:

  • The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance raises over half a million dollars annually for local charities.
  • Henry Leland introduced the first Cadillac at the 1903 New York Auto Show.
  • 2002 marked the 80th anniversary of Sir William Lyons' Jaguar marquee.
  • The Fiat 8Vs are also known as the Otto Vu.
  • The Classic and Vintage Chassis Class made its debut at the 2002 Concours.
  • Over 200 classic and racecars were on display at the 2002 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
  • Station wagons in Europe are commonly referred to as "shooting brakes."
  • There are about 140 honorary and class judges at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
  • The Pebble Beach Golf Course is closed one day each year, during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Sandra Kasky Facts:

  • One of Sandra Kasky's favorite cars is her1955 Cadillac Eldorado Special Sport Convertible.
  • Other events held during the week of the Pebble Beach Concours include the Monterey Historic Automobile Races and the Concorso Italiano.
  • The Tour is a little less than 50 miles.
  • 95 cars entered the 2002 Tour.
  • Otis Chandler is the retired publisher and editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times.
  • The Elegance in Motion Trophy is presented annually to a Tour participant.
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