August 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Home of the 'Ultimate Sunday Drive'
A Rolls-Royce returns to Pebble Beach for the first time,
after being built specifically for a 1933 trip to 17-Mile Drive
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 19, 2011) — The “Sunday drive,” a long-standing American tradition, dates back to the 1920s and 1930s, when families would take their cars for a leisurely jaunt, often with no particular destination in mind, nor a particular time at which to get there.
In 1933, Robin McAlpine of London, England, a partner in a successful construction company, decided to take much more than a Sunday drive. McAlpine planned a trip to the United States, mapping out a route to drive across America, from New York to California, see the Pacific Ocean and tour the famous 17-Mile Drive.
This would be no ordinary driving trip, for it was no ordinary car McAlpine was bringing to the States. McAlpine commissioned Windovers of London to build a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental specifically for his transcontinental journey.
After traveling from England to New York via ocean liner, McAlpine took delivery of his touring car at the Waldorf Astoria hotel on October 13, 1933, and headed west, covering nearly 7,000 miles on his trip across America, including a stop at The Lodge at Pebble Beach.
While most Sunday drives total far less than 7,000 miles, the tradition still thrives, especially on the Central California coast. Drivers of all ages head to Pebble Beach Resorts to tour scenic 17-Mile Drive, with its spectacular views of cypress trees and the Pacific.
This week, te same Rolls-Royce that traversed 17-Mile Drive in 1933 is returning to Pebble Beach for the first time. This time, it will participate in the ultimate Sunday drive – and the high point of Pebble Beach Automotive Week – pulling onto the fairway of the famed 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links to compete in the 61st annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the top-ranking collector car show in the world, with people from all over the globe coming to compete in or simply enjoy the event which features more than 225 vintage vehicles from 14 countries.
McAlpine’s Windovers Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental is participating in the Concours, but on this trip to Pebble Beach, the car has a new owner. Derek Hood of Maldon, England, will be behind the wheel when the blue and black-colored coupé makes the Sunday drive onto the 18th Fairway and joins the other vehicles in the Prewar Preservation class.
Hood, the current owner, still has the ticket McAlpine purchased to traverse the 17-Mile Drive in 1933, and it will be displayed with his car at the Concours.
This time, though, Hood’s not planning to drive the car across the U.S. on his trip home.
First conducted in 1950, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® (www.pebblebeachconcours.net) has grown to be the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and rare cars are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links®, and connoisseurs of art and style flock to see these masterpieces. Charitable donations raised by Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® now total over $14 million. Related events include Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance™ presented by Rolex, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, and Pebble Beach® Auctions presented by Gooding & Company. Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance™, and Pebble Beach RetroAuto™ are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved.
Pebble Beach Company, headquartered in Pebble Beach, Calif., owns and operates the world-famous Pebble Beach Resorts®, including The Lodge at Pebble Beach™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™ and Casa Palmero®. The company also operates four renowned golf courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Spyglass Hill® Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay™ and Del Monte™ Golf Course. Its other famed properties include the scenic 17-Mile Drive® and The Spa at Pebble Beach™, and it annually hosts premier events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational, the Pebble Beach Food & Wine event and the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Site of the 2019 U.S. Open Championship, Pebble Beach Golf Links® has hosted five U.S. Opens, four U.S. Amateurs, one PGA Championship, and numerous other tournaments. For reservations or more information please call (800) 654-9300 or visit www.pebblebeach.com.
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Contact:
Dan Smith
(310) 224-4954
dsmith@pcgcampbell.com
