A classic covey gathers at The Quail for Monterey weekend

For seven years now every August, the fairway in front of the Quail Lodge has been transformed into a racing paddock. Great sports, race and super cars of all eras sprawl out on the grass like a tremendous, wheeled museum of speed. This year, in addition to the usual categories of "pre-war sports and racing," "post-war sports," etc., there were classes for BMW M1s, a celebration of 50 years of racing at Daytona and even a class of eight Devins. There was even one area labeled simply, "Great Ferraris."

But the high point of the day is always when the race cars come roaring over the hill from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

We came onto the lawn at the Quail Lodge just as the historics arrived at Quail Run under full California Highway Patrol escort. A select group of race cars roared onto the lawn and parked in a paddock of their own amidst an already fabulous sea of great race cars.

Where to turn? Who to talk to first?

MARK VAUGHN
Model T racer Ed Archer and co-driver Karen Archer, just in from the Monterey Historics.

Ed and Karen Archer were driver and riding mechanic, respectively, of a 1915 Model T racer Ed bought 40 years ago.

"Forty years ago nobody wanted 'em," said Ed. "But I did."

The happy couple have been turning laps ever since.

"It's a unique experience," said Ed, noting the narrow tires and the easily locking rear brakes. "You have to drive accordingly. Don't pass unless you're absolutely sure you have the room."

Charlie Shalvoy drove over in his 1926 Bugatti Type 39A. Most owners would probably keep a car like this in a vault and under a tarp. Does Shalvoy drive it instead?

"Oh sure," he said. "Two weeks ago we took it out, up over the mountains and all over."

Since he restored it "10 or 12 years ago" he estimates he's driven it in 35 or 40 races as well as numerous tours and rallies. We wonder if it has gotten more miles since Shalvoy owned it than it did 83 years ago when it was built to compete in the European championship. Possibly so.

In the pre-war sports and racing paddock we met Mike Manning, who was tending an 8C Alfa belonging to Pebble Beach Concours winner Bob Lee. Manning said he had high hopes his boss's Horch, entered in this year's Concours, would win best of show. We'll know on Sunday.

We met John Ridings Lee, who stood by his 1930 Bugatti Type 46. He had just driven the car 400 miles in his local Tyler Picnic Run, which goes from Dallas to the small town of Tyler, Texas.

"It'll cruise all day long at 75 mph," Lee said of the car. "At 74 mph it's only turning 2,600 rpm."

Then we found the man behind The Quail, Michael Kadoorie, hugging the great Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni. Kadoori has been a Lambo fan since he got his first raging bull 40 years ago, a Miura S.

How was the show going, we asked him.

"You have only to look around you at the faces to see," said Kadoorie. "Is everyone smiling?"

Indeed everyone was. Especially Kadoorie.

By Mark Vaughn